Enhanced role for communities in heritage process

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Enhanced role for communities in heritage process

Postby newsposter » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:40 pm

The following was published in the Federation of Calgary Communities 'Planning Update', June 2007

Enhanced role for communities in heritage nomination process being proposed

By David Plouffe, Heritage Planner, City of Calgary. 268.1709, david.plouffe@calgary.ca

The Calgary Heritage Authority and the City of Calgary are updating the existing Heritage Evaluation System. The new system, called The Calgary Evaluation System, is motivated by the need to align more closely with the Alberta and Federal heritage evaluation systems and, more importantly, a desire to incorporate current thinking and new practices in heritage evaluation. The City of Calgary is currently at the forefront of municipalities in Canada on this issue and is on track to be one of the first to adopt what is widely recognized as a much improved methodology for heritage resource evaluation.

A review of the existing status of the heritage inventory began in January 2006. The review was conducted by a team comprising a representative of the Calgary Heritage Authority, the City of Calgary Senior Heritage Planner, the architectural firm of Lorne Simpson Architects and the heritage planning consulting firm, Heritage Collaborative Incorporated. At the moment the Calgary Heritage Authority and the City of Calgary maintain Calgary’s Inventory of Potential Heritage Sites which identifies Calgary’s significant historic resources. The Inventory sites have been evaluated by the Calgary Heritage Authority using evaluation criteria and a system approved by Calgary City Council. The inventory review identified several areas of possible improvement to this and provided a baseline of understating from which the new evaluation process could be developed.

The review process culminated in May, 2006 with a presentation of the new proposed draft Heritage Evaluation to the Calgary Heritage Authority -Evaluation and Review Committee. Calgary’s proposed new evaluation system is a narrative, value based system that aligns with current national and provincial heritage resource management programs. The review pointed out the need for additional community engagement to recognize community values in the selection of heritage resources. The proposed user-friendly evaluation form is designed to de-mystify the heritage evaluation process, encouraging greater public participation and less reliance on experts.

The review of the evaluation system is a key element in the much larger initiative to develop a Heritage Management Plan for Calgary. The Calgary Heritage Authority and city staff are inspired and excited about Calgary’s citizens renewed interest and positive approach towards heritage resources and their preservation. The proposed new Calgary Evaluation System offers opportunities for stimulating increased citizen participation and improved stewardship of heritage resources. City of Calgary Heritage Planners and Calgary Heritage Authority are looking forward to Council approval of the new system.
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