The Township of Centre Wellington has retained Archaeological Services Inc. (ASI), in collaboration with Fotenn Planning + Design and the Landplan Studio Inc. to undertake a Cultural Heritage Landscape Study in order to identify, evaluate, inventory, and map significant Cultural Heritage Landscapes (CHL) in Centre Wellington.
PROJECT UPDATE - March, 2023
Township staff and the project consultants are currently working on a draft Official Plan Amendment that will help implement policies and mapping to support the conservation of the identified significant Cultural Heritage Landscapes. The amendment is expected to be presented to the public at an open house in Spring 2023.
PROJECT UPDATE - December, 2022
Centre Wellington Cultural Heritage Landscapes: Official Plan Amendment
Public Information Centre & Community Workshop
Date: Wednesday, January 18th, 2023
Location: Aboyne Hall
Wellington County Museum and Archives
536 Wellington Road 18, Fergus
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
*Registration not required
Members of the community are invited to a Public Information Centre and Community Workshop on Wednesday, January 18th, 2023, to learn about and participate in the Cultural Heritage Landscapes Official Plan Amendment Project.
In June 2021, Council endorsed the “Cultural Heritage Landscape Study and Inventory for the Township of Centre Wellington”. The goal of the project was to identify, evaluate, inventory, and map significant cultural heritage landscapes (CHLs) in Centre Wellington. The project identified 18 significant CHLs. The purpose of this next phase of the project is to formally recognize these 18 CHLs in the Township’s Official Plan through mapping and to develop enabling policies that can support management and conservation of these important areas and their features.
The project team includes Township staff and the project consultants at ASI Heritage and Fotenn. At the meeting, the project team will provide background information, share policy review research, present a range of potential tools that can be used to protect and manage these areas into the future and seek input from the public. The presentation will be followed by a working session where you will have the opportunity to share your feedback.
Some key questions to be answered and conversations that will occur at the workshop include:
- What areas and/or features of the CHL should be protected and managed into the future? Which areas and/or features with the CHL are less critical to its significance?
- Are there areas or features in the CHL that could be improved or enhanced?
- What are the goals and needs within each CHL that are not necessarily linked specifically to heritage?
- Advantages and disadvantages of potential tools that could be used to protect and manage CHLs
Please note: Registration is not required for this session. A public meeting under the Planning Act will be held at a future date.
For more information related to this project, please email: Mariana Iglesias, Senior Planner, at miglesias@centrewellington.ca
PROJECT UPDATE - April, 2022
The “Cultural Heritage Landscape Study and Inventory for the Township of Centre Wellington” (Volumes 1 to 3) was endorsed by Council in June 2021. For more information, please see "28JUN2021 CHL Study and Inventory" in the document library.
An Implementation Framework was presented to Council in November 2021 through a staff report, that set out key action items to help ensure that the goals and recommendations made in the CHL Inventory can be achieved. For more information, please see "29NOV2021 CHL Inventory - Proposed Implementation Framework" in the document library.
In March 2022, Council approved proceeding with an Official Plan Amendment to identify the 18 significant CHLs in 2022. For more information, please see "28MAR2022 CHL Inventory Project Update - Official Plan Amendment" in the document library.
Click here for an animated CHLStoryMap
Background:
What is a Cultural Heritage Landscape?
A CHL is defined as a geographical area that may have been modified by human activity and is identified as having cultural heritage value or interest by a community, including an Indigenous community. The area may include features such as structures, spaces, archaeological sites or natural elements that are valued together for their interrelationship, meaning or association. Examples may include heritage conservation districts, villages, parks, gardens, farmsteads, mainstreets, neighbourhoods, cemeteries, trailways, viewsheds, natural areas, and industrial complexes of heritage significance.
Past Public Engagement Opportunities
Staff and consultants hosted an open house on September 26. If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can view the presentation materials in the document library (26SEPT2019 - CHL Study Presentation Boards) (26SEPT2022 - CHL Study Presentation Open House #1).
Staff and consultants hosted an open house on January 30. If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can view the presentation materials in the document library (30JAN2020 CHL Open House Notice) (30JAN2021 CHL Study Presentation Open House #2).
Phase 1: Review of Background Information and Development of Preliminary List of Candidate CHLs
On-line Study Launch and Community Based Engagement
The Study Team has launched an online platform (https://www.connectcw.ca/) as part of the Township website for the project. Digital and community-based engagement tools will be used to connect to residents/stakeholders, provide notifications and opportunities for on-line inputs via on-line surveys and for public announcements.
Indigenous Engagement: The Cultural Heritage Landscape Study project offers the Township and interested Indigenous communities the unique opportunity to contextualize Indigenous histories, knowledge, and land use against the modern landscape of the Township. Engagement with Indigenous communities with rights or interest in the Township will begin during Phase 1 and will continue throughout the duration of the project. The Township of Centre Wellington values the input of the various Indigenous communities who have called (and continue to call) the area home and the Township recognizes that engagement with Indigenous communities must operate in a separate, but integrated, manner from the public consultation process.
Development of Analytical Framework and Research
The Study Team will:
- Develop a thematic heritage framework which will identify key themes and periods of development within the Township. The identification of key themes and periods will form the basis of historical research and the identification and evaluation of potential CHLs.
- Develop an evaluation framework based on a comprehensive review of existing legislation, guidelines and best practices in order to refine the methodology and criteria for the identification, evaluation, inventorying, and mapping of significant CHLs.
- Review the Township’s Heritage Register and other existing inventories, databases, studies, and secondary sources, to gather information on previously identified cultural heritage resources, including archaeological resources, and their potential contribution to candidate CHLs. This task will also include a review of the Township’s topography, physiography, tree cover, and natural environment, and how these have influenced land use and development over time.
- Conduct a field survey of the Township, from public rights-of-way, to guide the development of the preliminary list of candidate CHLs.
Preliminary List of Candidate CHLs
Based on consultation with Township staff and the Heritage Committee, thematic history outline, field survey, and mapping, the Study Team will compile a preliminary list of candidate CHLs to be screened for potential cultural heritage value.
Open House and Mapping Workshop #1: The Study’s Open House and Mapping Workshop #1 will provide an opportunity for community members to learn about the Study process, receive information and provide feedback on the project and candidate CHLs. The Study Team is interested in hearing from the community about any concerns and wishes they may have relative to conservation objectives and change.
Phase 2: Development of Final List of Candidate CHLs
Historical Research and Thematic Heritage Outline
Building on the Thematic Heritage Framework developed as part of Phase 1, the Study Team will develop a thematic land use overview of the Township of Centre Wellington to illustrate how the Township has physically, socially, and economically evolved over time, including development of its natural, built and cultural landscape features. This historical research will be focused on gaining an understanding of various historical events, themes, and processes that have shaped neighbourhoods, public spaces, and areas in the Township.
Field Survey
The Study Team will conduct a field survey of the preliminary list of CHLs identified as part of Phase 1 and during the public and Indigenous engagement process. Survey information will be collected from public road rights-of-way to document the existing conditions of the candidate CHLs, assess the historical integrity of the candidate CHLs, and for the purposes of potential boundary recommendations and identification of potential attributes.
Final List of Candidate CHLs and Inventory
The Study Team will update the list of Candidate CHLs and their attributes based on the outcomes of the public and Indigenous engagement process, detailed historical research, and field survey. The approved final list of CHLs will form the basis of the final phase of the project.
Open House #2: The Study’s second Open House will provide the opportunity for community members to hear a recap of work done to date including the recommendations on identified and draft confirmed CHLs, and the result of the community workshop sessions.
Phase 3: Evaluation and Reporting
Evaluation and Inventory
Using criteria developed based on best practices and policy review in Phase 1 of the project, the Study Team will evaluate the candidate CHLs for cultural heritage significance.
Develop Recommendation
Building on the findings the project to-date, the Study Team will develop recommendations to prioritize significant CHLs for further technical study and implementation.
Reporting
The Study Team will prepare a report that presents the results of the project including a summary of the public and Indigenous engagement process, evaluation of candidate CHLs, mapping and inventory of significant CHLs, and recommendations on prioritizing significant CHLs for further technical study and implementation.
Draft CHL Study Report
The Township is in the final phase of the project with the release of the Draft CHL Study Report which provides information on the process undertaken to date, a list of identified CHLs and recommendations. The report was presented to Committee of the Whole at a special meeting on Monday, November 30, 2020.
A final report will then be presented to Council for endorsement in late winter/early spring 2021.
The Draft CHL Study Report and meeting presentation can be found in the document library. For further information on the report or any other aspect of this project, please contact Mariana Iglesias by email or at (519) 846-9691, ext. 289.
