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Independent facilitator to address 'strained relations' between city staff and Heritage Guelph

Council agrees to bring someone in at cost of $10,000; approves controversial cultural heritage action plan
20201230 Cultural Heritage Action Plan
Cultural Heritage Action Plan

The task of smoothing over the “strained relations” between city staff and Heritage Guelph will be given to an independent facilitator. City council approved the hiring on Monday, in addition to endorsing the controversial cultural heritage action plan (CHAP).

“It is important that the heritage goals of the city be done collaboratively between staff and Heritage Guelph,” said Coun. Cathy Downer, who proposed an independent facilitator be brought in. “There are some strained relations between the committee and staff.”

Councillors Mark MacKinnon, Dominique O’Rourke and Christine Billings voted against hiring an independent facilitator.

“I have full confidence that staff can deal with that,” MacKinnon said of upcoming discussions with Heritage Guelph about its mandate and terms of reference.

A facilitator will cost about $10,000, deputy CAO Kealy Dedman told council.

The most recent source of tension between city staff and Heritage Guelph members stems from the cultural heritage action plan (CHAP), which council also approved on Monday. The document outlines a number of steps that could be taken to preserve cultural heritage features in the city for future generations.

Heritage Guelph objects to the plan for a couple of reasons and recommended council reject it. One being the method used for prioritizing cultural heritage landscapes (CHL) – areas of the city with historical significance – for additional protections. 

City staff prioritized the inventory based on building department permits and risk of loss, while Heritage Guelph members feel value to the community, significance to the city, age of neighbourhood and history of landscapes should be the main factors.

The second is the lack of Indigenous CHLs, though the council-approved motion calls for Indigenous CHLs to be considered as part of a future update to the plan.

Monday’s approval also gave the go-ahead to launch a study for Ward West – the western part of The Ward – that may lead to it being declared a cultural heritage district, which comes with regulations regarding new developments, renovations and additions, among other things, intended to preserve heritage features. 

Following the study, it will be up to council to decide if Ward West should be designated.

Heritage Guelph recommended council look at adding Catholic Hill and Old Downtown CHLs to the city’s registry, which doesn’t come with the same protections as a cultural heritage district. However, if a demolition permit is sought, properties on the registry are given a 60-day reprieve so Heritage Guelph and council can consider whether formal designation and the accompanying protections should be put in place.

Put forward by Downer, council approved a motion directing the mayor and staff to “continue discussions”  with representatives of the Catholic Dioceses and Parish of the Basilica of Our Lady regarding future conservation plans for Catholic Hill.

The outcome of those discussions are to be reported to Heritage Guelph for further input and consideration.

Council also instructed city staff, in collaboration with Heritage Guelph, bring forward a financial incentives program for council to consider before or at the same time as the Ward West CHD recommendation.

A financial incentives proposal was previously expected to be introduced in the 2025 city budget, but it will now be moved up a year or so.


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Richard Vivian

About the Author: Richard Vivian

Richard Vivian is an award-winning journalist and longtime Guelph resident. He joined the GuelphToday team as assistant editor in 2020, largely covering municipal matters and general assignment duties
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