Heritage

Peterborough-Nogojiwanong is a place rich in Indigenous and settler cultural heritage. Beneath our feet the land carries the stories of the many generations who have called this area home, stories which form a vital part of the city's identity today. The City's Heritage Preservation Office (HPO) strives to create a collective understanding and presentation of our heritage that speaks to the value it holds for all of us. The HPO develops and administers programs relating to the preservation of historic places within the city including structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites. The HPO provides advice and outreach to the public and supports the work of staff, committees and Council relating to a range of cultural heritage matters. The Heritage Preservation Office also maintains a Heritage Register of Listed and Designated Heritage Properties under the Ontario Heritage Act.

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City resources

• A Property Owner's Guide to Heritage Designation
• Heritage Contractor List
• The Avenues and Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District Plan Document

The Ontario Heritage Act

The Ontario Heritage Act Current Version

Ontario Heritage Trust

The Ontario Heritage Trust is the provincial body that protects and promotes heritage in Ontario. The Trust looks after a number of historic sites in Ontario and provides resources relating to the building conservation. The Trust also organizes events and workshops to help promote and provide education about the province's heritage.

National Trust for Canada

The National Trust for Canada is an organization dedicated to the preservation of heritage sites across Canada. They provide educational programming, resources, advocacy and support for historic sites across the country.

Ontario Heritage Tool Kit

The Ontario Heritage Tool Kit is a series of guides designed to help people understand heritage conservation in Ontario. The different guides include information on heritage designation, property research and evaluation, and the conservation of places of faith.

Doors Open Ontario

Doors Open Ontario began in 2002. It is a province-wide initiative that invites visitors to experience unique and exciting heritage sites that are not normally open to the public. Events take place in communities across Ontario annually from April to October.

Canadian Register of Historic Places

The Canadian Register of Historic Places is a searchable database of historic sites across Canada.

Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada

The Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada is a federal set of guidelines developed by Parks Canada to assist with the conservation of historic places across Canada. This document provides practical advice on approaching conservation and restoration of historic sites and properties.

The Provincial Policy Statement 2020 - Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

Provincial Policy Statement 2020 Document

Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee

The City's Municipal Heritage Committee – the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) is mandated by the Ontario Heritage Act to provide recommendations to Council on matters relating to heritage, including the designation of properties. The Committee also hosts a variety of events each year to bring awareness to heritage in the city and to provide resources to owners of heritage buildings.