TRACE architectures is committed to supporting rural communities in their efforts to protect their built and natural heritage. We take pride in highlighting the essential role architecture and conservation legislation plays in preserving and celebrating the rich rural built and natural heritage nestled between Ottawa and Kingston. The Rideau Lakes Heritage Matters event was an opportunity to learn about the specific challenges these regions face, but to also lend our voice to local community leaders and organizations who are instrumental in safeguarding these historic places.
Rural areas tend to have unique challenges and characteristics that require specific understanding and expertise. These spaces often rely on grassroots local organizations, sometimes even specific people, who care for and see value in preserving their community heritage. By better understanding rural issues in context, we can better contribute to meaningful acts of conservation, often entangled with a larger community’s identity and personal heritage. Therefore, conservation can take form of sensitive design and restoration practices, and/or promoting the development of sustainable tourism strategies, environmental stewardship and resilience.
A Historic Milestone
Last Monday, June 26, TRACE architectures’ Sabina Barrett attended “Heritage Matters: A Meet and Greet” in Rideau Lakes, hosted at the historic Red Brick School in Elgin, ON. This special event marked the first gathering of local historical societies and heritage stakeholders including the Township of Rideau Lakes, the Rideau Lakes Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, Parks Canada, the Ontario Historical Society, among others. The purpose of this meeting was to collaborate regarding challenges in preserving, promoting, and utilizing historical assets, with the goal of providing a lasting impact that future generations can be proud of.
About Rideau Lakes
Situated between Kingston and Ottawa, Rideau Lakes is a picturesque region known for its natural beauty, charming communities, and historical significance. The area encompasses a series of lakes, rivers, and canals, the most notable being the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as several charming communities including Newboro, Elgin, Portland, Delta, Chaffey’s Lock, Morton, Jones Falls, and Lombardy. Beyond the construction of the Rideau Canal, the region played a vital role in the development of Upper Canada with settlements and industrial activities emerging along the numerous waterways.
Ontario Historical Society
The Ontario Historical Society (OHS) Executive Director Daniel Dishaw gave invaluable insight into the role of the OHS, which has supported historical and heritage groups throughout the province since 1888. The OHS works to incorporate new historical societies, help establish constitutions, by-laws, and boards of directors, as well as helping with outreach, charitable tax status, grant writing and applications, advocacy issues, and political challenges. The OHS also publishes their scholarly journal Ontario History and hosts a heritage directory which includes a large database of heritage sites, historical societies, artefacts and more. Together these resources are vital to the function of these groups, who are vital in preserving archives and both built and natural heritage assets.
Township of Rideau Lakes
Cultural Heritage and Economic Development Coordinator Marie White highlighted the recent accomplishment of creating the Township’s first Cultural Heritage Strategic Plan in 2020, with direct support from the various historical societies of the area. The Township has already begun to put their commitment to supporting heritage values interests by fulfilling many of the goals set out in the Plan.
In light of the recent Provincial Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act, the Township has indicated that together, with the help of the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, the intent for properties that are currently listed (non-designated) will be kept on the Municipal register for posterity and future use. Efforts to transition to this new strategy are ongoing as part of the Township’s Cultural Heritage Strategic Plan.
Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee
The Rideau Lakes Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) was established in 2005 to advise and assist on all matters related to the Ontario Heritage Act and to advance the recommendations in the Cultural Heritage Strategic Plan. MHAC Interim Chair George German drew attention to the need for heritage societies to start talking to each other for the long-term success of our work to share strategies, expertise, and ideas.
Parks Canada
Parks Canada Manager of Operations Mark Brus offered his perspective from his 28 years working on the Rideau Canal. As many of us know, Parks Canada’s mission is to protect Canada’s nationally significant natural and cultural heritage. Over a span of 202 km, the Rideau Canal welcomes roughly 60,000 boats through the lock system each year and over 1 million land based visitors to our lock stations. In the last 7-8 years, over $180 million has gone into the locks, bridges and dams along the canal for repairs and maintenance. Parks Canada is also working on its Visitor Experience Strategy which is part of their new 10-year Management Plan to be issued by 2025 as well as the Long-Term Asset Sustainability Strategy. There are also many opportunities for collaboration with local groups as several of Park’s Canada’s assets along the Rideau corridor remain vacant.
Rideau Lakes Archives
Dustin Bulloch, Board Member of the Rideau Lakes Public Library (RLPL) spoke about the Heritage Centre located at the Delta Branch of the RLPL. The space was acquired in 2015 and since work to digitize the growing archival collection has been ongoing. The RLPL received a Federal Archival Grant which helped get the digitization process started. The challenge, however, is securing sustainable funding to manage and support the collection. Presently, the Archives run on a very limited budget of $500 and one volunteer staff.
Rideau Lakes Heritage Network
The Rideau Lakes Heritage Network was established in 2018 and currently consists of six historic societies including:
- Newboro & Area Heritage Society
- Delta Mill Society
- Elgin & Area Heritage Society
- Chaffey’s Locks & Area Heritage Society
- Portland on the Rideau Historical Society
- Bastard & South Burgess Heritage Society
These groups are led by a dedicated group of volunteers from the community, all of whom contribute their unique personal stories to the collective efforts to preserve the heritage value of Rideau Lakes.
Indigenous Heritage Recognition
Mireille LaPointe, Professor and Elder-in-Residence (Oshkabeywis) at Queen’s University and former Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, joined to offer her congratulations on the work that has been done to preserve the history of settler presence in this area, but more importantly to raise awareness that the same level of effort should be done to preserve Indigenous History.
Mireille encouraged all to look up Anthropologist & Archaeologist Paulette Steeves whose lectures you can find on YouTube and recent book The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere. Acknowledging and incorporating Indigenous history and heritage into the collective works has been identified as one of the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, and is a top priority for all Rideau Lakes historic societies to acknowledge and incorporate into their collective works. Last week marked the first step in this journey to reconcile these oversights.
Heritage Driving Tours
The Township of Rideau Lakes offers three immersive driving tours which can be found here: Rideau Lakes Heritage Driving Tours
Here are two of the most significant sites in Rideau Lakes, which we visited last week:
Lockmaster's Museum - Chaffey's Lock, ON
The Lockmaster’s House, constructed in 1844, was a defensive structure against American raiders targeting the canal in Chaffey’s Lock, ON. Occupied until 1967, the house served as the social centre of Chaffey’s. After being abandoned in 1982, the house underwent extensive renovations and was transformed into a community museum. The museum showcases exhibits on the economic and social life of Chaffey’s and includes a permanent exhibit depicting the history of the house and the village. The museum opened on the 150th anniversary of the Rideau Canal and has since become a significant attraction.
Old Stone Mill National Historic Site - Delta, ON
The Old Stone Mill in Delta, ON, is a National Historic Site that showcases the region’s industrial heritage and milling technology from the 1800s. Constructed in 1810, it remains an excellent representation of early industrial architecture and the earliest surviving example of a fully automatic flour mill in Ontario. In 1963, the Mill was entrusted to the Delta Mill Society for the symbolic amount of one dollar by its last owner Hastings Steele, who aimed to ensure its preservation and transformation into a milling technology museum. Recognizing its importance, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada declared the Old Stone Mill a National Historic Site in 1970 and was further designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1978, solidifying its protected status. Following an extensive $2 million renovation from 1999 to 2003, visitors can now explore the mill and observe its operating waterwheel, millstones, bolter, grain elevators, and various artefacts that depict the grist milling process throughout history.
New Connections
Sabina has recently connected with members of the Rideau Lakes Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee and will be volunteering on a regular basis following last week’s event. She also happens to own a historic home in Rideau Lakes of which she is in the early stages of research for potential heritage designation. She also may have found a major clue to the significance of her home during this event’s guided tour… and to her surprise, it is already listed on one of the Rideau Lakes driving tours. Can you guess which one it is? Keep an eye out for a future blog post to find out!
We look forward to seeing the work of these groups come to life and we hope to continue to work with the Township of Rideau Lakes on future projects.
