The purpose of this memorandum is to provide Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee with background information on the Heritage Reference List Strategic Initiative and its implications for the rural area.

1. M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C E
Information previously distributed / Information distribué auparavant
TO: Mayor and Members of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
DESTINATAIRE : Maire et membres du Comité de l’agriculture et des affaires rurales
FROM: Michael Mizzi
Acting General Manager, Planning and
Growth Management
(613) 580-2424, 15788
Michael.Mizzi@ottawa.ca
Contact :
Lee Ann Snedden
Acting Chief, Development Review
Services, Planning and Growth
Management
(613) 580-2424, 25779
LeeAnn.Snedden@ottawa.ca
EXPÉDITEUR : Michael Mizzi
Directeur général par intérim,
Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
(613) 580-2424, 15788
Michael.Mizzi@ottawa.ca
Personne ressource :
Lee Ann Snedden
Chef par intérim, Services d'examen
demandes d'aménagement-Services,
Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
(613) 580-2424, 25779
LeeAnn.Snedden@ottawa.ca
DATE: January 21, 2016
21 janvier 2016
FILE NUMBER: ACS2016-PAI-PGM-0036
SUBJECT: Launching the Heritage Reference List Strategic Initiative
OBJET : Lancement de l’Initiative stratégique relative à la Liste de référence des
biens à valeur patrimoniale

2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
with background information on the Heritage Reference List Strategic Initiative and its
implications for the rural area.
BACKGROUND
On July 8, 2015 Council approved the Term of Council Priorities for 2015–2018, which
included the Heritage Reference List Strategic Initiative. While the strategic initiative
consists of two separate components; reviewing the heritage reference list and initiating
heritage conservation district studies, the reference list is the sole component with rural
implications. As such, the Heritage Conservation District Studies will not be discussed
in this memorandum.
The Heritage Reference List was created to provide city staff and the public with a
comprehensive list of buildings with heritage value throughout the municipality. Inclusion
on the Heritage Reference List, which now numbers about 10,000 buildings; however,
offers no protection to the buildings listed.
The initial list was developed in the 1980s. After amalgamation in 2001, all buildings that
had been listed from the former municipalities were added to the amalgamated City’s
Heritage Reference List. The inventories and lists from the former municipalities had
been compiled over a long period of time, using a variety of methodologies.
Since the initial inventories were completed, buildings have been added on an ongoing
basis. Conversely, buildings have been demolished and not removed from the list. In
addition, while the list is intended for use by the public as well as staff, the public cannot
access it easily and it is not available online.
DISCUSSION
Through the Heritage Reference List Strategic Initiative all areas of the city will be
reviewed, starting with the area inside the greenbelt. Distinct historically relevant
neighbourhoods, villages or rural areas will be researched and the heritage value of
buildings therein will be evaluated in relation to the local context. In addition to buildings,
other heritage resources, such as bridges and parks, will be reviewed and their cultural
heritage value analyzed. Today’s rural Ottawa is planned for completion in 2017 to
ensure that cultural heritage resources representing original townships within the
current rural context have been identified.

3. Once the new inventory is complete, the ultimate goal of the project is to add these
cultural heritage resources to the Council approved Heritage Register, and eliminate the
Heritage Reference List in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.
Members of the public, property owners and buyers, community associations and the
development community will benefit from the new Heritage Register as it will bring
clarity to what has cultural heritage value, and what does not.
Finally, the Register will be available to the public on Ottawa.ca. A publicly available
document will enable easy identification of resources with cultural heritage value when
evaluating potential development sites.
Questions regarding the Heritage Reference List Strategic Initiative should be directed
to Sally Coutts, Coordinator, Heritage Services, at extension 13474.
Original signed by
Michael Mizzi
CC: Don Herweyer, Acting Manager, Development Review Services