Call for nominations to Ontario Heritage Trust community recognition programs

TORONTO, March 29, 2012 /CNW/ - The Ontario Heritage Trust is seeking nominations to its Young Heritage Leaders, Heritage Community Recognition and Community Leadership programs. The annual nomination deadline is June 30.

The Trust's recognition programs celebrate volunteer and community contributions to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage. The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award is the highest level of recognition awarded through the programs.

"By conserving our heritage, volunteers and communities help to ensure that Ontario's history lives on," said Dr. Thomas H.B. Symons, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust. "Our past tells the story of how life in Ontario has changed and evolved over time, which enriches our understanding and experience of living in Ontario today."

"The Ontario Heritage Trust's recognition programs provide an important opportunity to celebrate volunteers and communities for their contributions to heritage conservation," said Michael Chan Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "Through their commitment and dedication, nominees help preserve and promote our shared history for generations to come."

Achievements in built, cultural and natural heritage conservation are eligible for recognition through the programs:

• Young Heritage Leaders recognizes exceptional young volunteers. The top individual and group nominees are eligible for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement. The most outstanding individual also receives a $2,000 post-secondary scholarship, awarded by the Ontario Heritage Trust and program sponsors Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life.
• The Heritage Community Recognition Program celebrates volunteers for local conservation activities. Individuals with contributions over a period of 25 years or more can be nominated for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement.
• The Community Leadership Program recognizes communities for leadership in heritage conservation and promotion. Through the program, communities can nominate themselves for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership.

Nominations to the recognition programs must be endorsed by a motion of a municipal council, regional council, First Nation band council or Métis community council and include supporting material. For Young Heritage Leaders, school principals can also endorse nominations.

Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life have supported the Young Heritage Leaders program since its inception with funding through the companies' national corporate citizenship program.

"We have sponsored Young Heritage Leaders for more than a decade because we understand the value of encouraging youth to take the lead in preserving local heritage and ecology," said Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs, for Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "We are pleased that our long-term support helps the Ontario Heritage Trust recognize and inspire young leaders to greater involvement as we all work to build stronger communities together."

The Ontario Heritage Trust is an agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

Learn more:

• Program guidelines and nomination forms are available at www.heritagetrust.on.ca.

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For further information:

Liane Nowosielski
Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist
Ontario Heritage Trust
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected] 

Marlene Klassen
Assistant Vice-President, Communication Services
Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]