Preserving our heritage through the Innisfil Municipal Heritage Committee
by Robert Rymell

Development is a necessary part of life, however, there is a definite need to preserve the History and Heritage of our community. As development progresses and lands become reused/sold and leave family hands, the history reflected by the structures left behind will be removed.

Possible sites may include;

Buildings Houses

Sections of buildings or houses Barns Cemeteries Gardens Equipment

Landscaping or gardens

In order to help preserve that heritage, Innisfil Council formed the Innisfil Municipal Heritage Committee. Currently the membership consists of representative of the Public, The Innisfil Historical Society and Council and these members are appointed for three years.

The Provincial Government has empowered the Municipalities with the tools necessary to preserve the history and heritage of our region by empowering them to put in place bylaws to protect specifics of the site. In general, however, the Innisfil Council is not necessarily in a position to know what should or should not be designated. This role is therefore deferred to a committee, The Innisfil Municipal Heritage Committee, whose purpose is to filter those items and determine what specifics should be designated. Once the prospective designation has been reviewed and specifics itemized and described, the committee then makes recommendations to Council in the way of a draft Bylaw for it to vote upon. So even though the Heritage Committee may recommend designation, Council could turn it down.

How the designation works however is not as onerous on the property owner as everyone thinks. It applies only to the items described in the bylaw.

In the near future you will be able to recognize our Heritage sites by a bronze plaque that will be clearly mounted and we are pleased to announce that the first such designation has been given to the Knock Community Centre.

Heritage is an important factor in our and our children's lives and should not be lost. If you know of a possible heritage site or want more information please contact the Committee through the Major's Office.