Annual Heritage Day Workshop and Celebration

From Arts in Guelph- January/February, 2003

by Anna Contini

For the past five years, the Grand Strategy Heritage Working Group has a variety of workshops related to the Grand River watershed. Through these workshops, participants have been able to learn about the river's fascinating history and the issues related to the conservation and interpretation of its heritage resources.

The 6th Annual Heritage Day Workshop and Celebration will take place on Friday, February 14, 2003, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan Street, Guelph. The theme is Grand Renewals: Adaptive Reuse and the Cultural Landscape.

Workshop sessions will provide insight about what constitutes a cultural landscape; why cultural landscapes are important within the Grand River watershed; and why adaptive reuse is important in retaining our cultural landscapes. Case studies will highlight successful efforts to undertake adaptive reuse from a variety of perspectives. The roster of knowledgeable speakers includes Gordon Nelson, Gil Stelter, Val Harrison, Rick Haldenby, Tom Lammer, Lloyd Grinham, Jean Haalboom, Charles Simon and Nancy Pollock-Ellwand.

The Guelph Youth Music Centre is a fitting venue for the workshop because it is a stellar example of adaptive reuse. The Centre, located on the banks of the Speed River, was originally a warehouse. Although owned by the City of Guelph, the building was renovated by a small, determined group of supporters who contributed more than

20 000 hours of volunteer labour, solicited in-kind donations of construction materials and secured financial support from both the public and private sector.

The Heritage Day Workshop is free but limited to 200 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations will not be accepted after February 7.

To register, contact Cheryl Coutts or Vaille Laur at the City of Guelph (519)837-5616 or register on-line at www.city.guelph.on.ca.