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President's Report for 2005-2006

Submitted to the Annual General Meeting at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, November 16, 2006

The Trust operates now in a fast-moving, well-connected, multi-skilled national network of organizations and individuals. The challenges we have to meet are societally significant. As one of our chief colleagues, the Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) in Ottawa (www.heritagecanada.org) argues, we face "four important aspects of heritage conservation today: the economics of heritage preservation - showing that heritage pays, heritage tourism - a fast growing phenomenon, heritage preservation in the sustainable development context, and the heritage workforce - a human resources issue."(www.advocacyaction.org)

Fredericton therefore may continue to celebrate and use its remaining magnificent inheritance of a built environment, on both sides of the river, but it is evident from many conversations I had around Fredericton that we, as citizens of a growing city, could be more pro-active, especially with education, research and advocacy efforts. The 22nd century's legacy of built heritage is being constructed now, so how might such construction literally build in heritage components to link the past and the future? Children are growing into adults, but with what understanding of how a visible respect for heritage helps create their communal and individual identities? How might the various 21st century generations respectfully enhance, via policies and incentives, our built legacy opportunities? Mindful of such questions, the Trust designed a programme for 2006 to address some of them and to strengthen partnerships with other organisations.

The Trust and the Provincial Archives teamed up to provide a workshop (January 11) on how to research a privately owned heritage property. In late January, we hosted a short visit to the city by the new Executive Director of Heritage Canada Foundation, the internationally respected Natalie Bull (ex NB).

February 16, 2006 saw the celebration of Heritage Week with the Lt. Governor presenting the Trust's Awards for outstanding heritage work, with the Trust's gift to the City for the planting of ten large trees during Arbor Day in May, and a talk by the Clerk of the Legislature about the heritage restoration work in the Legislature she continues to supervise.

March 18 and April 29 saw a duo of well-attended, well-presented lecture/workshops by Dr. Renee Losier on design and colour issues for heritage interiors and exteriors.

In May, for Arbor Day, the Trust, with the City's Recreation Department and Parks and Trees Division, held a successful tree planting on both sides of the river followed by heritage quizzes about the bridge and surrounding houses and the unveiling of new heritage photographs for the Trail Hub building on Station St. The Provincial Archives was a third partner for the trail project.

From April to June the Board worked on arrangements for the first, community-wide heritage photo contest. November16th is the finale -- the prize giving. The top 28 images will be exhibited publicly, beginning in the City Hall Gallery. The contest attracted 80 entrants with 150 (approx) images eligible for judging.

In July, the Garden Tour was again a sell-out, thanks to the work of Barbara Hughes Campbell, John Welling, and garden owners.

The fall period saw intensive, partnership-based planning with the Heritage Branch for the Provincial Heritage Forum, November 1-3. Noteworthy in that event were the ideas and experience that experts from across Canada brought and what they took away; for example, admiration for the Legislature and Old Government House restorations and their hopes that more heritage-minded citizens of Fredericton will assert the economic and cultural importance of heritage. One key result from the Forum was the intention to explore the planning for a provincial heritage trust umbrella organisation, thus bringing NB into the ambits of similar organizations across Canada.

Regarding information sources, the website (www.heritagefredericton.org) continues to garner praise. Thanks to several Trust members, and especially John Leroux, a revised edition of Building capital was prepared and copies printed for sale on/after November 16th.

A review of Heritage Canada Foundation recommended heritage legislation from municipalities and a few provinces is now underway, thanks to the UNB Law School's pro bono programme. Prof. Richard Bird is supervising two Law students, with input from Trust members.

The 2007 year will see more activity that builds on what is needed here and what is happening across Canada. Today’s technology helps us enormously in learning how to mesh with the national scene, but it also raises the bar somewhat in terms of keeping up with new ideas and designing realistic strategies for heritage as community economics, heritage as local tourism, and heritage as regional sustainable community development.

Many people worked hard this year to create what you've just read about. Thank you, and especially to Board members, for those great contributions. In particular, and because of the Trust's award to him on November 15, I pay particular tribute to Bill Thorpe, who never hesitated to respond to my requests for advice or help, and whose keen eye on the clock and the conversations kept Trust Board meetings moving along most expeditiously.

Liz Burge