Canada's Heritage Reimagined: More Than Just Bricks and Mortar

OTTAWA, ON – December 18, 2025 – By Laura Harris

The National Trust for Canada has unveiled the recipients of its 2025 Governors’ Awards, casting a spotlight on nine projects that are radically redefining the role of heritage in modern society. Moving far beyond the traditional image of velvet ropes and dusty artifacts, this year’s honourees demonstrate how historic sites are being transformed into powerful engines for social change, economic renewal, and community resilience across the nation.

The awards celebrate a diverse array of initiatives, from a former convent in Newfoundland providing social housing to a Saskatchewan city using "living heritage" to advance Reconciliation. Other recognized projects include the high-tech restoration of a beloved Montreal restaurant, the development of a mobile app that puts history in the palm of your hand, and a program training a new generation of artisans at a national historic site.

"It has been truly inspiring to learn more about these remarkable projects that are reimagining what heritage means in the 21st century,” stated Dr. Shabnam Inanloo Dailoo, Chair of the National Trust’s Board of Governors. The selections underscore a pivotal shift in the conservation field: heritage is no longer just about preserving the past, but about leveraging it to solve the pressing challenges of today.

Heritage as a Social Imperative

Nowhere is this shift more evident than in projects that place community well-being at their core. In St. John’s, Newfoundland, The Gathering Place has earned an award for the adaptive reuse of the former Sisters of Mercy Convent, a project that directly addresses urban poverty and homelessness. By transforming a historic institutional building into a vibrant service hub, the organization provides essential support—including meals, health services, and shelter—to the city’s most vulnerable residents. This initiative is a powerful testament to how heritage buildings can be repurposed to provide dignity and support, proving that conservation and social justice can be deeply intertwined.

Similarly, in Saskatchewan, the City of Humboldt, its Indigenous Advisory Circle, and Heritage Saskatchewan were lauded for a project focused on "Relationship Building and Reconciliation through Living Heritage." This initiative moves beyond static monuments to embrace the dynamic, ongoing nature of Indigenous culture, including oral traditions, knowledge systems, and cultural practices. By co-creating heritage narratives and fostering genuine dialogue, the project helps build trust and mutual respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. It serves as a model for how heritage work can be a crucial platform for Reconciliation, acknowledging difficult histories while forging a more inclusive future.

These projects exemplify a growing understanding that historic places hold immense potential to strengthen the social fabric. As one urban planning expert noted, "Heritage sites provide a tangible connection to our shared stories. When we adapt them to meet modern social needs, we're not just saving a building; we're reinforcing community identity and creating spaces for everyone to belong."

The Hands-On Economy of Preservation

The 2025 awards also highlight the significant economic and skill-building contributions of the heritage sector. A critical challenge facing the field is a widening skills gap, with an aging workforce of craftspeople and a shortage of new talent trained in traditional trades like masonry, timber framing, and blacksmithing.

An innovative partnership at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site in Nova Scotia directly confronts this issue. Parks Canada, in collaboration with Algonquin College, Holland College, and the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, received an award for a program that provides heritage trades students with invaluable hands-on work experience. Students learn by doing, applying their skills to the conservation of one of Canada's most significant historic sites. This initiative not only ensures the long-term stewardship of national treasures but also cultivates a new generation of skilled artisans, creating viable career paths and strengthening a specialized sector of the economy.

The economic impact of heritage is also on full display in major urban centers. In Montreal, the meticulous restoration of the legendary Le 9e restaurant by Ivanhoé Cambridge and EVOQ Architecture was recognized. Once the art deco jewel atop the former Eaton’s department store, the restaurant's revival has not only preserved an iconic cultural landmark but has also created jobs and is set to draw new visitors, contributing to the city's economic vitality. In Vancouver, Renewal Development was honoured for its work in rescuing and repurposing heritage buildings, demonstrating a business model that proves preservation is not only culturally responsible but also commercially viable. These projects show that investing in heritage is an investment in local prosperity, with studies indicating that every dollar spent on conservation generates a significant multiplier effect in the local community.

Innovation for a Sustainable Future

This year's awards firmly dispel any notion of heritage conservation as a practice stuck in the past. Innovation was a key theme, from the adoption of digital technology to the embrace of environmental sustainability.

The Manitoba Historical Society received an award for its MHS InSite app, a digital tool that transforms how the public interacts with history. The app allows users to explore the stories behind historic places across the province, providing accessible, location-based information and narratives. This use of technology makes heritage more engaging and available to a wider audience, breaking down the physical walls of museums and archives.

Meanwhile, the conservation of Victoria High School in British Columbia, a project by the Greater Victoria School District and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, showcases the intersection of heritage and environmental stewardship. Instead of demolition and new construction, the project focused on upgrading the historic school for continued use. This approach aligns with the principle that "the greenest building is the one that's already built," as it conserves the immense amount of embodied carbon within the existing structure and avoids the waste and emissions associated with new construction. By retrofitting historic buildings for energy efficiency and modern educational needs, such projects serve as powerful models for sustainable development.

From the conservation of Église Sainte-Marie in Nova Scotia to the interpretation of the Birchtown School House, home to Black Loyalist history, each awarded project tells a story of creative problem-solving. They demonstrate a national movement that views historic structures not as liabilities, but as adaptable, resilient assets ready to serve communities for another century. The collective message of the 2025 Governors' Awards is clear: Canada's past is not a static relic, but a dynamic resource for building a more inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable future.