Heritage Halton Hills Committee

About the Committee

The Heritage Halton Hills Committee is an advisory body composed of community members appointed by Council, with a mandate to identify, protect, and preserve the Town’s historic assets. Chaired by a member of Council, the committee brings together individuals with diverse skills and a shared passion for heritage conservation. Their work helps safeguard irreplaceable structures—such as Devereaux House and the Georgetown Public Library—while promoting the cultural and architectural distinctiveness that enriches the community.

Members

Below are the members of the Heritage Halton Hills Committee for the 2022-2026 Term.

Councillor Clark Somerville - Chair
Councillor Matt Kindbom
Ted Brown
Charles Donaldson
Ray Denny
Lawrence Quinlan
John (Mark) Rowe
Alison Walker

Meetings

Upcoming meetings, agendas and previous meeting minutes for the Heritage Halton Hills Committee can be found on the Town's Municipal Calendar.

What we do

Heritage Halton Hills assists the Town Council in making decisions on matters that relate to properties with historic or architectural value. In addition, we promote heritage conservation awareness within the community and advise property owners on appropriate conservation and maintenance practices. A property can be significant because of its age, originality, architecture or association with a person or event of historical importance. Such a property can be residential, public or commercial.

Our committee evaluates and rates potential heritage properties on specific criteria, using guidelines from the Ontario Heritage Act, usually at the request of a homeowner. Occasionally, the committee will reach out to the owner of a suitable property to see if they would be interested in designation.

Preserving our heritage

Heritage is what is left to us by previous generations, helping us identify ourselves as a community and foster a sense of place. We preserve because we value Halton Hills' strong heritage presence. We cherish our parks and properties that make us unique.

Heritage designation publicly identifies properties that are historically, architecturally or aesthetically significant. It empowers the Town to conserve and safeguard these properties for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Heritage designation is registered on the title and can ensure that a property is protected well into the future.

Listed Properties	Designated Properties
Are of cultural heritage value or interest, but not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.	Are of cultural heritage value or interest and are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act through the enactment of a municipal by-law.
Must give the Town a notice of sixty days of any intention to demolish the property for the Town to consider conservation options.	Require the consent of Council for any alteration or removal of the heritage features of the property as listed on the designation.
Do not require Council's consent for any alterations to the property, provided they adhere to the Property Standard By-Law.	The Ontario Heritage Act requires all municipal heritage registries to identify properties designated under Parts IV (individually designated properties) and V (Heritage Conservation Districts) of the Act.

Note: The Town's Heritage Register includes both individually designated properties and properties within Heritage Conservation Districts, as required by the Ontario Heritage Act.

Myths & misconceptions

Heritage designation does not restrict owners from making alterations to their property. Changes may be necessary for economic or structural viability. Our mandate requires us, without fee, to advise owners on appropriate conservation and maintenance practices so that any changes respect the heritage value of the building.

As a rule, only outside features of a designated property are listed. Interior features are not usually designated, although property owners can designate interior heritage features if they so choose.

Designation does not make a property less attractive in the marketplace. In fact, studies have shown that residential heritage properties may increase in value faster than other properties and better retain their value when the real estate market is down.

Listed properties do not automatically result in future designation, nor do they need to be listed first to be designated.

Heritage Designation

Heritage designation helps protect properties that have historical, architectural, or cultural significance. The designation process is free and open to all property owners, with properties evaluated based on a range of factors, including unique features, historical connections, and community value.

Once Heritage Halton Hills receives your request, a Committee member will contact you to discuss the process and arrange a time to evaluate your property. Heritage Halton Hills will then decide whether or not to recommend your property for designation to the Town Council. If approved by Council, your property is given a Heritage Designation through a by-law. Owners are expected to maintain the property's historic character as identified under the designation.

Designated property owners may be eligible for benefits such as a 20% property tax refund, matching grants for heritage-related improvements, and a commemorative bronze plaque. Heritage designation also helps preserve the character and history of Halton Hills for future generations while recognizing the important role these properties play in the community.

Visit our Heritage Planning webpage to learn more.