Heritage Consulting

Cultural Heritage Assessment Reports are often completed as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process. The process includes: heritage research, evaluation of the significance of potential cultural-heritage resource(s), analysis of impacts, and the recommendation of mitigation strategies for infrastructure improvements.

Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) are conducted in order to identify and document features with cultural heritage value or interest, examine potential impacts resulting from development or infrastructure improvements, and recommend mitigation measures for the conservation of significant cultural heritage resources within the development plan.

A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report (CHER) is carried out to assess the cultural heritage value or interest of a property. Under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process a CHER is required for any bridge over 40 years old. The Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Provincial Heritage Properties, also require CHERs for property over 40 years of age prior to demolition or transferring from provincial control.

Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act gives municipalities the ability to designate concentrations of cultural heritage resources as Heritage Conservation Districts (HCD). Districts are areas with cultural heritage value that contribute to a sense of place extending beyond individual buildings, structures, and landscapes. The HCD process includes the completion of an HCD Study and Plan.

A Municipal Heritage Register includes properties that are designated under Parts IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act. As well, properties that might not yet be designated may be included within the Register (called a "listing") where a Municipal Council believes them to have cultural-heritage value or interest. Work on a Municipal Heritage Register may include developing criteria for inclusion, reviewing existing inventories, conducting primary research, identifying properties for inclusion, and conducting public meetings.

Designation reports are used to inform by-laws to designate heritage properties under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. These reports include property research, a site visit, stakeholder consultation, evaluation according to Ontario Regulation 9/06, and Statements of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (CHVI), if the property is found to have heritage value.

Cultural Heritage Landscape Inventories are undertaken to identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential cultural heritage landscapes, heritage conservation districts, and other resource groupings within a municipality. Our staff are experienced at identifying cultural-heritage landscapes by documenting their cultural heritage features, and their important views and characteristics, as well as evaluating their significance.

ARA provides a team of trained and experienced researchers who conduct archival investigations in municipal and university facilities across Ontario, as well as at the Archives of Ontario. Our research extends to other primary sources such as land registry records, surveyors' notes, fire insurance plans, and historic maps, as well as census records and registries of marriage, birth, and death certificates. Oral histories are used when available, as are historic photographs and local histories to more fully understand the evolution of a property over time.

ARA’s Heritage Team also includes a Conservation Technician with experience in materials and collections conservation. For more information please see our Coordinated Heritage Services section.

ARA’s skills in developing interpretive plaques include conducting archival research, drafting plaque text, compiling historic images, acting as a liaison with graphic artists or completing the graphic design, and arranging for construction or installation.