The St. Catharines Heritage Permit Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to City Council and staff on heritage permit applications and demolitions in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA).
Responsibilities
Committee members must be familiar with and consider staff-provided heritage district plans and guidelines, by-laws designating individual properties under the OHA, the St. Catharines Official Plan, Ontario Heritage Tool Kit and any other provincial or applicable heritage resource necessary for duties.
The committee may also be invited to St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee meetings as needed. Members must also be prepared to consider all permit applications within 90 days as required by the OHA.
Meetings
The committee meets monthly or at the Chair's discretion. Meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Burgoyne Woods Room at City Hall. View our committee meeting calendar for upcoming meeting dates.
Some meetings may involve site visits to properties that are the subject of heritage permit applications. Members should expect involvement beyond the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.
Agendas and minutes
View the committee's meeting agendas and meeting minutes.
Committee members
- John Bacher
- David Bergen
- John Crawley
- Robert De Wolfe (Co-chair)
- Andrew Humeniuk (Vice-chair)
- Brian Narhi (Co-chair)
- Holly Washuta
- James Neilson, Heritage Planner (staff liaison)
The membership term for the committee lasts for the term duration of City Council or as determined by Council.
Eligibility
You are eligible to be appointed to the committee if you:
- Are an eligible voter in St. Catharines or Niagara Region; and
- Have a demonstrated connection or knowledge on St. Catharines heritage; or
- Have previous experience interpreting heritage district guidelines or plans; or
- Have a demonstrated interest in heritage matters through membership in local or provincial heritage organizations; and
- Have heritage skills and experience in the following fields, including but not limited to:
- Architecture and design
- Heritage related research
- Historical public outreach and education
- History and genealogy
- Planning and geography
- Restoration, conservation and construction
Preference will be given to St. Catharines residents. Members may also serve on the St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee.
Operational structure
Recommendations from the committee on heritage permits and demolitions go to our Director of Planning and Building Services or to Council, as appropriate. For all other purposes, including administrative or general policy matters, the committee reports to the Cultural Sustainability Committee. The Chair is also a member of the Cultural Sustainability Committee.
For administrative support, the department assigns a secretary to the committee and a representative (who may be the secretary) also serves as an advisor to the committee and provides professional support, technical advice, research, budget preparation and control.