Last night, (November 12th) Heritage Toronto held a public symposium at the city’s St. Lawrence Hall. On the agenda: the history, and future, of some of Toronto’s most important heritage sites.
And here’s what was especially interesting: none of the sites were buildings.
Instead, the symposium, which brought together experts from the Toronto Environmental Alliance, Ontario Heritage Trust, City of Toronto and Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), examined the city’s "natural heritage" - the valleys, ravines, and forests that form an essential part of the city’s ecosystem.
"Our natural heritage, it’s something that we inherited from the past, that we take care of in the present and that we pass on to future generations," explains Jane Weninger, senior planner with the City and a speaker at last night’s event. "In Toronto, [natural heritage] is concentrated in our river valleys, along our ravines and in our shorelines as well as in unique places like the Toronto Island, High Park and the Rouge valley…"
Last night’s symposium, and it's panel of guest experts, explored the history of some of these places, their importance, and what the City is doing to protect them.
"I think the symposium will give a lot of different perspectives on what natural heritage is and how people think about it and why it’s so important to our city," says Weninger. "It’s something we take for granted, but we need to take care of it so we can pass it on to future generations."
Last night, Weninger spoke to the assembled guest about the ways the City has approached this important stewardship.
Just over a decade ago, the City of Toronto, in partnership with the TRCA, completed the first comprehensive survey of Toronto’s natural heritage. The result of that work has been an ongoing commitment—reflected in official planning documents--to protect the identified areas.
"Now [thanks to the study] we have an official plan that contains a plan for the natural heritage system," says Weninger. "During the survey we identified the natural heritage in our city and we used that to develop maps and policies."
Among other provisions, Toronto rarely allows development in the Don Valley (or, if it does, requires a study and assessment of the impact on natural heritage), has a number of bylaws protecting ravines and trees, and regularly holds tree planting events to help restore some of Toronto’s lost forest.
"We need to protect these areas, it’s a critical part of having a city. Our economies and our communities need to have a healthy natural environment and natural heritage is a big part of that."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Heritage Toronto; Jane Weninger, City of Toronto
Photo of the Scarborough bluffs by Joseph Morris.