CAPITAL HERITAGE CONNEXION PATRIMOINE CAPITALE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 FROM THE ACTING PRESIDENT Dear Members, It is a pleasure to connect once again as we look back at the successes of 2019 and chart a course forward together through the unexpected challenges of 2020. My incredible experience as a Mentor in last year’s Capital Heritage Mentorship Program gave me the opportunity to see first-hand the passion and professionalism CHC staff bring to every project. Creating powerful and transformative connections within the heritage community is why CHC exists. The Board of Directors is proud to work with such a dedicated and hardworking team. We thank them for all of their efforts. We also extend warm wishes and sincere thanks to all of the amazing volunteers who played such a vital role in the success of our events in 2019. The Board has recently completed work on a 3-year Strategic Plan. We are tremendously enthusiastic about what we can achieve by focusing on delivering value to our members. We will concentrate on strengthening members’ capacity and facilitating connections within the heritage communities through training, mentorship and other resources. There is no doubt that the heritage sector, in all its many facets, has been hit extremely hard by COVID-19. In response, we eliminated membership fees and offered refunds to those who had already paid. We have also been running free “ConneX” Zoom sessions. These events bring together members from across the region and special guests from further afield to collectively brainstorm the best ways through this crisis. At times like these, it is so nice to see many friendly and supportive faces. While the road ahead is challenging, we look forward with optimism and a strong desire to serve our members. Jim Dean, Creative Director, Haunted Walks Inc. Acting President 1 ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Valued Members, Overall, 2019 was a positive year for the Capital and our Heritage sector and community. We became a metropolitan area of over 1 Million residents, with a new brand: Canada in One City. Capital Heritage Connexion was pleased to lead or collaborate on strategic initiatives in support of the Capitals’ Heritage and broader Culture sectors and particularly, our valued Members –as highlighted in this 2019-20 Annual Report. But 2019 left with an unhappy, unforeseen legacy, the Novel Coronavirus, that would wreak world- wide havoc in 2020. As one of our Members said this Spring as his business was first reeling from COVID-19 and 100 staff layoffs, “What a year this week has been.” And that was just at the outset of this unforeseen force that hit so many, fast, and hard. Capital Heritage has been working throughout these long months to pursue and provide support for Heritage stakeholders during these challenging COVID-19 coping times. And, promoting and supporting their impressive initiatives to pivot through what has become a pandemic paradigm shift: online exhibits, tours and activities; pick-up activity packages; ‘bubble tours’; and virtual gatherings and meetings. Looking ahead to 2021, we know things won’t be as they once were, but rather a new normal. We look forward to continuing to support and serve our friends in Heritage in the coming days. We wish you health and success in the coming year. With Best Regards, Catherine Lindquist, Executive Director 2 WHO WE ARE ABOUT Capital Heritage Connexion Patrimoine de la Capitale (CHC|CPC) is an umbrella organization serving organizations, businesses, and individuals who are interested in the history and heritage of the greater Capital area. We play a leading role in supporting, developing, and sustaining the heritage sector and ensuring local residents have access to and engagement with our region’s history and heritage. To achieve its objectives, CHC|CPC works closely with museums, archives, historical and genealogical societies, cultural communities, heritage buildings, built and natural sites, spaces and features, as well as a range of heritage scholars, supporters and advocates. We act as an important liaison with all three levels of government and other cultural and economic umbrella groups. OUR VISION OUR MISSION Our well connected heritage and history To connect, promote, and strengthen the Capital communities contribute to the Capital area’s area’s heritage and history communities by creating vitality, and are recognized as having opportunities for collaboration and development as intrinsic value. well as provide cultural leadership. COLLABORATION DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION We recognize that collaboration We support and seek diversity is the best way to leverage and and equity in our Membership, share the collective insights of our Board, Staff, partners, heritage and history communities. collaborators and participants in Heritage. We foster the development of emerging heritage professionals We encourage people of all as our future heritage abilities, languages, cultures and leaders. communities in their heritage activities. OUR VALUES RESPECT RESPONSIVENESS We treat each other We respond to the needs of our and our Members members by undertaking creative with respect and forward thinking initiatives and compassion. to address challenges and opportunities. 3 OUR TEAM Executive Director Catherine Lindquist continues to bring her multi-faceted leadership skills to the helm of CHC. She was very pleased to hire our new talented Program Manager, Natalie Hart – previously our impressive Intern through the Young Canada Works Building Careers Through Heritage program and Mentee in our 2019 Capital Heritage Mentorship Program. And, to hire our new keen and creative Communications Coordinator, Trisha Booth. This dedicated ‘Team ConneX’ continues to focus their considerable energies on serving and advancing the Capital’s Heritage sector, notably our valued Members. BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF Acting President: Jim Dean Executive Director: Catherine Lindquist Past President: Kelly Eyamie Program Manager: Natalie Hart Treasurer: Sébastien Labelle Communications Coordinator: Trisha Booth Directors: Cindy Stelmackowich, Resource Support: Emily McKay David Dean, André Mersereau, Outgoing: Cassandra Marsillo, Kimberley MacDonald Nathalie Picard, Outgoing: Teigan Goldsmith, Molly McGuire, Chrissie Unterhoffer, Monica Ferguson, Annie Lapointe Justin Labelle STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK Capital Heritage Connexion has identified fiveKey Result Areas (KRAs) to focus on in the three coming years in order to continue to move towards achieving its vision and improve the delivery of its mandate: 3. Advocacy 5.Organizational 1. Membership and Leadership Sustainability and Capacity 2. Programs 4. Marketing and Events and Branding 4 CULTURAL LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY MAYOR’S TASKFORCE Our Executive Director continued to serve on the The Summit was a great success, with 100 Mayor’s Heritage Matters Taskforce. In addition to attendees, advance media coverage, and Mayor receiving updates on a heritage property ‘watch list’ Jim Watson making an appearance. Together and leveraging increased investment in built heritage with Ottawa Festival Network representatives grants, the taskforce secured new financial incentives our Executive Director co-presented Cultural for heritage property conservation. Tourism/the OTTAWA Experience Kiosk pilot project; and served as a media spokesperson. We were pleased that the City took steps with a heritage She flagged highlights of an interview with Alan action plan, to help respond to the concerns flagged Neal/CBC Radio ‘All in a Day’ and Kelly Hill in the ‘Ottawa’s Heritage Conservation Districts at Risk of Hill Strategies to the Mayor, which he then Report and Recommendations’ prepared by Julian referenced in his State of the City Address. Smith, October 2018 -including assigning heritage staff to liaise with each neighbourhood. Building on this supporting research and further consultations, in August 2019, the Alliance And, pleased to have advocated for increased finalized and released A Liveable City for All: investment in the Heritage Grant Program (from A New Cultural Roadmap for Ottawa 2019-22 $150,000 to $300,000 in 2019) and to see this –which maps out the path to an Ottawa where all maintained in 2020. Even with the doubled investment, citizens can take part in Ottawa’s culture scene. applications exceeded the budget. One reason for a This new community-driven Cultural Roadmap great response rate was a postcard promo campaign recommends the strategy and priorities for in targeted heritage areas, which we recommended culture, and was also intended to inform Ottawa be done again in 2020. Also approved for 2020 was City Council’s planning, for the next four years. $500,000 in new funding for Heritage Tax Relief as an The Roadmap was funded by, developed in incentive to invest in the rehabilitation of commercial consultation with, and submitted to, the City of heritage buildings. Ottawa’s Arts and Heritage Development Unit. OTTAWA CULTURAL ALLIANCE The General Manager, Recreation, Culture and Facility Services subsequently advised the The Alliance held the Ottawa Cultural Summit at City would be developing a municipal 10-year the Ottawa Art Gallery in January 2019 with expert Cultural Development Plan, with consultations panelists and break out group consultations on findings in 2020-21. And, that “The Cultural Roadmap, from extensive research and consultations (available at together with the Official Plan, Ottawa Next: ottawaculture.ca): Beyond 2036, the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan, the Ottawa Music Strategy