Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award recipients announced

TORONTO, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - As part of the province's Heritage Week celebrations, the 2009 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards will be presented for outstanding contributions to the preservation, protection and promotion of Ontario's heritage.

"Preserving our heritage enriches the quality of life for Ontarians and makes a valuable contribution to our communities," said the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. "These award recipients have made outstanding achievements to conserve Ontario's heritage and I'm pleased to recognize their accomplishments."

The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards recognize achievements in three categories:

    
    -  19 individuals will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage
       Award for Lifetime Achievement for volunteer contributions to
       conserving community heritage over a period of 25 years or more

    -  One individual and two groups will receive the Lieutenant Governor's
       Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement for exceptional voluntary
       contributions by young people to heritage conservation

    -  Four communities will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario
       Heritage Award for Community Leadership for exemplary leadership in
       heritage conservation and promotion
    

The Lieutenant Governor will present the awards at a Queen's Park ceremony on February 19, in the presence of the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust.

"Each year, many communities and volunteers help to preserve Ontario's heritage," said Mr. Alexander. "Those being recognized with the Lieutenant Governor's Awards have made exceptional contributions and this is an opportunity to highlight their achievements."

In addition to being recognized by the Lieutenant Governor, the individual Youth Achievement Award recipient will also be given a $2,000 scholarship to assist with future post-secondary education. The scholarship is funded by the Ontario Heritage Trust and Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, sponsors of the Trust's Young Heritage Leaders program.

"Ontario Heritage Week is a time to celebrate communities and volunteers who are working to conserve our unique and diverse heritage," said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "I'm pleased to see these award recipients recognized for their contributions to the province."

The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards are administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.

    
    Quick Facts:

    -  The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards were established in
       2007 by the Honourable James K. Bartleman, former Lieutenant Governor
       of Ontario, in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust.

    -  Nominations for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards are
       submitted by municipal and regional councils, First Nation band
       councils, Métis community councils and schools from across the
       province to recognize local contributions to heritage conservation.
    

Learn More:

- See the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award Recipients 2009 backgrounder (http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/userfiles/page_attachments/Library/1/3328232_LGOHA_09_Recipients_Backgrounder_ENG.pdf).

- For additional information on the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards, including how to submit nominations, visit www.heritagetrust.on.ca or www.lt.gov.on.ca.

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For further information: Catrina Colme, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Ontario Heritage Trust, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Nanda Casucci-Byrne, Chief of Staff, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Telephone: [phone]