Hello HCLT Supporters!

In late October, our own board members Kathy Stacey and Allison Maxted participated in the National Trust Conference 2016, Heritage Rising. The aim of the conference was to discuss the interconnecting issues heritage buildings and planning, gentrification, and affordable housing from myriad perspectives: What role do our heritage buildings serve in the modern economy? What roles can we play in their preservation and continued use? What effect is heritage-led regeneration having on Hamilton’s modern civic and social fabric? There are no easy answers to such questions.

Attended and panelled by such creative and academic minds as Dr. Richard Harris, professor of Geography at McMaster University, Keanin Loomis, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, and Tim Potocic, director of Supercrawl, the Hamilton Community Land Trust came up often as a point of discussion – both during Kathy’s panel discussion with Dr. Harris as an ongoing theme during the conference as an example of an organization that proposes and actively works toward solutions. Most notably, the HCLT was mentioned numerous times during a session at which the Honourable Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, was present and gave a speech on the importance of culture and its basis within the three Vs of value, vibe, and virtuosity.

We at the HCLT are proud to have been represented at the conference by Allison and Kathy!