| Preserving Kincardine's old town hall represents positive leadership in the municipality |
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The future of Ontario's small towns hinges on averting the destruction of their past. Built history gives communities their beauty and identity. Saving heritage buildings from demolition is also sustainable and economic. Preservation, restoration and re-use of older buildings is a sustainable, cost-effective solution for communities. It is more efficient than the cost of demolition and rebuild; not to mention the embodied energy that becomes lost through the disposal from demolition. And the re-build almost always uses inferior materials that will ultimately need more frequent and costlier maintenance.Restoration makes good economic sense too. It stimulates the local building economy and creates a specialized market for local products and services geared to the specific architectural needs of an area or region. The restoration of Kincardine's old town hall demonstrates that Kincardine is onboard with the largest growing tourism sector in the world: heritage tourism. It is an industry of great economic potential. Culture, heritage and the arts have long contributed to the appeal of tourist destinations. The restoration and preservation of cultural heritage is considered internationally to be of paramount importance to community vitality and cultural continuity. It represents good economics as it contributes to the complexity of the townscape, attracting tourism while also providing usable public spaces which are varied in nature and speak about a place's history - without words. We are very fortunate in Kincardine to be receiving a two-thirds grant for the restoration of our town hall, making it both viable and economically sound. It is a good investment. It is also a wonderful example of our community leadership (on three levels of government) and of the strong and reinforced belief in the inherent value of cultural heritage.
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Fortunately, the decision to restore a building of heritage value is not based on whether we "like" or "dislike" the look of a building, but rather on the cultural and historical importance of that building to the community. It's extremely important that we don't bend to merely an aesthetic opinion or individual taste when deciding whether to save or demolish buildings. Preservation and restoration are tasks that should always be considered from many angles and comprehensively. Community planning begins by considering, with foresight, the economic, social and cultural needs of an area. Preserving historic built environments helps to shape the spatial environments which allow for cultural and social needs to be met. Preservation also presents enormous economic potential and when properly developed and managed, helps to protect a community's natural and cultural assets. The restoration of the old town hall in Kincardine represents positive leadership in our municipality. It is an exemplary building which will further define its rural Ontario placement and contribute to Kincardine's unique history. Athina Gatos Heritage Kincardine
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