Over 200 heritage professionals and municipal and provincial administrators from across Ontario will gather in Cornwall over three days next May for the 2014 Ontario Heritage Conference.

The 26th annual conference will feature a variety of guest speakers, seminars and workshops focusing on heritage conservation, heritage tourism and other related topics. In addition, conference participants will have a chance to discover the Cornwall area’s rich heritage first-hand through tours of the Cotton Mills District, the Lost Villages Museum and a dinner at the Cornwall Armoury, among other events.

“As one of Ontario’s oldest communities, the City of Cornwall is very proud to host the Ontario Heritage Conference,” said Mayor Bob Kilger. “In recent years, the City of Cornwall has established itself as a model for the adaptive re-use of historically-significant properties. From the restored Central Public School to the ongoing redevelopment of the Cotton Mills District, we are finding a way to support new uses for heritage sites while also maintaining the important links to our past.”

The theme of this year’s conference is “Bridging The Past, Crossing Into The Future” – a reference to the new low-level bridge being built in Cornwall.

“The committee feels the new bridge is a ‘new beginning’ for Cornwall and an attraction we can build upon, to further enhance the presence of our community,” said Ginette Guy, Chair of the 2014 Ontario Heritage Conference Organizing Committee. “There will be something for everyone at this conference, giving attendees a chance to learn and gain valuable tools and ideas while discovering our region’s rich heritage.”

Confirmed speakers at the event include Dr. Avi Friedman of McGill University, Dr. Carol Payne of Carleton University and Mark Brandt, a Senior Conservation Architect with MTBA Associates Inc.

The NAV CENTRE will serve as the main venue for the conference, which will run from May 23 to 25. The event is being supported by Heritage-Patrimoine Cornwall, Community Heritage Ontario and The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. The City of Cornwall is a major sponsor of the conference. Registration for the conference will open in January.

Additional information on the conference, including details on the full conference program and sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities, can be found at www.ontarioheritageconference.ca.