BIO

Academics

MA  Art History/Museum Studies, University of Toronto

• Specialized in Canadian architectural history and documentation and interpretation of heritage sites
• Thesis title: “The History, Technology and Architecture of Historic Grist Mills in Southern Ontario”

BFA  Bachelor of Fine Art, University of Toronto (4 year program)

• Majored in Architectural History, particularly Canadian Architecture
• Documented, photographed, wrote catalogue with 2 other students to produce the  “Romanesque Toronto” architecture photo exhibition for the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (designed as a circulating exhibit)

• Planning Institute of BC: Participation at the BC Heritage Annual Conference, qualifies for 19 CPD Learning Units

• Environmental Planning, York University: completed first year of two-year graduate program

• Environmental Design, Exhibit Design: Ontario College of Art and Design credit semester courses

• Heritage Policy Development Course: Professional development with Heritage Branch, Ministry of Culture and Communications

Appointments/Awards

• Appointed to the Canada Council Arts Program Jury to assess grant applications for art, architecture and publication projects
• Awarded Canada Council grant and Bronfman Foundation grant for heritage book project

• Award for architectural photography at “World of Women Expo”, CNE, Toronto

EXPERIENCE

Heritage Positions

Ministry of Culture and Communications, Heritage Policy and Programs Branch, Toronto, Ontario (6 years) Community Development Officer Heritage Administration, Planning and Promotion

• Reviewed and administered operating grant and capital project grant applications for community heritage groups and museums; met regularly with Staff and Boards, on-site

• Advised Boards and Councils on capital development projects for historic buildings and museums; wrote “Terms of Reference for Planning Study”

• Acted as manager in absence of department
• Project Manager for Heritage Week Program to develop a client package and poster; consulted with community groups, historical societies and community museum staff, and the Ministry of Education and School Boards
• Responsible for heritage promotion programs and projects and advising heritage groups; workshops and given to community groups, museum staff on promotion of heritage resources to increase awareness and foster preservation  

Heritage Policy Development

• Prepared and developed policy in heritage conservation and program areas for input into the revised Ontario Heritage Act legislation proposal

City of Toronto Planning Department, Toronto ON
Heritage Conservation Planning (2 years)

• Researched, identified, documented and wrote report on historic buildings/areas in the downtown core for the purpose of designation (Toronto Core Heritage Report)
• Member of team of architects, planners and historians to develop designation criteria for heritage buildings and sites
• Met regularly with the Building and Development Committee to review and advise on building permit applications for designated buildings
• Intervened in demolition permits and made presentations to owners and City planners on heritage significance and proposed conservation of threatened properties

City of Ajax-Pickering, Pickering ON
Heritage Sites Manager (3 years)

• Responsible for all aspects of administration, planning and programming for 28 acre site with 15 historic buildings previously moved from Durham Region
• Supervised restoration and ongoing maintenance; managed staff and volunteers; reported monthly to Board of Directors (2 City council Members); responsible for $200,000 yearly budget
• Introduced heritage programs, projects, events and advertising campaign to triple public and school attendance in the first year

Heritage Planning Consulting Contracts: Projects, Studies

Ontario Heritage Foundation, Toronto, ON
Champlain Heritage Window Project, Project Co-ordinator (2 years)

• Contracted design, production and installation of a stained glass window for an historic church in Brouage, France, birthplace of Champlain
• Worked with the MacDonald Stewart Foundation, Montreal, (co-funder) developing project criteria, schedule and budget
• Designed and contracted production of replica window and exhibit for the unveiling ceremony in Toronto
• Project was a great success as a cultural co-project of 2 provinces and 2 countries

Parliamentary Heritage Exhibition Plan

• Evaluated existing exhibit and presented plan for developing two new galleries in the Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON

Bethune Thompson Heritage Property, Williamstown, ON  

• Developed a brochure and exhibition on the history, architecture and conservation methods used in restoration

George Brown House, Toronto ON

• As team member, planned restoration and retrofitting of heritage landmark for public and office use and developed interpretation programs and exhibits

Historic Elgin-Wintergarden Theatre Photo Documentation (4 months)

• Worked with restoration architects and original architectural plans to complete pre-restoration photography of all building interiors and exteriors

Ministry of Culture and Communications, Heritage Branch, Toronto, ON

 AMOCO Proposed Pipeline Impact Assessment Study

• Identified and documented heritage structures and areas in the proposed pipeline 750 km corridor
• Submitted a heritage report recommending planning strategies for preserving heritage building, neighbourhoods and towns

Parks Canada/Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Heritage Park Planner, Sault Ste. Marie

• Researched, documented and planned interpretation and public use of large industrial heritage park at the Locks

• Wrote and produced a 16-page booklet on heritage resources on this site including a walking tour guide “Industrial Heritage of Sault Ste. Marie”

Ontario Historic Railway Stations Study

• Researched stations’ history, current use and conservation; consulted with local architectural conservation associations

Ministry of Natural Resources, Cochrane, ON

Great Claybelt Heritage Park Planning Report

• Researched and documented heritage buildings in the Great Claybelt area for a proposed heritage park on the history of agriculture
• Produced report including site plan, recommendations for historic building types, conservation and restoration guidelines and methods, and interpretation programs

City of Sudbury, Sudbury, ON
Heritage Planning Study, Science North and Big Nickel Heritage Park

• Member of planning team, including City Council member, architect, archaeologist, historian, architect, and designer (6 months)

• Historic research on region, particularly mining history and related heritage mining sites
• Planning of heritage park development including identifying buildings for restoration and exhibit programming

Heritage Publications

Author, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Canada Ltd.

Mills of Canada, 198-pp hardcover illustrated

• On the history, technology and architecture of historic mills, grist, wind and sawmills in central and eastern Canada; visited all sites and photographed buildings and sites
• 3 years of research, site visits and photography

The General Store, 104 pp hardcover illustrated

• On the history and architecture of general stores in Ontario
• 2 years in research, site visits and photography

“This is Ontario” magazine, Don Mills, ON

• Writer and editor of articles on heritage sites, eg. The General Store and tourism related topics

FORUM, publication of the Canadian Association of Heritage Consultants

• Editor of articles on developments in conservation work, and principles and practices of heritage conservation
• Received input from all professions connected with heritage conservation

Contributing writer of entry “Mills in Canada” for The New Canadian Junior Encyclopaedia, University of Alberta

Research and Writing of all Studies, Reports and Projects listed

Teaching/Presentations

• Provincial Capital Commission, Victoria BC
  Marketing Plan and Power Point presentation on heritage program as submission for competition
  
• Pacific Design Academy, Victoria BC, Teacher
  Developed Architectural History Course for Building Technology Program with emphasis on architectural styles and buildings in Victoria
  Initiated Victoria Heritage student projects; initiated and led walking tours of Victoria’s heritage streets and buildings
  
  
• Lecturer
  Presenter of paper, “Working with Boards on Capital Heritage Projects”, Ontario Museums Association Conference
  Documenting Heritage Architecture lecture, University of Toronto
  Canadian Architectural History lectures at University of Guelph, Historical Boards and Societies
  Photography of Architecture guest lecturer, University of Victoria, Continuing Studies