National Trust Announces the City of Westmount as the 2018 Recipient of The Prince of Wales Prize
OTTAWA, ON, October 16, 2018 – The City of Westmount, QC will receive The Prince of Wales Prize in recognition of its sustained commitment to heritage conservation over time, seen in the quality of its environment, its committed leadership, and its highly engaged residents.
The Prince of Wales Prize is the National Trust for Canada’s most prestigious prize.
In keeping with his commitment to architecture, the environment, and inner-city renewal, His Royal Highness agreed to lend his title to the creation of The Prince of Wales Prize. The Prize is awarded annually, recognizing communities and their local governments for the successful heritage stewardship of a town, city, rural region, First Nations reserve or community. Previous recipients include Québec City, QC; Perth, ON; Charlottetown, PE; Annapolis Royal, NS; Markham, ON; Victoria, BC; Saint John, NB; St. John’s, NL; Aurora, ON; Edmonton, AB; Oakville, ON; Saguenay (Arvida), QC; Grimsby, ON; Owen Sound, ON; Bonavista, NL; Richmond, BC; and Thorold, ON.
“We are very proud of this recognition of our leadership in the preservation of our cultural, built and landscaped heritage,” said City of Westmount Mayor Christina M. Smith. “Our winning submission would not have been possible without the involvement of numerous key players. We are deeply indebted to them all for their diligent work and generous collaboration, which has resulted in this most significant honour.”
The Prize will be presented on the October 19, 2018 at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, NB during a ceremony held as part of the National Trust’s Annual Conference.
BACKGROUNDER
The 2018 Prince of Wales Prize recognizes the City of Westmount, Quebec for its sustained commitment to heritage conservation over time. A picturesque historic enclave bordering the downtown core of Montreal, Westmount owes its extraordinary beauty and cohesiveness to a long tradition of municipal leadership and a strong record of citizen engagement.
Celebrated for its distinctive streets, outstanding public parks, private gardens and architecture, the city is blessed with the work of many notable architects, including the Maxwell brothers, Percy Nobbs, Hutchison and Wood, J.O. Marchand and Mies van der Rohe.
Over generations, Westmount has employed a careful and methodical approach to protecting and enhancing its heritage qualities. Conservation by-laws have been championed and enforced by municipal leaders, integrated into the municipal construction guidelines, and enthusiastically supported by the city’s architectural review committee which celebrated 100 years of continuous operation in 2016. Since 1995, the city has identified 39 distinct character areas, and more than 4000 properties have been inventoried for their heritage significance. The Local Heritage Council, established by the City in 2016, has initiated forward-looking planning projects, including a heritage assessment of all the city’s houses of worship, in collaboration with each religious community.
The municipal government itself owns several important historic places and is a careful and exemplary steward. Further, new construction is designed to minimize its impact on existing character, and on the environment: for example, the 2014 LEED certified Westmount Recreation Centre – containing two hockey rinks and an outdoor pool – was built almost entirely underground to limit its visual impact on historic Westmount Park. Recognizing that heritage encompasses more than bricks and mortar, the City financially supports various cultural traditions, such as the lawn bowling club, military folklore, family day and horticultural activities.
In 2011, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recognized the Westmount District as a National Historic Site, noting its rich abundance of the architectural styles and landscaped architectural trends that marked the period between 1890 and 1930, and the efforts of local citizens who, from the early 20th century onwards, sought to protect the diversity and historic integrity of the district’s built environment.
The 2018 Prince of Wales Prize recognizes the City of Westmount for its sustained commitment to heritage conservation over time, seen in the quality of its environment, its committed leadership and its highly engaged residents.
About the National Trust for Canada
The National Trust for Canada leads and inspires action for places that matter. Our sites, projects and programs engage Canadians, enhance local identity and bring heritage to life. Visit us at www.nationaltrustcanada.ca.
The National Trust’s Awards honour contributions to community, identity, and sense of place. Learn more at www.nationaltrustcanada.ca/awards.
MEDIA CONTACT
Katrina Guerin
Manager, Communications
National Trust for Canada
613-237-1066 ext. 229
Cell: 613-222-3009
kguerin@nationaltrustcanada.ca