Heritage policy

The Ville de Montréal has begun developing a Politique du patrimoine (Heritage Policy), which it will submit to public consultation at the end of 2004, thereby fulfilling one of its commitments from the Montréal Summit in June of 2002.

As the notion of heritage continues to expand to encompass different dimensions, heritage preservation and enhancement will require a comprehensive vision. By establishing a Heritage Policy, the City intends to provide exemplary leadership, favouring development based on collective vision and shared responsibility. The City also intends to use its heritage to drive cultural, social and economic development and, in doing so, to contribute to the quality of its living environments.

The Policy proposes that all municipal action be centred around two efforts:

The establishment of a system to organize action founded on a partnership and the sharing of responsibilities between the City and different actors;

The concrete application of this organizational model so that the City acts as an exemplary property owner and manager.

The Master Plan and the by-laws based on it will be the primary policy instruments for the implementation of the Heritage Policy.

15.4

Preserve and enhance the natural heritage

Heritage policy

The City intends to maintain and intensify efforts aimed at enhancing Montréal’s heritage and raising awareness of its richness and potential.

In this regard, activities such as the Opération patrimoine architectural de Montréal (Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign), the launching of the Montréal Heritage Internet site and the discovery tour of Old Montréal’s archaeological sites are eloquent examples of the reach and popularity of existing measures.

Implementation measures

Develop and implement the Politique du patrimoine (Heritage Policy) governing all municipal efforts to preserve and enhance heritage resources and to increase public awareness.
Evaluate incentives to protect and enhance the built heritage.
Incorporate heritage concerns in municipal subsidy programs that do not specifically target built heritage.
Increase educational efforts, particularly by developing and distributing technical guides, holding educational workshops, presenting awards to single out conservation and enhancement efforts and organizing media events such as the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign.
Support local efforts aimed at enhancing, interpreting and raising awareness of the built, archaeological and natural heritage.
Enhance the heritage through the Plan lumière de Montréal (Montréal’s Lighting Plan) by lighting exceptional heritage elements in the urban landscape (see Objective 11).