The Town of Smiths Falls retained Stantec Consulting Ltd. In early 2024 to complete the Downtown Smiths Falls Heritage Conservation District Study.

An HCD is an area that is protected by a municipality under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. It provides a framework for protecting and conserving heritage resources by creating policies and guidelines to manage change and new development within the district. The HCD Study is the first stage of a two-phase process. The goal of the Study is to determine whether an area warrants designation as an HCD, and what that designation would entail, or if there are other planning tools that should be considered.

“The launch of the Heritage Conservation District Study highlights the importance the Town places on our downtown core and the role of heritage in developing a unique sense of place” stated Karl Grenke, Manager of Development Services. “The story of the downtown is told through the varied history of our built form. We are eager to hear from the community what they value, what is most important to conserve and also the stories and history of this area that make it special.”

The first of two Public Information Centres (PICs) for the study phase of the project will be hosted on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at the Town Hall Welcome Centre from 5-7 PM. The PIC will be a drop-in open house format event, with staff from the Town and Stantec available to answer questions and provide information.

For more information about participating in the HCD Study, please visit: smithsfalls.ca/heritageconservationdistrictstudy or contact: Karl Grenke, Manager of Development Services at 613-283-4124 Ext. 1116 or kgrenke@smithsfalls.ca.

Media Contact

Joanne Plontz

Communications and Marketing Coordinator

77 Beckwith Street N, Box 695

Smiths Falls, ON K7A 2B8

613-283-4124 ext. 1122