Heritage Day Goes Main Street!

The Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa (CHOOlCOPO) and the City of Ottawa are proud to co-host Heritage Day Tuesday, February 17th from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm in Jean Pigott Place, at Ottawa City Hall, and to embrace the Heritage Canada National Trust theme, Main Street:  at the heart of the community. The Main Street theme is also close to the heart of CHOO|COPO's Executive Director Catherine Lindquist, who has worked on many initiatives to revitalize and promote Ottawa's main street districts.  "Main Streets are primary, vibrant threads that weave together Ottawa's rich heritage tapestry," says Lindquist.  "They're our traditional destination for shopping, services, work and 'stepping out' for social times and surprise encounters.   And, the places where many memories are made and captured on film:  from festivals and victory parades to protest marches and devastating fires, and changing modes of transport to corresponding fashion trends." The FREE Heritage Day event will showcase a wide variety of heritage groups and interests, including:  museums, archives and historical societies, Franco-Ontarian and Aboriginal heritage, genealogical research, built heritage, archaeology, museum educators and natural heritage groups. "Heritage Day at City Hall is a virtual Main Street of our membership," says Lindquist. "It's an annual showcase of the impressive heritage offerings of our members across Ottawa and a celebration of heritage across Canada. A place for our members to meet and greet Ottawa residents and our elected representatives and invite them to discover more about our history - past, and in the making." And, apropos of the theme, during this year's proclamation, Mayor Jim Watson will recognize the Beechwood Village Alliance (BVA) - a volunteer collective of citizens from six communities that connect to and are working hard to revitalize Beechwood Avenue.