Ontario Heritage Trust facts for kids

The Ontario Heritage Centre in Toronto is the main office of the Ontario Heritage Trust.

An office inside the Ontario Heritage Centre.

An archive room in the basement.

The Ontario Heritage Trust (also known as the Fiducie du patrimoine ontarien in French) is a special group in Ontario, Canada. It is a non-profit agency that works with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Its main job is to protect, save, and share the important history of Ontario. This includes old buildings, natural places, and cultural traditions. Ontario is the province with the most people in Canada.

History of the Trust

How the Trust Started

The Ontario Heritage Trust started a long time ago. In the 1950s, it was first called the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board. This group looked after old places and important historical spots.

Becoming the Ontario Heritage Foundation

In 1967, the government of Ontario made it an official organization. It was then named the Ontario Heritage Foundation. This change helped it do more to protect heritage.

New Name: Ontario Heritage Trust

Later, in 2005, its name changed again to the Ontario Heritage Trust. This happened because of an update to the Ontario Heritage Act. This act is a law that helps protect Ontario's history.

The Provincial Plaque Program

One of the most famous things the Trust does is the Provincial Plaque Program. Since 1956, they have put up over 1,200 blue and gold plaques. These plaques are like special signs. They tell people about important historical events or places. Most of these plaques are in Ontario. But some are also in other countries like the United States, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

The Trust's Headquarters

The main office for the Ontario Heritage Trust is in Toronto. It is located at 10 Adelaide Street East. This building is also known as the Birkbeck Building or the Ontario Heritage Centre. It is a historic building itself. In 2012, this building was used in a TV show called Beauty & the Beast. It was shown as a police station in New York City.

Historic Buildings Owned by the Trust

The Ontario Heritage Trust also owns many historic buildings. These buildings are important parts of Ontario's past. They help us remember how people lived and worked long ago. Here is a list of some of the buildings they own:

Ontario Sports Awards Program

The Ontario Heritage Trust also celebrates achievements in sports. In 1965, they started to honor sports heroes. Then, in 1975, they officially created the Ontario Sport Awards Program. This program recognizes great athletes and teams from Ontario.