Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Last updated
Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
AbbreviationHFNL
Established1984
Type Crown corporation
Legal statusactive
Purposearchitectural and intangible cultural heritage conservation
Headquarters St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Region
Newfoundland and Labrador
Website heritagenl.ca OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) or Heritage NL is a non-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador established in 1984 by the Historic Resources Act. [1] Its mandate is to stimulate an understanding of, and an appreciation for, the architectural and intangible cultural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. [2] In 2018 HFNL rebranded as Heritage NL for its public-facing work.

Contents

Organization

Work to establish Heritage NL started circa 1982 and later a piece of draft legislation was circulated by the Provincial Government with the intent to set up an organization to encourage the restoration and protection of historical and architecturally important elements of built heritage. [3] It was officially formed in 1984 under Part IV of Newfoundland and Labrador's Historic Resources Act. [4] Public folklorist Dale Gilbert Jarvis has been Executive Director since 2021. [5]

In 2019, Heritage NL was an inaugural winner of the Jeonju International Award for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage, [6] [7] and in 2023 received the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming, presented by Governor General Mary Simon at a ceremony at Rideau Hall, for its work highlighting a number of skills and crafts at risk of disappearing. [8] It organized a series of events in 2024 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. [9]

The foundation has organized a wide range of activities and events, including a long-running student poster contest, [10] mentor-apprentice programs, [11] youth heritage forums, [12] and community-based historical research. [13]

Built heritage

Heritage NL designates buildings and other structures as Registered Heritage Structures to preserve their history. [14] In 1995, the foundation began a series of architectural inventories for the province, starting with the Bonavista Peninsula region. [15] It also supports restoration projects for heritage structures, [16] provides grants to assist with heritage restoration [17] and ongoing maintenance, [18] and provides interpretative plaques for structures it has designated. [19]

Registered heritage districts

A Registered Heritage District is a geographical areas which "because of a concentration of older buildings and an absence of any extensive redevelopment, presents an especially powerful and cohesive image of the past." [20]

As of 2025, Heritage NL had designated six Registered Heritage Districts:

Intangible cultural heritage

In 2006, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador recognized a need "to pursue a set of basic, recognized steps in working to safeguard our intangible cultural heritage." [28] Following the report, in 2008, Heritage NL was chosen to lead and implement the province's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Strategy. It is the main centre of expertise in the province involved in ICH safeguarding through awareness-raising, documentation, fostering involvement, providing expert advice, revitalizing endangered ICH. [29] In the fall of 2008, Heritage NL completed a provincial needs assessment to measure the level of awareness of ICH issues at the community level, and to pinpoint key areas where assistance was needed. [30]

The mission of the initiative is to sustain ICH in Newfoundland and Labrador for present and future generations, as a vital part of the identities of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and as a valuable collection of unique knowledge and customs. [31] This includes work to document traditional skills and knowledge [32] and initiatives to safeguard culture and traditions for future generations, including organising festivals and special events celebrating different traditions. [33]

Specific examples of traditions studied or supported by Heritage NL include Christmas mummering, [34] boat building skills, Lebanese-Newfoundland history, [35] root cellars, [36] aviation history, [37] railway stories, [38] St. Patrick's Day candy, [39] traditional paint colours, [40] folk medicine, [41] fence making, [42] and Guy Fawkes Night. [43]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "RSNL1990 CHAPTER H-4 - HISTORIC RESOURCES ACT". Assembly.nl.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  2. ↑ "Who We Are - Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador". Heritagefoundation.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  3. ↑ Greenacre, Philip (1988). "Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador". In Hiscock, Philip (ed.). Heritage Conference '87 Proceedings. St. John's, NL. p. 23-24.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ↑ Whitten, Elizabeth (2022-02-11). "Preserving NL's Built Heritage is Key to Its Future". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  5. ↑ Sheppard, Noah. "Dale Jarvis Named Next Executive Director of Heritage NL". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  6. ↑ "Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage". search.ichngo.net. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  7. ↑ "Intangible cultural heritage earns tangible award — and cash — for Heritage NL". CBC News. 8 Oct 2019.
  8. ↑ Strickland, Sara. "Heritage NL Earns Governor General Award". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  9. ↑ King, Allison. "Heritage NL Celebrates 40th Anniversary". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  10. ↑ Power, Zack. "Heritage NL Announces Winners of 20th Annual Heritage Places Poster Contest". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  11. ↑ Duggan, Richard. "Heritage NL Keeping Endangered Crafts Alive Through Mentor-Apprentice Program". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  12. ↑ "Forging a career in the heritage sector". CBC.ca. 20 March 2025.
  13. ↑ King, Allison. "Heritage Foundation Working to Identify Cannon in Harbour Main". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  14. ↑ Martin, Becky (2022-03-11). "Heritage NL Reveals Four New Historical Properties | The Muse". The Muse. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  15. ↑ Jarvis, Dale Gilbert (1996). "The Bonavista Peninsula Heritage Inventory". Heritage Canada (November/December): 14–15.
  16. ↑ Irwin, Tom. "Restoration Underway For Legge Homestead In Cartyville". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  17. ↑ Strickland, Sara. "Six Heritage Properties Receive Grants Toward Restoration Work". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  18. ↑ Sheppard, Noah. "Heritage NL Announce Updated Funding Program for Heritage Structure Maintenance". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  19. ↑ King, Allison. "Salvage Fisherman's Museum to Receive Plaque in Recognition of Heritage Designation". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  20. 1 2 Harbour Grace Heritage District Report. St. John's: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. 1992. p. 3.
  21. ↑ Grimes, Jolene. "Harbour Grace to Revitalize Heritage District with New Master Plan". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  22. ↑ "The Canadian island with Irish accents". IrishCentral.com. 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  23. ↑ "Port Union picked for heritage designation". CBC News. 16 July 2007.
  24. ↑ "Downtown Woody Point Registered Heritage District". Heritage NL. Retrieved 18 Oct 2025.
  25. ↑ Mercer, Nick (29 September 2017). "Cable Avenue in Bay Roberts to become provincial heritage district". Saltwire.
  26. ↑ Roberts, Terry (27 September 2017). "What an anniversary gift for Cable Avenue". PNI Atlantic News. Retrieved 18 Oct 2025.
  27. ↑ Heart's Content Interpretive Framework and Landscape Development Plan (PDF). Mills and Wright. 2021. p. 44.
  28. ↑ Creative Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John's: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 2006. p. 34.
  29. ↑ Parmoun, Yadollah (9 November 2017). Research Report on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH): Basics and History (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.
  30. ↑ Jarvis, Dale Gilbert (2014). "Reframing and Extending Tradition: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Public Folklore in Newfoundland and Labrador". Volkskunde (3): 361–377.
  31. ↑ "Intangible Cultural Heritage - Types of ICH". Mun.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  32. ↑ King, Allison. "Heritage NL Seeking Baccalieu Trail 'Hidden Gems'". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  33. ↑ Jarvis, Dale Gilbert (2013). "ICH Documentation and Communities". ICH Courier. 17: 8–9.
  34. ↑ Strickland, Sara. "Mummering Remains Popular Tradition in Some NL Communities". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  35. ↑ Ward, Nick. "Heritage NL Compiling Information for Lebanese-Newfoundland Presentation". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  36. ↑ Smith, Greg. "Heritage NL Releases Online Exhibition on Root Cellars". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  37. ↑ Sheppard, Noah. "Heritage NL Adds Prominent Aviator to Historic Commemorations Program". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  38. ↑ King, Allison. "Heritage NL Looking for Stories from Avondale Railway Station". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  39. ↑ King, Allison. "Heritage NL to Release Video Showing How to Make Traditional St. Patrick's Day Candy". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  40. ↑ Sheppard, Noah. "Heritage NL Partners with Paint Shop to Highlight Traditional Colours Used in Province". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  41. ↑ Rossiter, Juanita (12 June 2023). "This not sorcery". PNI Atlantic News.
  42. ↑ Bulman, Andie (20 Feb 2022). "These fences are endangered in N.L., but a Ferryland handyman wants to help them prosper". CBC.
  43. ↑ "Guy Fawkes: How some communities are keeping a burning tradition". CBC News. 5 November 2015.
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