From Ottawa to Canada House, London

INTO got off to a quick start and was invited to participate in discussions with the Ottawa government about the establishment of a National Trust of Canada in March 2008.

“A Round-table Conference for heritage conservation bodies was held in Ottawa in March 2008 to discuss the establishment of a National Trust for Canada. Bill Turner, a member of the INTO Executive Committee, attended, representing The Land Conservancy of British Columbia. Also in attendance were David Brown, INTO Executive Committee member, and Oliver Maurice, who presented the models for the National Trust for Historic Preservation (USA) and the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.”

(Interestingly, since this meeting, the Heritage Canada Foundation, modeled on the UK National Trust and established in 1973, has reclaimed the name, National Trust for Canada, to enable it to better carry out its mandate to promote the preservation of Canada’s historic buildings and places.)

In November 2008, a celebration of the opening of the INTO Secretariat in London was held in at Canada House by kind permission of the Canadian High Commissioner. This wonderful reception provided an opportunity to showcase our work, particularly how the global family of National Trusts is responding to – and leading in – a changing world. The event was attended by representatives of the UK heritage sector, the diplomatic community, parliamentarians, funders and the media.