Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement

The Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement recognizes the most exceptional individuals and groups that have contributed to conserving Ontario’s cultural and/or natural heritage. Individual nominees are also eligible for the Young Heritage Leaders $3,500 scholarship for post-secondary education, sponsored by Canada Life.

Who can be nominated?

The successful candidates — whether individuals or all members of groups — must meet the following criteria. They should:

• be age 24 and under at the time of the nomination submission deadline
• be residents of Ontario
• have made exceptional volunteer contributions (that is, they have not received payment) to heritage conservation
• have demonstrated:
  • leadership
  • commitment
  • creativity
  • positive impact on the community, region or province
  • good conservation practices

Note: Directors and employees of the Ontario Heritage Trust and members of their immediate families are not eligible.

Who can nominate?

Nominators can include:

• local, regional or provincial youth organizations
• local, regional or provincial heritage organizations
• university and college registrars and/or department heads
• school principals
• conservation authorities
• municipal or regional councils
• First Nations band councils
• Métis community councils
• Ontario Heritage Trust staff

Note: Nominations submitted by municipal councils, regional councils, First Nations band councils or Métis community councils must be supported by a motion of council.

What projects are eligible?

• service to cultural heritage and natural heritage/environmental organizations or institutions, including:
  • municipal heritage committees
  • conservation authorities
  • land trusts
  • diverse cultural communities
  • environmental organizations
  • museums
  • historical and archaeological sites
• fundraising and promotion to support conservation activities
• research and writing, development of publications, creation and delivery of public programming and interpretation and exhibits, websites and other educational material on local history, cultural/natural heritage, the environment, and/or natural history
• conservation and interpretation of:
  • artifacts
  • archival materials
  • photographs
  • environmental information and collections
• development and delivery of activities or events that identify, safeguard and promote intangible cultural heritage, including:
  • oral traditions
  • expressions
  • language
  • performing arts — for example, music, dance or theatre
  • social practices
  • rituals/ceremonies and festive events
  • knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
  • traditional craftsmanship
• promotion, celebration and preservation of cultural heritage and biological diversity
• activities that protect, steward and conserve natural heritage, including:
  • restoring species-at-risk habitats
  • areas of natural and scientific interest
  • provincially significant wetlands
  • watersheds
  • other environmentally sensitive areas
• activities that protect, steward and conserve cultural heritage, including:
  • buildings/structures
  • streetscapes
  • gardens
  • cultural landscapes
  • heritage conservation districts