Cabbagetown currently has four Heritage Conservation Districts, north of Carlton Street between Sherbourne Street and the Don Valley, that contain 1,700 properties. These districts have been designated by City Council over the past decade, the first one in 2002. As the result of research work conducted by community volunteers, the fifth and last residential Cabbagetown HCD proposal is now complete. This covers the area south to Shuter; each of the approximately 750 properties in the area has been extensively documented by members of the Cabbagetown Heritage Advisory Committee.

A neighbourhood meeting has been organized at Central Neighbourhood House, 349 Ontario Street, for Wednesday, February 22, 7-9PM to:

• present the historical research findings of the project
• demistify “Heritage Conservation District”designation
• discuss the benefits of heritage designation to the community
• explore how HCD designation works based on the past 10 years’ experience in other parts of Cabbagetown.
• define the role of the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Advisory Committee.

Artifacts, whether found in museums, our community, or our homes, offer glimpses into the past. Be they documents, photographs, books, or clothing, as custodians of our history, we're faced with how to maintain these items. Professional conservator Kennis Kim tells us how.

Topics discussed include: creating an accession list; the nature of conservation, restoration, and preservation; deciding on display, storage, or using the artifact; common threats such as light, humidity, insects, and rodents; and when to call in a professional. Here is what is needed to determine what can be done to preserve precious articles for future generations.

There will also be a short presentation by Branch member Marian Press on "Using the databases on the TPL web site".

Please note: There will be a $5.00 charge at the door for non-members of the Ontario Genealogical Society.