Heritage conservation planning in Saint John, New Brunswick: The importance of heritage conservation and looking to a future with social justice
Subject
Abstract
Canada has a long history of Heritage conservation across all levels of government and
through the use of many different tools. Canada is also a multicultural diverse nation, but often it
has focused on one dominant narrative in heritage, often centered on the affluent and rich or
colonial powers. Heritage is not just built aesthetic style, but the intangible evolution of our
relationships with space. Heritage is part of our identity and fosters a sense of community;
without the full story we are lesser. We need to ask ourselves, who and how is heritage
designated in our system, whose heritage has this conserved, and as we move forward, how can
we bring a social justice lens to our planning. Using a case study of Saint John, New Brunswick,
the oldest incorporated city in Canada with a large amount of conserved heritage, we can start to
see who has been involved in designating and conserving heritage. Interviews with people
involved will also help to bring into focus perceptions of who decides what is heritage worthy
and how they think we could improve heritage planning. We are trying to improve our planning
system so that in the future, our heritage conservation better reflects our diversity as Canadians.