Members of the Edmonton Heritage Council team joined heritage professionals from across Canada at this year’s National Trust Conference in Montreal, marking another successful gathering of Canada’s largest heritage learning and networking event. Our team was proud to contribute to meaningful discussions around inclusive heritage preservation and Indigenous perspectives.
Attendees to the Black caucus roundtable discussion, including co-facilitators Daliso Mwanza and Graham Nickerson
A significant highlight was the first- ever Black Canadian Heritage Roundtable, co-chaired by our Research and Policy Lead, Dali Mwanza. This groundbreaking session created space for important conversations about preserving and celebrating Black heritage across Canada, marking a crucial step forward in representing diverse heritage narratives. Dali also had the opportunity to tour the historic Little Burgundy United Church, exploring how this significant landmark has served Montreal’s Black community and learning about ongoing preservation efforts that honor its cultural importance.
Amber Paquette introduces her film kayâseskamik during the UNTOLD Heritage Stories Film Night.
We were especially proud to see our FIRE Community Outreach Coordinator, Amber Paquette, make waves at the conference in two significant ways. Amber showcased her powerful film “kayâseskamik” (The Ancient World), contributing to the growing recognition of Indigenous storytelling in heritage work. Adding to this achievement, Amber was elected Vice President of the Indigenous Heritage Circle, positioning her to further advance Indigenous heritage preservation at the national level. Amber also participated in crucial panel discussions with Indigenous Heritage Circle panelists, including Kenneth Deer, who shared valuable insights about implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in heritage work. These conversations highlighted practical approaches for meaningful Indigenous engagement and sovereignty in heritage preservation, providing our team with important guidance for future initiatives.
Between sessions, our team visited the MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, where we explored their innovative approach to community-driven heritage. The MEM’s permanent exhibit exemplifies how heritage institutions can effectively mobilize citizens to tell their city’s story. Their commitment to collecting and presenting first-hand accounts from Montreal’s diverse communities resonated strongly with our own vision for inclusive heritage work in Edmonton. The center’s approach to celebrating “Montreality” – the authentic, multilayered identity of the city – offered valuable insights for our own community engagement practices.
Browsing through the MEM’s permanent exhibition, which “invites you to explore the city from the inside, through the eyes of those who call it home. Building on some one hundred first-hand accounts, it showcases the unique life stories that have shaped the community that is Montréal.”
The conference, which has been bringing heritage advocates together since 1974, once again proved its value as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing and relationship building. From discussions about preservation techniques to conversations about integrating diverse cultural perspectives, the event reinforced the importance of collaborative approaches to heritage conservation.
Our team returns to Edmonton energized and inspired, ready to apply new insights and connections to our local heritage work. The conference and our visit to the MEM reminded us that heritage preservation is not just about protecting buildings and artifacts, but about weaving together the diverse stories that make our communities unique.
Looking forward, we’re excited to build on these connections and continue working towards a more inclusive and representative approach to heritage preservation in Edmonton.