Committees of the HTNS

The Awards Committee reviews nomination submissions for our Built Heritage Award.  Awards for restorations completed within the past five years are presented annually at a special Awards event in February during Heritage Week.

> more about the Awards Committee

The Buildings at Risk Fund Committee evaluates applications and recommends to the Board the awarding of small grants for the repair of buildings and sites. The Committee may also work with owners to find appropriate craftspeople and advisors.

This committee works towards finding solutions for buildings deteriorating through neglect and buildings slated for demolition – buildings under threat. The Committee has a budget for financial assistance. Through our resources, the history of the building can be used as a means for justifying its retention and restoration. The committee can provide assistance as to best practices in maintaining a building or its important elements.

> more about the Buildings at Risk Fund

The Communities Committee highlights heritage issues and events in areas of the province outside Halifax Regional Municipality. They bring issues to the attention of the Board and lend assistance to projects of other organizations. The Committee also takes an active rôle in heritage projects in other parts of the province, such as restoration workshops, assisting in establishing and overseeing heritage property registrations and districts, and recently, the restoration of the Gardiner’s Mill Dam.

>more about the work of the Communities Committee

This Committee is tasked with preparing educational programs and activities to cultivate interest in our built heritage. The committee focuses on material for schools, for walking tours, and for public heritage programs. The Committee also recognizes heritage projects presented by students at the annual Historica Fairs.

>more about recent Education Committee projects

During this time we are presenting Lectures and Events online to observe to Covid 19 restrictions.

The Heritage Trust presents a program of illustrated talks on matters of interest to our Society at the Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, on the third Thursday of each month from September through May. We also use this opportunity to update our audience on issues of interest to our organization. The talks are followed by refreshments. Talks are free and open to the public.

> more about our events and programs

This HRM Committee communicates to the Board issues of concern within Halifax Regional Municipality. This committee has been very active in protecting views from Citadel Hill, in advocating the establishment of HRM’s first Heritage Conservation District, and has had considerable input in the recent HRM-by-Design plan. Members have submitted briefs and letters to various levels of government respecting development issues in HRM, and have joined with other community organizations to save heritage in this historic city.

>more about recent HRM Committee projects

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia creates a quarterly publication, The Griffin, which is distributed free of charge to our members in March, June, September and December. We welcome articles from individuals around the province on heritage issues, news, and events – such as heritage tours. The publication notifies members of events of other societies around the province.

Chair/Contact: griffin@htns.ca

>more about our Quarterly

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has published several books which can be ordered through our website. This committee is also responsible, from time to time, for production of pamphlets, brochures and printed material relating to issues of interest to Heritage Trust and for materials in support of events sponsored by the Trust.

>more about our books & brochures

Our Communications Committee is responsible for creating and maintaining an effective public image for the Society, and oversees the publication of materials to promote the activities and aims of the Society.

>contact our Communications Committee

Our ecclesiastical architecture is particularly under threat and this committee is dedicated to cataloguing our religious buildings, promoting policies to protect them, and publicizing their architectural importance to Canada.

The Places of Worship Committee shall act in accordance with the bylaws of the HTNS to meet the mission statement, vision and core beliefs of the HTNS by promoting public interest in and the conservation of the Places of Worship that are of historical and cultural significance to Nova Scotia including ancillary places such as glebe houses, manses, cemeteries, convents, church halls, etc. It will accomplish these goals by means of the following activities:

- publishing
- offering lectures and workshops
- co-sponsoring symposia and other educational opportunities
- offering architectural tours
- cataloguing Places of Worship and promoting policies to protect them including those that are no longer needed for worship.

>more about Religious Structures