Hill Day 2025: A United Voice for Heritage

On December 9, the National Trust for Canada joined with other Canada-wide heritage organizations to meet with Parliamentarians.  The purpose of Heritage Hill Day was to raise awareness about the heritage sector and seek support on specific heritage issues. 

Heritage Hill Day 2025 was a collaboration between the National Trust, the Canadian Museums  Association, the Indigenous Heritage Circle, and the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals.  Delegates included representatives from other heritage organizations as diverse as the BC Museums Association and the Canadian Council of Archives. We all share the conviction that a robust heritage sector is vital for a strong Canada. 

For the National Trust, the focus of our Hill Day advocacy was urging the reintroduction of federal legislation for historic places. The former Historic Places Act bill (C-23) died on the order paper when Parliament prorogued for the election last spring. Canada’s historic places lie at the heart of Canadian identity, a tangible expression of our shared past and current values. Strengthening Canadian identity and sovereignty depends on preserving and promoting Canadian heritage. 

The National Trust delegation, composed of members of the Board of Governors and staff, met with eight members of Parliament (MPs), including the Chair of House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment.  The day was capped with a reception bringing together Senators, MPs, and heritage stakeholders at the Senate Building, the beautifully renovated former Ottawa train station. We are grateful to Senator Andrew Cardozo, who co-sponsored the reception on behalf of the National Trust.

While Heritage Hill Day 2025 is done, the work to move forward with federal heritage legislation will continue in 2026.