It's Just Politics

Agar Adamson

As a society, what have we inherited from past generations that is worth keeping? Is it our civic duty to bequeath our heritage to future generations? Who should be the guardians of our heritage? Is this a role for the state, whether the state is municipal, provincial, national or international? As individuals, are we responsible for passing family heritage onto the next generation? These are not simple questions, for what is one person’s heritage may be another’s rubbish.

Heritage is more than buildings, although they are important as they daily remind us of our built heritage. But what about cemeteries, music, literature, archives, archeology, natural phenomena like Blue Beach or Joggins, parks and trees? Also there is Inuit and Mi’kmaq heritage, Afro Nova Scotian heritage such as Birchtown, as well as the artifacts left to us by the first European settlers. Indeed, one thing we require in this province is an independent study by experts of what our heritage is exactly. We need to know what we have, not only before we lose it, but also so we can protect it.

Urbanization and the growth of cities are detrimental to heritage found outside our metropolitan areas. Can we expect a municipality or a province to pay for preservation when the population and tax base of the municipality is shrinking?

Tourism was a catalyst for preservation, but as we all know tourism has been declining in Nova Scotia for about 10 years. Where is government at all three levels in this debate? One example of urbanization is the closing of so many rural churches. What is to become of these structures which for years have been at the centre of community life?

Annapolis Royal, the province’s smallest town, but one of it most historic, has a marvelous record illustrated by the fact that in 2006 it was awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy for heritage and in 2004 was chosen as the Most Livable Small Town by the United Nations. Lunenburg, Shelburne, Sherbrook, Maitland and other towns have benefited from town councils and citizens groups that have spearheaded the preservation of their heritage. Other municipalities have not been as fortunate as these have been.

Some politicians are more supportive than others. For example, John Hamm deserves credit for improving our heritage in this province. It was Hamm who insisted that Canadian history be taught in our high schools. He purchased for all of us the heritage buildings on the Lunenburg waterfront and saw that the Voluntary Planning Committee (VPC) undertook a province-wide study of heritage. At the moment, there does not appear to be the same interest in heritage by the post-Hamm government!

The VPC report made public last December deserves the widest possible distribution and study by the members of the House of Assembly. The report contains 59 recommendations and is available on the Internet. Hopefully, when the House reassembles for the spring session, this document will be sent to a committee for detailed study.

The VPC Task Force Report is not just about built heritage, but includes recommendations on cemeteries, conservation districts, conservation of collections, cultural diversity, heritage promotion, paleontology, natural views and cultural landscapes.

Yes, government has only so much of our money, but the protection of heritage is not just about money. Indeed, government can set the framework for others to work within. The protection of heritage does not always mean money. As the task force points out, “Caring for our heritage involves volunteers, community organizations, and all levels of government (including school boards).” Government, along with private industry, can encourage groups to become interested in all aspects of heritage by setting an example. Companies like Irving Oil and Imperial Oil, as well as Alcan deserve credit for their promoting of heritage.

To quote the report, “Unfortunately, the social and economic benefits of heritage have not been fully realized in Nova Scotia. … Heritage is a shared responsibility.” Nowhere is this more notable than in Annapolis Royal where citizens and politicians alike work in harmony to promote the heritage of their community.

On the whole, government is a pacific institution and will act only when its collective feet are held to the fire, or there is an election in the offing. Governments need to be pushed by citizen groups.

If we are to protect our heritage in this province -- and there is a great deal of it, from Wilf Carter to the coal mines of Cape Breton -- we are going to have to light a fire under the current government and support members like Theriault and Epstein who are attempting to light that fire.