Heritage Properties
Thunder Bay, a city rich in history, buildings, archaeology and cultural heritage, is committed to preserving and promoting our past. Heritage Resources add value, quality and diversity to our daily lives and community, and need to be protected for the future. As the city matures, our past shall not be lost to insensitive renovation or demolition, but retained as assets adding unique and irreplaceable value to our future.
Heritage Registry
To publicly acknowledge the important role heritage and culture play in enriching a city and guiding its growth and development, the City of Thunder Bay has created a Heritage Registry. This Registry allows for the public to access information regarding the City's many Heritage buildings and spaces.
| "...because it is all of local interest." - Librarian and Historian Mary J. L. Black |
Also available is a listing of some of Thunder Bay's interesting sites and properties. While these properties are not protected against demolition or alteration, they have been informally recognized as being historically valuable. A list of all provincially or federally designated sites is available for viewing.
Ontario Heritage Properties database 
Adobe PDF, 4 pages, 83 KB
Heritage Districts
The Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District is an area of older stately residential buildings and churches, that was recognized and protected by municipal bylaw in 1988, under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. The District encompasses approximately 70 properties, surrounding historic Waverley Park, and is located approximately 500 metres west of Lake Superior on Red River Road.
Waverley Park Site Map Adobe PDF, 1 page, 45 KB
In 2004, a background report was compiled as a necessary step towards creating the proposed McVicar Creek – Harrington Court Conservation District.
Several other areas of the City, including 'old' Victoria Avenue, have been identified as potential candidate areas for the creation of additional Heritage Conservation Districts. The heritage district designation process usually involves many properties and therefore requires a number of steps.
Adobe PDF, 15 pages, 574 KB
Heritage Property Protection
In 2005, the Province amended the Ontario Heritage Act to improve protection offered to designated heritage properties. Details are found in Administration Report 2005.220 (Planning).
Heritage Features
Heritage resources include archaeological sites, built features such as bridges and can include heritage trees or heritage landscapes.The Regional Archaeologist, in the office of the Ministry of Culture provides input, and may establish conditions before land subdivision or development can take place on or near areas of archaeological potential.
In 2003, the Heritage Advisory Committee provided the Engineering Division with extensive input, resulting in the heritage sensitive design of the new Simpson Street Bridge over the Neebing River.
