Celebrate the Heritage of Power Generation on Heritage Day, February 20, 2012
Ottawa, ON, January 30,2012 – For Heritage Day 2012, Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) encourages Canadians to celebrate the Heritage of Power Generation. HCF promotes the third Monday in February as Heritage Day and has long advocated adopting this date as a national holiday.
Power generation has played a significant role in the economic and political life of Canada since the late 19th century, which is reflected in an impressive legacy of unique and purpose-built historic structures across the country. From early coal-fired electric generators that illuminated city streets and wind mills that powered prairie farms, to later hydro-electric generating plants, dams and substations that transformed industry, power-related structures are an important part of the Canadian landscape.
Canada is the world’s second-largest producer of hydroelectricity, and our per-capita power consumption is among the highest in the world. The 2012 Heritage Day theme celebrates the past, but also looks forward as the world’s attention turns to energy-use reduction and new sources of green energy. Heritage conservation supports these new priorities, with its emphasis on using and retrofitting historic buildings, and respecting the inherent energy-saving design features present in many older buildings.
Heritage Day offers community groups and municipalities the chance to focus their own historic power generating structures. Suggestions for Heritage Day activities can be found on HCF’s website at www.heritagecanada.org.
The Heritage Canada Foundation is a national registered charity dedicated to the preservation of Canada’s historic places. Your support is vital to our work. Please join or make a tax-deductible donation today.
For further information contact:
Carolyn Quinn, Director of Communications, cquinn@heritagecanada.org
Telephone: 613-237-1066 ext. 229; Cell: 613-797-7206
