2021 Heritage Toronto Award Nominations Include Books, Documentaries, and More | UrbanToronto
Heritage Toronto has released its list of nominees for the 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards, the longest-running heritage awards in Canada. This year’s nominations include 47 nominees being recognized for their contributions to Toronto’s heritage across four categories; Book, Built Heritage, Community Heritage, and Public History. We recently did a story on all nine of the the Built Heritage nominations.
The Community Heritage category features 11 volunteer-based organizations as nominees. Among them is the Japanese-Canadian Cultural Centre which is being considered for its public education on Japanese-Canadian history; the Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre for preserving the stories of Ontario’s Jewish community; the Myseum of Toronto for preserving and showcasing the histories, spaces, culture(s), architecture, and people that represent Toronto; and the Midland Park Modernism Alliance for building public appreciation and support for the distinctive historic character of the over 626 mid-century modern houses in Scarborough’s Midland Park community.
Ikeda Tower and Sakura Tree, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, a community heritage organization nominated for the 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards. Image by Kathy Tazumi
The Public History category features nine nominations, including a mini documentary series titled the ‘Old Toronto Series,’ which covers topics about the local history of the city with special attention to under-told stories that focus on the city’s immigrant communities; an ad hoc organization called ‘Let’s Rename Dundas Street’ which is dedicated to raising awareness and taking action on the impact of historical narrative and heritage infrastructure; and an interactive website by the name of ‘4D Chinatown,’ that aims to provide a new experience for people around the world to learn about the community and boost Torontonians’ interest in supporting their local businesses without going to those places in person during the pandemic.
Front Web Page, 4D Chinatown, 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards Public History Nominee. Courtesy of Chinatown BIA
Eighteen nominees are up for this year’s Book award, including ‘Toronto Reborn: Design Successes and Challenges,’ which describes how renovating buildings and neighbourhoods, building startling new structures and urban spaces, revitalizing old cultural institutions and creating new ones, and sponsoring new festivals and events have all transformed the old postwar city into an exciting modern one. ‘Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto’ is a collection of photos by Vik Pahwa, accompanied by short essays and features by local architects. ‘Accidental Wilderness’ is a collection of photos and essays on Tommy Thompson Park, which explore the principles and design of the park’s master plan; the park’s unique flora and fauna; public advocacy efforts; and public recreation in the park and its effect on mental, physical, and spiritual health. ‘100 Years at the Beach: A History of the Beach Hebrew Institute 1919-2019’ tells the story of the Beach Hebrew Institute, also called the Beth Jacob Synagogue, and examines the massive influx of Jewish immigrants to the area around Spadina Avenue and College Street by the 1920s.
The cover of Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto, 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards Book Nominee. Photo: Vik Pahwa
You can find greater detail on those and all the nominees at the Heritage Toronto Awards site. Winners will be announced at the 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards, which will be held virtually on Monday, October 18, 2021.
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