Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/899551
Heritage Matters 22 Readers of this magazine will agree that heritage buildings play a significant role in the fabric of a community. An appreciation of these buildings, however, is insufficient. We need heritage craftspeople if these buildings are to remain viable. The thoughtful application of skills and understanding of materials is necessary to maintain, restore or rehabilitate these buildings. This intangible heritage, contained within experienced tradespeople, is both an integral and inseparable component of the tangible heritage of our buildings. The Heritage Trades programs at the Perth Campus of Algonquin College strive to nurture this understanding and develop these skills. The Heritage Carpentry and Joinery Program gives students experience working in contemporary and traditional construction, as well as the creation, reproduction and restoration of architectural millwork – including stairs, doors and windows – through work on campus and on-site in four semesters. The Masonry Heritage and Traditional Program uses three semesters to cover the fundamentals of construction, repair and restoration of block, brick and stone buildings, both in shop and on-site on projects throughout the region. Our emphasis on heritage serves the buildings themselves and the heritage community while supporting craft and creative problem-solving in the industry in general. Our graduates participate creatively and to a high level of performance in an industry increasingly dominated by installation of prefabricated products at the lowest price. Hopefully, by contrast, our students will build today what will become the heritage structures of tomorrow. "As with the buildings, the skills and knowledge of traditional craft must be preserved in order to maintain the culture that sustains our communities." Preserve the Craft and the Built Heritage Will Follow By Andrew Pamenter and Christopher Hahn Photo: Algonquin College Perth Campus (Marketing) Carpentry and Joinery – Heritage Program