FAQs

Designated heritage properties with individual by-laws are protected from demolition and alteration, regardless of whether a building permit is required.  Properties within the Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District are designated as a whole and are protected in the same way.  A heritage permit and consultation with the Heritage Advisory Committee may be required, please consult with heritage staff when considering any alteration.

Listed properties have cultural heritage value or interest and may be recommended for designation at a later date.  These properties have interim protection from demolition. Sixty (60) days’ notice, in writing, is required if demolition or removal is intended. Consultation with heritage staff is recommended when any alteration is planned to determine if a heritage permit is necessary. 

Please contact heritage@thunderbay.ca for more information about heritage permits.

The City of Thunder Bay is reviewing the potential heritage designation of 32 of the Listed heritage properties.  The City of Thunder Bay has hired Egis to assist with the review of these Listed properties, beginning with 6 properties.

The first six (6) properties to be reviewed are:

1. 277 Camelot Street, Thunder Bay District Court House/Court House Hotel
2. 27 Cumberland St South, Bank of Montreal/Prospector Steak House
3. 1017 Isabella St East, McIntyre House
4. 716 Pacific Avenue, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. 281 Ray Court, Doctor’s Cottage
6. 1306 Ridgeway Street East, Bishop’s Residence

The remaining Listed properties to be reviewed, in alphabetical street order, are:

1. 302 Archibald St South, John King Residence
2. 400 Archibald St South, George Graham Residence
3. 1705 Arthur St West, Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery
4. 130 Brodie St North, Wesley United Church
5. 400 Catherine St South, Ross Residence
6. 146 Court St North, McVicar Manor
7. 151 Court St North, Maudslay Court
8. 2-18 Court St South, Ruttan Block
9. 12-22 Cumberland St North, Lyceum Theatre
10. 17 Cumberland St North, Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites
11. 8 Cumberland St South, Atkinson’s Jewellers
12. 96 High St North, Hillcrest High School
13. 490 Maureen Street, Iron Ore Dock
14. 115 May St North, Times-Journal Building
15. 629 McIntosh Street, Ukrainian Church of the Transfiguration
16. 700 McIntosh Street, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church
17. 121 McKellar Street, Dr. Dewar’s
18. 226-228 Pearl Street, Saint John the Evangelist Anglican Church
19. 303 Pruden Street, Knox United Church
20. 640 Red River Road, Wiley Estate/St. Joseph’s Manor House
21. 1100 Ridgeway St East, F.R. Morris Residence/Windrose
22. 808 Ridgeway Street East, St Paul’s Anglican Church
23. 621 Selkirk St South, St. Patrick’s High School
24. 317 Victoria Avenue East, Caledonia Building
25. 701 Victoria Avenue East, Fort William Grain Exchange/Chapple Building
26. 1918 Yonge Street, Paterson Building/TBT Engineering   

The Province’s Bill 23 amended the Ontario Heritage Act and the impact will affect any non-designated property. The City has until January 2027 to designate significant non-designated heritage properties.

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, was passed in 2022 to facilitate the construction of 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031.

Thunder Bay is taking this opportunity to permanently protect significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes.

Any Listed property that is not designated by January 1, 2027, must be removed from the list and cannot be listed again until 2032.

A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act if it meets two or more criteria defined by the Province in Ontario Regulation 9/06(External link).

This criterion determines whether the property is of cultural heritage value or interest. The types of criteria considered are design value or physical value, historical value or associative value and contextual value.

A property may be designated if it:

1.  is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method

2.  displays craftsmanship or artistic merit

3.  shows technical or scientific achievement

4.  has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community

5.  it has, or has the potential to have, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture

6.  reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community

7.  it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area

8.  it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings

9.  it is a landmark

It has the potential to increase your property value.

Studies have shown that heritage designation does not negatively impact price and may actually increase property values. For more information, see the 2023 McMaster University study, Investigating the Impact of Heritage Property Designation on Real Estate Value(External link).

There are no current funding programs for designated heritage properties.  There are some allowable funding streams in the Ontario Heritage Act and the City of Thunder Bay will be investigating these in the future.

If you are the owner of a designated property owner, you need to:

• get a Heritage Permit application from the City if you would like to make any alterations or changes that may impact the designated heritage attributes or the features that designated your property as a heritage property.
• seek Council permission through the Heritage Advisory Committee to demolish a designated structure.
• new owners of designated properties need to advise the City Clerk of the change of ownership within 30 days after becoming owner of the property.
• maintain your heritage property and its heritage features in a safe and secure condition.

Yes. If you have any objections we would like to hear from you as soon as possible so we can work with you to find an acceptable resolution.  

If you do not contact us during the review process, you have 30 days after the City publishes the Notice of Intention to Designate (NOID) to formally object. The NOID includes:

• a description of the property, 
• a Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest and 
• a description of heritage attributes (protected features). 

You, as the owner, or a third party, have 30 days after the date of publication to serve a notice of objection to the municipality.

The municipality, on receipt of your objection, must decide whether to withdraw the NOID or to pass a bylaw to designate. If the City proceeds with the designation, you may then appeal the designation bylaw to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) by serving your objection on the Tribunal and the municipality. 

There are many ways to be involved. 

Heritage staff are available on an ongoing basis for consultation with property owners.

Please email heritage@thunderbay.ca with questions or comments. 

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