The Foundation
History and Mandate of the Foundation
In 1973, the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation was incorporated as a non-profit organization funded through an annual grant from the Region of Waterloo. Its mandate is to promote and encourage interest in the heritage and culture of Waterloo Region. When regional government was established in the area in 1973, Jack Young, the first Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, recognized the importance of local identity and tradition. At a time of change, when previously existing municipal structures were reconfigured, including, in some cases, dissolution and amalgamation it was felt that regional government had a responsibility to ensure that local heritage was preserved.
With its wide membership, the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation is well-placed to consult, advise, and offer moral support on a wide number of heritage issues throughout the Region. The Foundation was not only the first heritage organization set up and funded by a regional government, but it set a precedent in Canada as the first heritage organization that was allocated a substantial amount of public money by any level of government.
Who are the Directors?
The Foundation has 18 directors, 8 of whom are appointed for two-year terms to represent Regional Council, the Waterloo Historical Society, local branches of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, the Waterloo Region branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, Heritage Cambridge, University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University. Ten community members-at-large are elected by the Board of Directors for two-year terms. The Foundation meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month (with the exception of July, August, and December) at Regional Headquarters, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener.
Foundation directors as of June 2009:
Elected Directors
Jill Armstrong
Lyndsay Haggerty
Zyg Janecki
Brenda Kempel
Sandy Lovell
Mark Reitzel
Sandy Rung
Kenneth Tam
Lary Turner
Terri Wilkinson
Appointed Directors
John Glass (Waterloo Historical Society)
Dr. Julia Roberts (University of Waterloo)
Patty Clarke (North Waterloo Branch Architectural Conservancy of Ontario)
Dr. Adam Crerar (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Tom Galloway (Regional Council)
David McKnight (Waterloo Branch Ontario Genealogical Society)
Ken Seiling (Regional Chair)
Pauline Todkill (Heritage Cambridge)
How to Apply to Serve on the Foundation
If you wish to support heritage interests in Waterloo Region by volunteering on the Foundation, please apply for one of the 10 elected positions. Elections are conducted each year at the Annual General Meeting, held in June, with five two-year positions open each year. Any elected positions that remain open following the Annual General Meeting may be filled at a later date.
Contact Mike Grivicic
gmike@region.waterloo.on.ca
Phone (519) 575-4493
Fax (519) 575-4481
Foundation Structure
Sandy Rung (Foundation Chair)
Adam Crerar (Foundation Vice Chair)
Jill Armstrong (Chair Allocations and Finance Committee)
Pauline Todkill (Chair Heritage Advisory Committee)
Zyg Janecki (Chair Communications Committee)
The Foundation members are also ably assisted by many Regional staff at 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4J3
Foundation Secretary: Mike Grivicic, gmike@region.waterloo.on.ca Phone (519) 575-4493, Fax (519) 575-4481
Secretary: Kris Fletcher, Regional Clerk (519) 575-4029, fax: (519) 575-4481
Treasurer: Larry Ryan, Regional Treasurer, (519) 575-4595, fax (519) 575-4448
Financial Analyst: Connie Bogusat, Financial Analyst, (519) 575-4548, fax (519) 575-4448
