Heritage is often thought of as something frozen in time—a historic building roped off from the public, or an artifact safely tucked behind museum glass. But the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario’s (ACO) Toronto Branch is challenging that notion.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (EST)
Location: The Allan Gardens Palm House (160 Gerrard Street East, Toronto)
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, ACO Toronto will host its annual symposium, this year focusing on the dynamic intersection of Heritage and Public Space.
Set inside one of the city's most storied and recognizable heritage sites—the Allan Gardens Palm House—the event will bring together experts and community members to discuss how everyday interactions in our streets, parks, and gathering places contribute to the stories we carry forward as a city.
The Heritage of "Publicness"
Past ACO symposiums have tackled heavy-hitting topics like Intangible Heritage, Housing, and Demolition. This year, the focus shifts to the spaces that belong to everyone.
The core idea driving the 2026 symposium is that heritage exists within our relationships to meaningful places and experiences. Without the opportunity to flaneur past Victorian storefronts, look up into the grand hall of a historic train station, or simply sit on a bench in a century-old park, the cultural value of these spaces diminishes.
“Public space is where heritage comes alive, not just as something we preserve, but as something we actively experience and share. This symposium invites us to think about how everyday interactions in our streets, parks, and gathering places contribute to the stories we carry forward as a city” Alex Miller-Gerrard, ACO Toronto President.
The symposium will explore how access to these spaces is essential to maintaining their social value, arguing that the very "publicness" of a space is a form of heritage worth protecting.
A Multidisciplinary Panel of Leaders
To unpack these complex ideas, ACO Toronto has assembled a diverse panel of leaders spanning urban planning, landscape architecture, community advocacy, and cultural criticism:
Brendan Stewart: Director of Design and Research at PlazaPOPS and Associate Professor at the University of Guelph. Stewart’s work transforms privately owned suburban parking lots into vibrant pop-up public spaces.
Pamela Hart: Executive Director of The Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto. A member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Hart brings over a decade of experience advocating for Indigenous women’s programming, safety, and wellness across the GTA.
Jason Thorne: Chief Planner & Executive Director of City Planning for the City of Toronto, leading over 350 urban design and heritage planning professionals.
Michael McClelland: President of the Friends of Allan Gardens and Founding Principal at ERA Architects. McClelland’s impressive portfolio blends heritage conservation and urban design at iconic sites like The Distillery District and Union Station.
Alessandro Tersigni: Vice President of ACO Toronto and a cultural critic whose writings on architecture and art have appeared in The New York Times and The Globe and Mail.
Schedule:
6:00 PM: Doors Open
6:30 PM: Introductory Remarks
6:45 PM – 7:45 PM: Panel Discussion
7:45 PM – 9:00 PM: Reception (featuring light refreshments and a cash bar)
Join the Conversation
The ACO Toronto 2026 Symposium offers a unique opportunity for professionals, students, and community members to engage in the critical conversations shaping the future of the Greater Toronto Area's built environment.
Advance registration is highly recommended. To secure your spot and learn more about ACO Toronto’s ongoing advocacy and programming, please register online.
About ACO Toronto
The Toronto Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO Toronto) is a historic preservation organization with roots dating back to 1933, when University of Toronto Professor Eric Arthur founded it to advocate for the protection of architectural landmarks and natural beauty. As one of the largest branches of the provincial ACO, the organization focuses on protecting, documenting, and conserving culturally and historically significant sites through modern initiatives like TOBuilt—a massive public database of over 15,000 local structures—and an annual symposium that explores evolving heritage themes such as intangible history, housing, and public space.
Led by a professional executive board of architects, historians, and researchers, ACO Toronto works to make heritage more accessible by engaging with both governmentally recognized properties and underrepresented sites that hold diverse community value, while providing educational resources and publications, such as the Acorn magazine, to its members.
