The Niagara Foundation — a registered Canadian charity with a voluntary Board — helps to champion and safeguard Niagara’s architectural, cultural and environmental integrity.
Preservation
Historical buildings have always been the prime focus of The Foundation. In some instances this has involved advocacy for the preservation of buildings endangered through development. Others were buildings threatened by deterioration and lack of use. The Foundation has undertaken the proactive implementation of restorations on behalf of other institutions, re-couping these expenses through direct fundraising in the community, or by leasing back the facility until expenses were recovered. In some cases, the Foundation provided direct financial support to other groups’ restoration projects.
Read about some of our initiatives.
Advocacy
Over the years The Foundation along with other heritage groups have made presentations to various levels of government, commissions, committees etc. promoting the preservation of the architectural, cultural and environmental integrity of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Read about some of our advocacy.
Natural heritage
Among its accomplishments, The Foundation achieved a long-term goal of acquiring The Wilderness — a 5-acre property of historical, Indigenous, military, political and horticultural interest. Integral to its strategic vision, The Foundation will revitalize this centrally located land parcel over time, ensuring future community use.
For more on this initiative, see The Wilderness.
In addition to built heritage, The Foundation works to preserve tangible and intangible culture, and natural heritage in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Our history
June 1962
The Niagara Foundation founded
Beginning in the mid-1950s, individuals in Niagara-on-the-Lake began to restore private properties to their 19th-century appearance and to promote conservation. A group of local citizens formed The Niagara Foundation in 1962 because they identified the need for initiatives to recognize and celebrate the heritage of the town that were beyond the purview of the municipal government.
1962
Recognizing Canada’s historical legacy
Within a few months of its inauguration in 1962, The Foundation commissioned an inventory of Niagara’s historic buildings; later, a similar extensive survey of the historical buildings in the former Niagara Township outside the Old Town boundaries was also completed. Mayor G. R. Wool, as president of The Foundation, brought the study to the attention of the federal government. As a result, Niagara-on-the-Lake along with Quebec City and Halifax, were selected to start what is now known as the Canadian Register which enables Canadians to recognize, celebrate and protect historic places today and for future generations.
October 1963
The Niagara Apothecary
When Field’s Drug Store came up for sale in October 1963, The Foundation leased it so it would not become just another store. One of the oldest continuing pharmacies in Canada, it was purchased and restored by The Foundation with the support of Ontario Heritage (now owners) and the Ontario College of Pharmacists (now operators) to a museum of pharmacy. The Apothecary on Queen Street now is one of Old Town’s most recognizable and important heritage buildings.
June 1964
Historical house tours
The efforts of The Niagara Foundation were primarily financed by its Annual House Tours from 1964 to 2012 (our 50th anniversary). The tours provided thousands of interested people an opportunity to learn and appreciate more about Niagara’s wonderful architectural heritage.
1967
Peter Stokes book
To commemorate Canada’s centennial in 1967, The Foundation published The Early Architecture of the Town and Township of Niagara by Peter Stokes and edited by Harry Picken and Gerry Wooll. This authoritative limited-edition reference book documents historical architectural details and serves as a template for restoration.
1970s
Historic carriages
Through the efforts of charter member Frank Hawley, The Foundation acquired three 19th century carriages: a convertible landau used during a royal visit to Niagara in 1901, a hunting trap and a hearse, which was manufactured in St. Catharines. The Foundation restored the first two, while the hearse was transferred provided to the local funeral home with the promise that it would be completely restored and made available to the public. The landau has been in recent Christmas parades with Living Landmark recipients.
1970s
Initiatives to preserve buildings
The William Gollop House at 118 Queen Street is a side gabled two-storey building of Georgian proportions built circa 1830. When the building was vacated and put on sale, it was feared that it was endangered – possibly to be demolished or moved. The Foundation purchased the house allowing time to find an interested purchaser keen on its preservation. This project was one of The Foundation’s earliest interventions. Read more
December 1986
Foghorn House
The Foghorn House at 99 River Beach Road was built in 1904 by the Department of Marine and Fisheries and operated as a warning signal for marine vessels in the days when Niagara’s waterfront was a bustling center for the shipping industry. After much negotiation with Town Council, The Foundation in 1986 entered into a 15-year lease of the Foghorn Keepers Cottage which was in a state of disrepair. After extensive restoration and furnishing, the Foghorn House was made available for short-term rentals in order to recoup The Foundation’s investment. Read more
1992
First Parliament of Upper Canada
To celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the opening of the first parliament of Upper Canada, in 1992 The Foundation helped finance the Niagara Historical Society’s successful publication, The Capital Years 1792-1796.
December 1999
William and Susannah Steward House
The Stewards’ modest cottage at 507 Butler Street is an excellent example of local vernacular architecture. The house is now privately owned. Its preservation serves as a compelling memorial to these hardworking people who contributed to the building of Niagara-on-the-Lake and to protecting African American refugees in the region. The Foundation purchased the property in 1999 to rescue it from development and completed the exterior restoration in 2006. Read more
2006
Living Landmark recognition
In 2006 we started to recognize an individual (or group) who demonstrates an outstanding contribution to the quality of life in Niagara and who is committed to heritage, culture, and community.
2012
Early Architecture of the Town and Township of Niagara
In 2012, the important bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of The Niagara Foundation, presented an opportunity to update the original 1967 book, Early Architecture of the Town and Township of Niagara. This paperback “student edition” aims to bring the technical documentation of the original to life by marrying the recorded interior and exterior detail to living historical examples through contemporary photographs of these extraordinary heritage properties. Read more
October 2022
Municipal election survey
As we did in previous elections, The Niagara Foundation asked candidates in the 2022 municipal election to share their views on a number of key heritage and development issues that are important to our community and then made their comments available prior to the vote.
December 2024
The Wilderness
The 15-year odyssey to gain possession of The Wilderness came to a close on Dec. 4, 2024, when The Foundation completed the purchase of the two halves of the property – from Ken Reid and from the estate of Ruth Parker, who when she passed away in 2013 left instructions for her 50% interest in the property to be passed to an organization that would respect her wishes that the heritage elements of The Wilderness be preserved and maintained for the benefit of the public. We are securing the property, starting a series of investigations (archeology, architecture, biology) and undertaking research to enable more complete planning of future uses for the property. The purchases were made possible from 47 donations, including a $1-million gift from the Goettler Family Foundation and donations from 100% of our Board.