City Releases Heritage Strategic Plan

The City of St. John’s has released its new Heritage Strategic Plan, a long-term roadmap outlining how the City will manage, protect, and celebrate its heritage from 2026 to 2036. Council approved the plan at its February 17 meeting.

“The Heritage Strategic Plan provides a clear and coordinated approach to protecting what makes St. John’s unique,” said Councillor Tom Davis, Council lead for Planning and Heritage. “Heritage is about more than buildings. It reflects our history, culture, landscapes, and stories. This plan sets out how we will honour and responsibly manage them for future generations.”

St. John’s has a long-standing commitment to heritage conservation, including regulations for development in Heritage Areas and the protection of designated Heritage Buildings. The Heritage Strategic Plan will be used in conjunction with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan and the City of St. John’s Heritage By-Law. It sets a long-term vision, goals, and actions for heritage across the city, and also expands the City’s approach beyond built heritage to recognize and celebrate natural, cultural, and intangible heritage.

The Heritage Strategic Plan identifies five goals to guide decision-making and future action:

1. Protect and Conserve Built Heritage
2. Expand the Heritage Narrative
3. Develop Municipal and Community Expertise
4. Create Awareness and Support Heritage Education
5. Collaborate with Governments and Agencies

The plan is informed by extensive public engagement conducted between 2023 and 2025. Engagement activities included online and in-person public meetings; consultation with advisory committees, working groups, and expert panels; focus groups with heritage, development, business, and community organizations; and meetings with owners of designated Heritage Buildings. Feedback gathered through this process helped shape the plan’s priorities and actions.

The City of St. John’s has a strategic direction to be a Sustainable City, planning for land use while preserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for residents. The Heritage Strategic Plan plays a key role in advancing this direction.

Related Links:

• Heritage Strategic Plan
• Engage St. John’s – Heritage Strategic Plan
• What We Heard Report