Any member of the public, Heritage Committee or Council can propose that a property be designated for protection under the Heritage Act, which sets out six key steps to designating an individual property.
- Identifying the property as a candidate for designation;
- Researching and evaluating the property;
- Serving "Notice of Intention to Designate" with an opportunity for objection;
- Passing and registering the designation by-law;
- Listing the property on the municipal registry; and
- Listing the property on the provincial registry.
Unlike the "listing" process, the Heritage Act sets very specific criteria that must be considered when determining whether a property should be designated. Such property would need to comply with at least one of the following criteria:
- The property features high design value because it offers a rare architectural style, material, construction method, and/or craftsmanship;
- The property features high historical value because of direct associations with an event, person or organization that is significant to the community, or it reflects the work of an architect, artist, designer, etc. who is significant to the community; and,
- The property has contextual value because it is important in defining the character of an area, is historically linked to its surroundings, or is a landmark.
If deemed worthy, Council will pass a designation by-law that contains information about the property and lists its heritage attributes. This formal step recognizes the importance of the property, protects its heritage value, encourages conservation and promotes knowledge for all such designated properties in BWG. Designated status provides council with the legal authority to refuse an application for demolition or a request that will adversely change and/or affect the heritage value of a building or property.