Curriculum
Achieve a Diploma in Heritage Conservation
Willowbank offers a dynamic and innovative approach to heritage conservation education, balancing theory with hands-on skills, and embracing the interconnectedness of built, natural, and cultural heritage resources. We believe heritage plays a pivotal role in creating a sustainable future. Set within one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, our campus is a living case study and a compelling backdrop for our dynamic programming. And a home for the evolution, development, and expression of our innovative approach.
Program courses are offered over four semesters, with years one and two spent full-time on campus. Year three provides two options to students i.e., an industry internship/employment or a research project. Students can choose their area of interest for their internship/employment or research project, based upon where their interests lie; this could be in conservation planning or trades.
After completing the three-year program, students graduate with a Diploma in Heritage Conservation.
Our detailed calendar-level course descriptions below provide a clearer understanding of Willowbank Diploma’s planned curriculum.
YEAR ONE First Semester
This course explores the fundamental occupational health and safety practices within Ontario. You will examine your personal roles, rights, and responsibilities to assure a healthy and safe workplace culture, as well as workplace inspections and legal requirements. You will explore available resources and guidelines to ensure workplace health and safety such as Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and relevant health and safety associations in Ontario. A special course focus will be general safety practices for working at heights including personal protection equipment (PPEs) including fall PPEs, hazard recognition, especially for working at heights, and safety procedures for warning methods, physical barriers, and ladders.
This course will focus on the interface between settler and indigenous cultures from the perspective of a conservation professional. You will experience first-hand, approaches and principles for working with First Nations, Inuit and Metis cultures, recognizing that the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples is uniquely diverse across all regions and ancestral indigenous territories of North America-Turtle Island. In doing so you will learn about the important concepts of “Two-Row Wampum”, and “ Two-Eyed Seeing”and the values and principles from these teachings that can be applied to conservation initiatives. You will revisit historical building designs and methods used by each culture, noting their similarities and opportunities for co-design and conservation approaches. You will acknowledge, respect, and analyze the significance of historical traditions and cultural values of the spaces and places you are tasked to work with when undertaking heritage projects.
This course will provide an overview of the practice of archaeology in Ontario. Planning, heritage and environmental legislation will be discussed as they relate to archaeological discovery and conservation. Topics will include fieldwork and survey methodologies for archaeological assessments in Ontario as well as Indigenous communities’ standards and guidelines for conducting archaeological assessments. This course will explore pre-contact and post-contact Ontario archaeological heritage as interpreted through the lens of Ontario’s archaeologists. You will explore public and consulting archaeology as practiced in Ontario and at Willowbank. You will examine different artifact types and apply the appropriate techniques for the handling and cleaning of archaeological artifacts.
This course will focus on the cultural and technological origins and evolution of the building forms that are found in Canada. You will examine historical backgrounds as a component in the conceiving and creating of ongoing layers of heritage places. Also, it provides an overview of construction techniques applied for the last 100 years and traces the improvements in construction methods and materials as they were introduced. You will examine approaches used for conceiving a contemporary layer in a heritage place environment and analyze restoration projects from an aesthetic point of view. You will develop insights into varying personal relationships with the evolving interpretations of the nature of architectural heritage. You will develop critical analytical skills in assessing heritage buildings, relative to materials, use, era, deterioration, design and cultural meanings and motivations.
This course is the first of three courses that focus on technical architectural drawings and drafting. You will learn how architectural sketches are used as a means of communication to aid any design process. This is an essential first step in expanding your construction acumen. Through a series of drawing problems, you will learn to use the tools and apply the rudiments of technical drawing and blueprint reading.
This course will introduce you to key concepts in planning and conservation processes, beginning with the deceptively simple questions: "What is heritage? Why do we conserve?". You will explore the relationship between heritage theory and practice, and the emergence of conservation as a professional field. Informed by a review of key charters and policy documents, you will gain an understanding of how the value systems underlying heritage practice have changed over time, including a shift towards prioritizing community engagement and recognizing social value.
In this course, you will gain an understanding of the makeup and science of masonry, as well as the theory and practice of masonry conservation in the context of Canadian and International Charters. Topics include the performance characteristics of masonry materials, structural masonry and veneers, and mortars. The course will focus on the tools, techniques and formulations used for different mortar types and their application for traditional and modern construction. You will learn foundational knowledge and skills for preparing mortar and laying bricks and stone. You will explore and utilize basic brickwork and stone building techniques. Topics include techniques for mixing mortar, laying bricks and stone to a line, building corners leads.
In this course, you will learn and apply the basics of drystone walling and the sacred rules of masonry. You will examine the key factors contributing to dry stone wall structure and longevity. In practical activities you will demonstrate the rules of bonding and masonry, placement of stone techniques and hitting and dressing stone. You will learn to identify work quality in drystone walling.
This course introduces Cultural Landscape theory and practice. You will learn about cultural landscapes in a broad and conceptual sense. You will be introduced to the philosophical context in which cultural landscapes are situated, learn the historical context of the concept and how it has developed in tandem with evolving conservation theory. Further, you will discuss how the concept can be applied, its challenges for practitioners, and its relationship to broader trends in the cultural heritage field. Building on the conceptual introduction, you will apply cultural landscape theory within a heritage planning context. You will learn the methodologies used to identify cultural landscapes and to assess their heritage value. You will apply the basics of values-based decision making in preparing statements of significance for a cultural landscape. You will examine and apply standards and conservation guidelines to a proposed intervention and utilize the terminology and policy context at the international, federal, and provincial levels.
This course introduces the tools, methodologies, and key resources for conducting rural and urban property research. You will explore the use of multiple historical and pictographic records including aerial photography, historic photographs, census records, military records, newspapers, genealogical records, and deeds to construct a narrative of the individuals and/or events associated with a specific property. You will also learn how to conduct historical and pictographic research using both online and archival resources. Legislative documentation that will be explored in this course includes the Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists, the Archaeology of Rural Historical Farmsteads, and the Ontario Heritage Act (specifically Regulations 9/06 and 10/06).
YEAR ONE Second Semester
This course expands upon cultural landscape theory and practice through practical applications and case studies. In this course, you will develop an awareness of planning and conservation processes for cultural landscapes within the International, Federal and Provincial contexts. To understand and appreciate the holistic nature of cultural landscapes, you will be introduced to indigenous perspectives, public engagement strategies, and a variety of cultural landscape conservation planning tools for managing change in diverse historic environments. You will demonstrate knowledge of course concepts through the identification of cultural landscapes at a regional level, documenting, evaluating and expressing their heritage value and attributes.
Prerequisite: Cultural Landscape IThis course will introduce you to assessing the scope of the renovation/maintenance project, determining the process, time, materials, and tools required and applying practical skills and knowledge for heritage renovation and maintenance. You will also learn how significantly pest infestation impacts the historic structures; a problem common to many historic structures. You will learn strategic methods for controlling pest populations.
This course introduces the sustainability factors in heritage conservation. You will examine how heritage interacts with culture and sustainability. Topics include urban agriculture, permaculture, community design, future of sustainability, and equitable design, the role of maintenance, process and requirements of the green building rating system used in the certification process, and concepts of NetZero, and passive house construction. Human-centred design and the Seven Grandfathers Indigenous Teachings will be introduced. You will identify sustainable processes and materials suitable for use in heritage conservation, including retrofitting historical buildings for energy performance.
Prerequisite: Architecture and Cultural TraditionsThis course will provide you with the foundational knowledge and basic skills of hand drafting, blueprint reading and computer aided drafting. It will introduce the symbols, measurements, scales, and terminology used in hand drafting and blueprint reading and introduce established drafting standards. The course will also introduce an essential hand drafting skill, how to produce a scaled drawing of an existing structure, and provides an overview of AutoCAD/Sketchup software.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Technical DrawingThis course addresses key design and land use concepts related to historical buildings and sites. You will explore the topics of design principles. These will be related to the forms, philosophies, and evolution of one or more forms of heritage design, and conservation themes. You will trace the development of fusion of styles and innovations in heritage properties. A key aspect of this course is to prepare you for engagement with decision-making processes relative to the design of heritage properties. It will address the roles of various participants in design activities, and the reasons for their attitudes and decisions – including those of the end users and wider population.
Prerequisite: History of ArchitectureThe course will introduce traditional craft skills including basic blacksmithing, stained glass, stone carving, and wood carving. The topics covered under blacksmithing are forging, historical perspective, tool selection, use, safety and organization, hammer control, related ergonomics, fundamental forging structure and principles, material composition and selection, basic heat treatment and striking. You will learn the fundamentals of stained glass. Topics include the manufacture of glass, the development of glass and glazing, types, components, glass painting and glass staining and application of stained glass in heritage structures and methods for cutting and leading glass. You will learn introductory skills and knowledge for ornamental stone carving. Using traditional hand tools, you will set out design, cut margins and chamfers and shape stone to match the maquette. An overview of wood carving as a heritage art will be provided. You will discuss the application of wood carving in heritage structures and the traditional tools, materials and methods used. You will apply foundational skills and knowledge to design, layout and produce a sample wood carving project. Topics include wood types, geometry in design, and hand-eye coordination for wood carving.
In this course, you will develop and apply the skills and knowledge to assess a heritage window to determine the scope of work required, prepare a window plan with elevation and labelling, and identify and source materials. You will select and apply minimal intervention techniques and procedures for window restoration proven in the field. Topics include removal of sash, disassembly, puttying and glass cutting.
In this course, you will learn the history of heritage decorative paint finishes as an interior finishing technique in heritage structures. You will also apply the skills and knowledge required to apply basic gilding for interior finishes. You will trace the history of decorative painted finishes and the processes used to create them from the premanufacture period to industrialization. Topics include traditional applications in heritage methods in marbling, wood graining, stenciling, wall treatments and gilding. You will apply this knowledge on a practical heritage conservation project.
This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge required for heritage flooring conservation projects. You will apply the process to assess the scope of heritage flooring projects: time materials, procedure, and tools. You will also explore the factors to consider when selecting wood or wood-based products, and fundamentals of wooden furniture restoration. In practical activities, you will select and apply the appropriate carpentry techniques for a heritage flooring conservation project.
In this course you will gain a foundational understanding of the properties of wood and wood-based products. You will examine how the strengths and weaknesses of these materials influence the practice of carpentry. You will differentiate and apply the techniques and qualities that apply to rough carpentry, finish carpentry and fine woodworking. You will compare historical carpentry processes, materials, and tools to those used in contemporary practice. You'll discover how principles of traditional carpentry are relevant to the construction, restoration, and renovation of our built environment. Through hands-on projects and exercises, you will apply safe woodworking practices, and select and use appropriate tools and materials. You will utilize carpentry specific terminology, concepts and soft skills which will enable you to communicate and operate effectively within the broader field of renovation construction.
YEAR TWO Third Semester
In this year-long capstone course, you will integrate components of theory and practice from other modules through the completion of a practical heritage planning project. As part of a team, you will gain a deep understanding of a property or area, articulate its heritage value, and provide guidelines for managing future change. The CMP process involves conducting site visits, architectural analysis, archival research, and community engagement, writing statements of significance, developing conservation goals and recommendations and communicating with stakeholders.
Prerequisite: Foundational Principles & Standards, Cultural Landscape II, and Heritage Building MaintenanceIn this course you will explore approaches and practices used to facilitate effective community engagement when interacting with various government levels and diverse communities. You will learn the importance of working collaboratively, guided by partnership protocols developed with each client organization. You will learn to identify, engage, and build trust relationships with stakeholders for a heritage conservation project of any scale. You will learn how to develop and be guided by essential partnership protocols when engaging with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. From this knowledge you will bring respect for the cultural values and historical traditions of communities when working with their respective heritage projects. You will apply the interpersonal skills needed for effective conservation management plan preparation and for facilitating community engagement including online and in-person town hall and community meetings facilitation, surveys, interviews, media relations.
Prerequisite: Architecture & Cultural TraditionsThe course introduces you to the project cycle in terms of its conception, planning and execution, and to the factors that underpin the success of projects. This course emphasizes the project manager as an effective leader in managing projects at each stage of the cycle. You will examine the basic principles and foundational steps for effective project management. The focus will be on the standards, guidelines, and building codes for planning and implementing conservation projects. The course also presents the complexities and procedures required to manage a major restoration project for public and private heritage buildings. You will examine the variety of approaches to restoration project from the perspective of a client, contractor, and consultant. Working in a multi-team environment is emphasized.
Prerequisite: Foundational Principles & Standards, Cultural Landscape II, and Heritage Building MaintenanceThe course will build upon the traditional craft basic skills of stained glass, stone carving, and furniture restoration. Your hands-on skills will be enhanced in working with stained glass applications and to endorse your appreciation of fenestration. Techniques covered include soldering, staining, installation, puttying, glass painting and glass repair and documentation. You will build upon your knowledge and skills of stone carving using traditional hand tools and methods. Topics include: stone carving technique review, shaping the stone to match the design, traditional techniques at advanced level, stone carving as an architectural feature on heritage buildings. You will apply furniture restoration techniques based on the skills learned in carpentry course. You will explore the factors to be considered, how to identify the wood and conduct a basic assessment of faults in furniture. In hands-on practice you will prepare tools and apply core techniques used in furniture restoration.
Prerequisite: Traditional Crafts Skills I, Carpentry I, Heritage FlooringThis course introduces the heritage planning field and the process of heritage planning within Ontario. You will examine the theoretical materials relevant for Heritage Planning (the standards and guidelines for the conservation of historic places in Canada, provincial policy statement, regional official plan, local official plan, zoning bylaws and other applicable legislative documents). Within this course you will be provided the opportunity to view heritage planning case studies and relevant documents used during the heritage planning review process. You will explore and apply the components of a designation research report and the steps for completing an assessment against the Ontario Regulation 9/06.
In this course, you will build on the foundational knowledge of masonry restoration and conduct assessments of common issues in heritage masonry structures. Through practical activities, you will examine complex stone deterioration issues and apply the skills for conducting cleaning, repointing, and surface repairs. In addition, you will trace the history and movement of tuckpointing from England to Ontario. You will also develop and apply the skills for traditional color wash and tuckpointing.
Prerequisite: Masonry IThis course introduces the philosophical approach to heritage conservation engineering and the associated competency requirements, code, standards, doctrinal texts, and challenges. You will utilize the scientific approach by examining the evolution of structural systems in Canada, their characteristics, limits and uses, the period construction materials properties, and by acquiring the basics of conducting safe preliminary inspections of historic structures using a variety of technologies and equipment. You will apply foundational skills to find, analyse, and diagnose deficiencies by determining their causes and their impacts on the reliability of the structures. Topics include the identification of structural systems, and period construction materials, the load distribution on structures, and the crack pattern theory.
This course will provide an overview of Canadian building history and legislation related to heritage industry. Topics include threats to the building stock, planned obsolescence, tax assistance to demolition and under-resourcing for training. You will examine the history and pillars of Canada’s heritage system. Parameters of international and federal jurisdiction, the Ontario Heritage Act, Ontario Municipal Legislation, private law, contracts, liens, easements, and covenants and role and impact of legislation, policies, federal tools will be covered.
In this course you will examine the history and evolution of timber framing and its applications in contemporary construction. Topics include wood science, grains structure as well as selection and use of tools for timber framing. Through the assessment of old structures, you will learn and apply traditional layout systems and techniques for timber frame assembly and installation. The history and theory of the application of traditional roofing and sheet metalwork in heritage structures are also discussed in this course. Specifically, you will learn how to assess the scope of a heritage roofing project, including time, materials, procedure, and tools. Topics include health and safety guidelines, and the appropriate techniques for a heritage roof. You will differentiate among the types of materials (including timber and metal) used for heritage roofing, their distinct qualities (key decay and conservation methodologies), and the techniques and tools used for each.
Prerequisite: Carpentry I
In this year-long capstone course, you will integrate components of theory and practice from other modules through the completion of a practical heritage planning project. As part of a team, you will gain a deep understanding of a property or area, articulate its heritage value, and provide guidelines for managing future change. The CMP process involves conducting site visits, architectural analysis, archival research, and community engagement, writing statements of significance, developing conservation goals and recommendations and communicating with stakeholders.
Prerequisite: Foundational Principles & Standards, Cultural Landscape II, and Heritage Building MaintenanceThis course provides a foundational level of AutoCAD/Sketchup software and how it can be used in a practical application within the heritage field including compatible design, heritage permits, stain glass window design and more. You will explore and utilize CAD applications for relevant heritage conservation projects.
Prerequisite: DraftingThis course introduces the UNESCO World Heritage framework and its practices for defining and managing natural and cultural heritage sites. You will explore how World Heritage Sites have become a brand in themselves, and inscription on the expanding list of over a thousand sites introduces specific obligations for the 168 signatory countries. Topics include World Heritage listed sites and related conservation and management concerns, and related dynamics, and major threats to world heritage sites. Using case studies, you will examine the World Heritage program and its key practices, challenges and resources for conservation. You will also identify distinguishing aspects of international cultural heritage, doctrines, and landscapes.
This course will introduce the importance of historic stone restoration. You will examine the historic usage of stone for monuments and buildings. You will learn how to identify the causes for deterioration in historic stone structures. You will also learn and apply the procedures for cleaning, treatment and basic repair and restoration of stone.
Prerequisite: Traditional Crafts Skills IIThis course is a continuation of Carpentry I. You will apply your knowledge and skills related to heritage carpentry independently and at a more advanced level. You will demonstrate independent selection and use of tools and materials for heritage carpentry projects. You will demonstrate your mastery of basic carpentry skill, knowledge and techniques required for basic heritage construction, restoration, and renovation projects.
Prerequisite: Carpentry IIn this course you will learn and apply the hands-on skills of plastering. You will examine the types of plaster, and best practices in preparation and application methods. You will also explore the usage of plaster in heritage facilities and the importance of and the considerations related to interior plaster restoration. You will identify the causes for deterioration in historic plaster structures and procedures for assessing damage, cleaning, treatment and basic repair and restoration.
In this course, you will conduct a structural assessment and develop a conservation strategy using core conservation best practices. You will learn to develop professional subject matter opinion and have an opportunity to work with heritage property owners. You will use historical information to understand the evolution of a structure and uncover intervenors undertaken over time. You will learn and utilize key terminology related to historic structures report and prepare a historic structures report used in the heritage conservation industry.
Prerequisite: Heritage Structural SystemsThe Heritage Conservation sector is increasingly adopting emerging technologies, which enable project teams to collaboratively explore and interact with project dynamics in manners unattainable in the past. Using an investigative and research-based approach, you will build important skills by identifying and examining emerging trends and technologies and how they are enabling Heritage Conservation practices, and will continue to shape the industry's future. Continuous professional development is essential to getting ahead in today's competitive job market. You will explore a wide range of topics including new trends, professional networks, professional ethics, and effective job search strategies in the domain of Heritage Conservation. This course also explores professional development opportunities in international contexts.
Prerequisite: 2nd year standingIn this course, you will look at various business and career models for heritage consultants in the conservation field. You will discuss the relationship of heritage consultants with private sector and public sector property owners, with developers, with general contractors, with other consultants and design professionals and with conservation specialists. You will also explore the evolving nature of heritage consultancy and prospects for the future. You will design and implement business strategies to support heritage conservation projects, also will apply the knowledge and skills to prepare a feasibility study relevant to the heritage industry.
In this course, you will learn a values-based approach to heritage and accessibility. You will explore the relationship between conservation policies and the need to address the contemporary needs of diverse user groups. Topics covered include barrier-free & universal design, human rights legislation, the application of standards and guidelines, communication, and the history of advocacy for accessible design.
Prerequisite: Heritage Building Maintenance, Canadian Heritage Legislation, Policies & Guidelines.
YEAR TWO Fourth Semester
YEAR THREE Fifth and Sixth Semesters
This is an integral part (an alternate to Research Project) of the program, whereby you are required to hold a position in the heritage conservation field (conservation planning, trades). Your position needs to be in the form of a paid internship, an apprenticeship, employment, or a combination of these. The industry internship must be paid. The total number of hours needs to be a minimum of 600 hours. You will be required to prepare daily logs, monthly reports, and a final report as part of e-Portfolio, signed by your industry supervisor.
Prerequisite: Third year standing
e-Portfolio is a requirement of the program mainly linked to industry internship as part of the Heritage Conservation program. e-Portfolio is an online archive that contains evidence of your academic achievement, and reflections on your educational journey, personal growth at Willowbank. At the end of third year, you will be required to present the e-Portfolio and the learnings from your industry internship. This is showcase of your accomplishments in key skill areas, evidence of awareness of limits and growth, and providing you with an advantage in the marketplace.
Prerequisite: Third year standing
This is an integral part (an alternate to Industry Internship) of the program. You will select a thesis project within the domain of Heritage Conservation (research and documentation, conservation planning, trades) to be conducted under supervision of a faculty supervisor and an industry supervisor. In conjunction with an industry supervisor, you will apply specialty knowledge to solve heritage conservation related issues. This major program activity is expected to contain some elements that are deemed to be innovative, experimental, or exploratory in nature. You will submit a formal comprehensive report on the study area approved by and under the guidance of your faculty and industry supervisors. Your evaluation will be based on a formal written report, an oral presentation and on the feedback from your faculty and industry supervisors.
Prerequisite: Third year standing
It is so important to teach young people the Restoration skills Willowbank offers.
DALGLISH FAMILY FOUNDATION