Regenerating the Heart of Rural Ontario: New Life for Old MillsCarlyFarmerauthorOld mills are at the heart of most towns in Ontario, and mark the start of the industrial boom which provided good middleclass jobs for nearly everyone for over a century. However, from 2002-2012, Ontario lost over 300,000 manufacturing jobs equivalent to 30% of the industry. Typical of many rural post-industrial communities in Canada, Smiths Falls is left with the challenges of a shrinking population and underused industrial buildings. This thesis explores innovative ways to adaptively reuse a 19th century mill complex in Smiths Falls in a way that positively impacts the region by reconnecting the community with their industrial heritage. The project uses the four-pillar model of sustainability to investigate the role of social equity, cultural vitality, economic prosperity and environmental balance in the rehabilitation process and how this contributes to community resilience. The methodology integrates a bottom-up community approach within the structure of the ICOMOSTICCIH Dublin Principles. The first step is documenting and understanding the local context including engagement with multiple stakeholders (local youth, indigenous groups, and visitors). Next, is planning to protect and conserve values of the site, and thirdly, proposing an intervention which meets the needs and desires of the community. The final step is to interpret the local industrial cultural landscape within the larger context of the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site. This study of the mills in Smiths Falls could serve as a case study and model for the rehabilitation of other industrial sites in rural North America and beyond.09. Aspects économiques et sociaux de la conservation16. Patrimoine industriel et technique05. Patrimoine et développement durable04. Sensibilisation du public01. Amériques2018Document issu d'une conférence ou d'un atelier