Mike Wagner

Other Events:

• Honoured: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mike Wagner Heritage Awards
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-19609P
• Elected Office: Bef 1998, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; councillor - Kitchener

Notes:

Born in Kitchener in 1931, Mike Wagner spent 32 years as a teacher of English, 29 of them at Eastwood Collegiate Institute. After retiring from teaching, he entered municipal politics in 1990. As a Councillor from 1990 to 1997, Mike Wagner was a tireless campaigner for heritage preservation. His efforts and accomplishments touch upon many facets of heritage, including architectural conservation, cultural celebration and education. He was instrumental in the City of Kitchener's decision to establish a heritage planning function in 1992 and subsequently the position of Heritage Planner in 1993. He was a leading supporter of strengthening the City's Municipal Plan heritage policies as part of the Official Plan review process.

As Chairman of Kitchener LACAC/Heritage Kitchener for six years, he led the Committee in its efforts to conserve Kitchener's heritage resources, and was instrumental in negotiating the successful designation of several properties. Mike Wagner also led Kitchener LACAC through a phase of restructuring which included completion of a five-year Strategic Plan and the establishment of a comprehensive inventory recording and evaluation system. Through his leadership, the role and influence of Kitchener LACAC expanded both within and beyond City Hall, and eventually the Committee changed its name to Heritage Kitchener to reflect more accurately the work of the Committee.

Mike Wagner's concern for abandoned and deteriorating industrial buildings of architectural and historical significance led to the formation of the Adaptive ReUse Committee which he chaired throughout his term on City Council. Through his leadership, the Adaptive Re-Use Committee eliminated disincentives and developed a program which would encourage the adaptive re-use of vacant or older industrial and commercial buildings in Kitchener. This accomplishment gained national recognition and culminated in Mike Wagner presenting the City's Adaptive Re-Use incentives to the National Heritage Canada conference in 1996.

In these and other ways, Mike Wagner made a truly distinguished and formative contribution to the preservation of heritage in the City of Kitchener. He is eminently deserving of the Sally Thorsen Award for that contribution.

Annual Report Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation

Honoured:
Mike Wagner Heritage Awards

Named in honour of Mike Wagner, a former Kitchener city councillor who was a strong advocate for heritage, culture and the arts, this bi-annual award recognizes and pays tribute to individuals, property owners, businesses, organizations and institutions who have contributed to the conservation of the City's cultural heritage resources

Mike — Patricia "Pat" Gardiner. Patricia (daughter of Charles Pat Gardiner) was born 9 Feb 1930, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 10 May 2018. [Group Sheet]