This year’s Association for Preservation Technology (APT) conference was held jointly with Canada’s National Trust in the city of Montreal. The conference truly lived up to its theme “Building Bridges: Connecting Places, Cultures, and Practices,” and as an emerging professional, I valued the opportunity to learn about the multifaceted ways in which preservation can serve as a bridge between past and present, between diverse cultures, and between human development and environmental stewardship.
The conference opened with a powerful reminder of our relationship with the natural world. Kanien'kehà:ka elder Otsi'tsakèn:ra (Charles Patton) shared "The Words That Come Before All Else," also known as "The Thanksgiving Address," a traditional Kanien'kehà:ka (Mohawk) recitation delivered at the beginning and end of important gatherings. This address honors various interconnected elements of our world, including edible and medicinal plants; animals, fish, and birds; water; the four winds; and the sun, moon, and Mother Earth. After each acknowledgment of gratitude came the refrain "Now our minds are one," calling on attendees to empathize not only with each other but with the natural world that sustains us. Otsi'tsakèn:ra emphasized the importance of gratitude as an antidote to greed and reminded the audience that while the natural world has long provided for human needs, we now bear the responsibility of healing the damage we've caused through overconsumption and environmental degradation.
Following this opening, Katsi'tsakwas (Ellen Gabriel), a Kanien'kehà:ka human rights and environmental advocate, delivered a compelling keynote that challenged empty reconciliation rhetoric. She called the audience’s attention to how preservation practices, land ownership systems, and legal frameworks perpetuate inequities rooted in colonialism despite promises of change. While she addressed these issues from a Canadian perspective, her message was profoundly relevant for practitioners from the United States, challenging us to rethink our participation in exploitative practices and systems, both as preservation professionals and as individuals living on indigenous lands.
On the following day, I had the opportunity to attend a field session called "Underground Landmarks: A Closer Look at the Metro's Architectural Ceramic Finishes," during which attendees were guided through seven of Montreal’s iconic metro stations. The metro system, which first opened in the 1960s and was expanded through subsequent decades, was constructed according to the maxim "one station, one architect,” creating a network of unique spaces that are in equal parts infrastructure and public art. The tour raised important questions about how to encourage the public and other key stakeholders to accept original materials despite mild—largely cosmetic—deterioration. This issue highlighted the need to reconcile expectations for pristine public spaces with value of material integrity, particularly with regard to modern heritage sites where signs of age are often less accepted than in older structures.
Figure 1. The Peel metro station, which features large, colorfully striped ceramic wall art.
Figure 2. The Jean-Talon metro station, which originally served the orange line and was expanded in the 1980s to accommodate the blue line. The dominant color of the ceramic floor tiles reflects the metro line accessible from each of the station’s levels.
Figure 3. The recently renovated of Crémazie metro station. Although project constraints prevented the preservation of the original wall tiles, architects successfully maintained the station's distinctive aesthetic with commercially available materials. The effort taken to preserve the station’s historic appearance reflects the growing recognition of the metro system's architectural value, even without it being formally designated as heritage.
I spent the next two days attending presentations, focusing primarily on those dedicated to the intersection of preservation and environmental sustainability. I particularly enjoyed the presentation “Residential Energy Retrofitting: Meeting Modern Energy Standards in Pre-1940 Homes” by Meghan Lenz, which showcased the Vancouver Heritage Foundation's initiative to help homeowners improve their houses' energy efficiency while maintaining its historic character. The program emphasizes affordable, minimally disruptive interventions that preserve architectural integrity. By documenting energy performance before and after these interventions, the Foundation has developed an evidence-based methodology for recommending sustainable retrofits that are financially and logistically accessible to homeowners at a large scale. The interventions that have yielded the best results include the use of blown-in post-consumer cellulose insulation, sealing air leaks, improving attic insulation, and the installation of storm windows and heat pumps.
Perhaps one of my favorite presentations was “The Four Mills Barn and the Rising Water” by Kate Cowing. Located adjacent to the Wissahickon Creek near Philadelphia, this late 19th-century barn faced increasing challenges from the changing flood plain. Rather than fighting against the rising water, the non-profit Wissahickon Trails, the barn’s owner, worked with Cowing to adapt the barn through wet floodproofing. This approach acknowledges that flooding is inevitable and focuses on minimizing damage by ensuring water rises and recedes uniformly inside and outside the building, thus avoiding a build-up of hydrostatic pressure. Other key measures include relocating utilities and storage above flood-prone floors and using water-resistant, easily cleanable materials for interiors. Wissahickon Trails highlights these floodproofing interventions, using them as an opportunity to inform visitors about the very real consequences of climate change.
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference offered a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new preservation professionals, and explore Montreal for the first time. In addition to touring the metro system, I also enjoyed visiting the old town, especially the Notre-Dame Basilica. This Gothic Revival church opened in 1829 and features exquisite decorative painting.
Figure 4. The richly painted interior of Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica, looking towards the apse.
Figure 5. The richly painted interior of Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica, looking towards the narthex.
Overall, the conference demonstrated that successful preservation requires us to think holistically, considering not just physical structures but the complex web of relationships between people, places, and the environment. From indigenous perspectives on our relationship with the natural world to technical solutions for climate adaptation, from artistic expression in public infrastructure to practical approaches for energy-efficient housing, this conference broadened my understanding of how preservation can help us navigate contemporary challenges while honoring the past and preparing for the future. I am incredibly thankful for APT DC for making this experience possible for me!
