The Willowbank School of Restoration Arts is on the list of finalists up for a $50,000 prize in a national competition taking place this spring — the money it wins could help the school open up a third floor in its building and take in more students, says its executive director.
Voting is open every single day to help Willowbank win the National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save competition.
On Monday, Willowbank was announced as a finalist along with 11 other historic community groups across Canada competing to win a $50,000 prize.
Willowbank, located at the Willowbank National Historic Site in Queenston, is the only finalist in Southern Ontario and one of only two in Ontario as a whole.
“The change this would afford us is huge,” Katie Houghton, Willowbank’s executive director, said.
Funds would go toward opening the restoration school’s third floor, allowing for a fire escape and ultimately allowing for more students at Willowbank.
“Really, the vote is an investment in not only our students but in heritage conservation, because our students go on to work in this field and protect Canada’s heritage,” Houghton said.
If enough students enroll, Willowbank will be able to apply and get approval to allow students to fund their tuition through OSAP, making the school more accessible to a wider range of students, she said.
“Right now we’re under 15 students a year, and we can’t offer students that,” she said. Currently, students pay their tuition up front.
Established in 2023, the Next Great Save is a way for the National Trust to promote and care for historic places, said Patricia Kell, its executive director.
“It allows those places to undertake necessary conservation work, but the competition is also designed to help raise the profile of those sites and heritage conservation in general,” Kell said.
There were three times as many applications as spaces in the competition and finalists were assessed by an independent jury based on the importance of the site, the quality of the project being proposed and the capacity of the community organization to undertake the work, Kell said.
“What makes Willowbank especially interesting is what goes on there,” she said.
“The success of Willowbank is an indication of interest and commitment to making sure that this place and many other places are around many generations from now.”
Our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church in Newfoundland won the competition last year. It was not only successful in getting votes from people in its community, but from across Canada and worldwide.
Several sites that participated have become better known and have been able to find additional funding to support their work too, Kell said.
“I think that’s a success story as well.”
All of the sites listed on the website are important to our country, Kell said.
“Our heritage is the one thing that is absolutely and truly made in Canada. I hope this will be an opportunity for people to learn a little but more about their own community.”
The competition is decided by popular vote — those interested can vote every single day leading up to and including the April 17 deadline.
Vote for Willowbank online at nextgreatsave.nationaltrustcanada.ca/2025.
To support Willowbank outside of the competition, you can visit the school’s CanadaHelps page to give donations toward the third-floor restoration and more.
