A heritage conservation district is a defined area of buildings and properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The City of Mississauga has designated two heritage conservation districts: Meadowvale Village and Old Port Credit Village. Designated in 1980, Meadowvale Village was the province's first heritage conservation district. The City designated Old Port Credit Village in 2004.

Heritage Conservation Districts enable the City to manage and guide change through the adoption of a plan and guideline for the conservation, protection and enhancement of each area’s special character.

On November 27, 1980, Meadowvale Village became Ontario's first adopted heritage conservation district under city By-law 453-80. As this was the province's first heritage conservation district, the HCD Plan was written without the benefit of having a precedent model to influence its development. However, the Meadowvale Village Heritage Conservation District Plan went on to become the model for other HCD Plans in the 1980s and has served the Village well for many years. In 2005 there were significant amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act and as a result the 1980 HCD Plan no longer meets the standards of heritage conservation and lacks the correct tools to be effective.

The purpose of the Background Report is to document the background research and data which was not completed prior to the 1980 HCD Plan. This background report provides the prehistoric and historic research on the Village in general, its phases through time from early native occupation, the 1819 first settlement, through to the present. This report provides a history and description of each property within the Village as well as the statement of cultural heritage value and consideration of its natural heritage. The history and development of the HCD since 1980 has been documented only in the recording of physical changes to property. A history of development and social change within the Village since 1980 has not been included in this report.

The Meadowvale Village HCD Plan is currently under a comprehensive review. The first phase of the review was to research and compile a history of the Village and area, as well as a documentation of each property within the HCD. The draft documents and a Power Point presentation are provided in the links under "Meadowvale Village".

As the HCD Plan Review progresses information will be posted on this web page.