Municipality : Community : Beeton Lot : Concession : Description : Thanks to the efforts of a township resident, Adjala-Tosorontio has its first inventory of significant heritage buildings. David Fayle presented council Monday night with a preliminary inventory of 270 cultural significant buildings in former Adjala township. Fayle is planning to inventory buildings in Tosorontio as the next step in this process. In a brief presentation, Fayle said that he had visited and photographed those buildings which had significant heritage importance. The buildings range from the log cabins which were built by the township's earliest settlers to mid-Victorian homes which were built from the 1870's to the 1890's and the buildings built in the early years of the 20th century. Fayle told council that it could consider designating these historic homes as heritage buildings but would not restrict usage of the properties.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is seeking individuals who are interested in helping their community by serving on the BWG Heritage Committee. Among other matters, the committee will advise council on the protection of heritage assets and promoting heritage conservation within the community. If you would like to participate in this worthwhile endeavor please submit a letter of interest to the address noted below outlining your background, pertinent information and why you are interested in serving on the BWG Heritage Committee. Backgrounds with architectural conservation techniques, management, historical research, and knowledge of the community's heritage would be considered an asset. An applicant must be eligible to vote at a municipal election of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : In a special meeting of Council on December 8, Bradford West Gwillimbury Council returned to the Heritage debate, with a presentation by Burt Duclos of the Ministry of Culture. Duclos advised Councillors that the Ontario Heritage Act requires municipalities to keep a "current, publicly accessible register of properties of cultural heritage value or interest" - but that it is up to Council to determine what appears on the Registry, and what buildings are "designated" under the Act. Registry does not confer designation - it only provides temporary protection from demolition or alteration, requiring a homeowner to notify Council of the proposed work 60 days in advance. The Heritage Registry, besides "creating an inventory of your assets," also provides time for sober second thought and negotiation - but does not interfere with the rights of the property owner, or involve any legal implications, unless Council decides to Designate. The process? Identify buildings of interest; conduct research into their history or importance; carry out a site analysis and measurements; and finally, evaluate the property, using criteria developed by the Province. The evaluation looks at the "what" but also "more importantly, the 'why?' An evaluation will lead you to make informed decisions," Duclos said - and possibly to designation. "What if a property owner doesn't want his property designated?" Councillor Mark Contois asked. "It is Council's authority to make the decision," said Duclos; there is no statutory requirement to seek the approval of the homeowner - although the Ministry urges municipalities to involve the owner in the discussion as much as possible. But just being listed on a Heritage Registry has no impact, Duclos said.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : Both Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury are experiencing rapid development, with all of the "growing pains" associated with a transition from small, rural communities to urban centres. Increasingly, there have been conflicts over the preservation of built heritage. In both municipalities, century-old farmhouses have been demolished, despite the efforts of local historical societies and residents - raising questions about the role of the local Heritage Committee and Council,in preserving the past. MPP for York Simcoe, Julia Munro organized a panel discussion on the issue, November 12 at the Queensville Community Centre, with an expert panel that included Catherine Nasmith, of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. The Architectural Conserancy also provides grants to homeowners, to encourage the maintenance and preservation of heritage buildings, and has played a role in restoring a number of significant structures. Elaine Robertson urged municipalities to be proactive, in preserving heritage - but also realistic. If it's going to cost $150,000 to restore a building, "who's going to pay for that?... Who's going to pay for moving it? Who's going to restore it on its new site? Who's going to use it?... We have to be realistic as to what we can save, and what we can't save." Robertson outlined the steps for a Heritage Committee: carry out an inventory of buildings, then establish a Registry - listing on the Registry provides a 60-day grace period for any home that might be threatened by demolition - and finally, designation.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : You'd be hard pressed to find two people who have shown their love for Bradford West Gwillimbury more than George Jackson and Barbara Verney over the past 20-plus years. The duo were recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust for their hard work preserving and commemorating the history of the town at a town council meeting, where they each received recognition. Ms Verney received a certificate of achievement through the 2008 Heritage Community Recognition Program for her outstanding volunteer contributions. In 1990, Ms Verney put her love for the town front and centre when she volunteered as secretary at the first meeting to organize the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association. Two years later, she became president of the association and continued in that role until the end of 2008. She has received recognition for her volunteer work in the past, including a provincial award for volunteers older than 65 in 2002. Much like Ms Verney, Mr. Jackson has been busy doing his part to help preserve the heritage of Bradford West Gwillimbury. In 1987, when he was a member of the Bradford Library building committee, he promoted the inclusion of a local history room. In 1990, he was founding president of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association. For three years in the late 1990s, Mr. Jackson worked with two architects to compile background information for the book, Inventory of Historic Buildings in Bradford, Ontario. For this work and much more, Mr. Jackson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : On March 17, BWG Council recognized the contributions of two long-time residents to Ontario's heritage, presenting a Certificate of Achievement to Barbara Verney and a Certificate of Lifetime Achievement to George Jackson, on behalf of the Ontario Heritage Trust and the 2008 Heritage Community Recognition Program. Barbara Verney was co-founder of the BWG Local History Group. Through her involvement with the Group, the Town's HEART Committee, IODE and Gwillim Group, she helped organize walking tours of historic Bradford, bus tours of the Holland Marsh, displays on the anniversary of Hurricane Hazel, and the installation of the statue of Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe and historic plaque in Bradford during the Sesquicentennial. She was the Town's Co-ordinator for the Bicentennial of Yonge St. in 1996, and has won numerous awards for her community involvement and voluntarism. Mayor Doug White Called George Jackson the "godfather of BWG history." Also a founder of the BWG Local History Group, Jackson is a volunteer, an historian, and an author.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : At just half a kilometre, it wasn't much of a trip. But for a very old homestead, it was an incredible journey. George Elliot House, built in 1861 on then endless acres of farmland north of Toronto, was tugged slowly buy surely to a new location yesterday. It is to be restored and renovated into semi-detached dwellings by Habitat For Humanity volunteers, then turned over to two families who will put in at least 500 hours of "sweat equity" labour to secure ownership. The 360-tonne gothic-style house had become surrounded by new homes in northeast Brampton. The builder Metrus offered it for free if Habitat For Humanity agreed to do the move to a double lot up Tobram Rd. that Metrus was donating. After weeks of preparation, the exquisitely quoined brick farmhouse was lifted yesterday onto a huge platform of steel I-beams atop mammoth rubber wheels. By mid-afternoon, the house had rumbled into place after a three-hour trip. Hundreds of Habitat volunteers were joined by local politicians and dignitaries, including Toronto Argonauts head coach Mike "Pinball" Clemons. Clemons said Habitat's style of volunteerism brings the community together. "The best kind of giving is simply elbow grease," he said.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : That was the advice of Dr. Neil Watters, speaking to the Scotch Settlement Historical meeting last Saturday afternoon. He reminded those in attendance of the many contributions the Osler family made to the community of Bond Head, South Simcoe, Canada, and in the case of Sir William, to the world-wide field of medicine. In April 1837, the family came to the village of Bond Head, on the edge of the Canadian wilderness, surrounded by forest, where bears and wolves roamed. Dr. Watters noted that visitors from abroad still come Bond Head to visit the church. He urged Governments to meet the challenge: "Find some way to preserve Osler Church!" Dr. Watters, in his own way, is establishing a precedent in Town - taking the initial steps towards the designation of the log house on his property on the 12th Line, as a Heritage property. The log house, built in 1834, is a rare example of an original log house built by the first settlers in West Gwillimbury and is the first property to be designated since the Heritage Committee was formed by 18 months ago.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : There comes a time with every project when the decision is made that this is the end. The first chapter of the History of West Gwillimbury - WEGWHIST project - is off to the printer, and we have 2 other chapters almost ready to send. We have other chapters that still need some work, but we will be using only material at hand. This means the end of our research. We thank the many who provided a story and pictures of their families, unfortunately that did not provide us with a story, and thus there will be no mention of them in the families chapter. The West Gwillimbury History project is a volunteer effort, involving a team with a variety of skills and talents who have written, photographed, organized, arrange, edited and prepared the book for the printer.
Municipality : Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury Lot : Concession : Description : The WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History Project) team is happy to report that significant progress is being made, in the writing of the History of West Gwillimbury Town-ship. During recent after-noon sessions at the Bradford Public Library, the team collected family photo heirlooms to include in the book. The response has been overwhelming. The photos, and the unique stories that seem to accompany them, have provided a new source of information that has been truly inspiring.
