The Heritage Canada Foundation
National Awards Program Winners

The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership

Gabrielle Léger Award for Lifetime Achievement in Heritage Conservation

Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Heritage Conservation at the Provincial/Territorial Level

Journalism Prize

Corporate Prize

National Achievement Award

The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership

In keeping with His Royal Highness’ commitment to architecture, the environment, and inner-city renewal, The Prince of Wales agreed to lend his title to the creation in 1999 of a prize to be awarded annually to the government of a municipality which has demonstrated its strong and sustained commitment to the conservation of its historic places. The local government must have a record of supporting heritage preservation through such means as regulation, policies, funding and exemplary stewardship. The nomination must provide evidence that heritage properties in the given municipality have improved over a period of time.

2007

As the oldest community in Newfoundland and one of the earliest European settlements in North America, the City of St. John’s has developed and employed an impressive array of bylaws, incentives and programs to protect and enhance its heritage fabric. With over 6,000 properties in its designated heritage area and 126 municipally designated buildings, St. John’s has recognized that its heritage structures and historic areas are important cultural and economic assets. In 1977, city council passed the St. John’s Heritage Bylaw, which created one of the first and largest designated heritage areas in Canada – an area which continues to expand today. A municipal Heritage Advisory Committee was established along with building design controls and the introduction of financial incentives. In the 1980s, St. John’s commitment to preservation was further enhanced by its participation in Heritage Canada’s Main Street program to improve the downtown core, notably George and Water streets. A renewed focus to heritage conservation emerged in 2001 when city council adopted a Downtown Strategy resulting in the creation of property-tax incentives for commercial and institutional heritage buildings, the sponsorship of a Downtown Summit with the St. John’s Board of Trade and the St. John’s Port Authority, and the introduction of a plaque program for designated heritage buildings. The city also commissioned a study that set out alternative methods for meeting building code requirements while maintaining the interior heritage character of historic structures.

Today, the city is working to expand its heritage area to encompass the Battery/Signal Hill neighbourhood and Quidi Vidi Village, and to revise its heritage designation process to include cultural landscapes and modern heritage architecture.

2006
As one of the smallest incorporated towns in North America, Annapolis Royal is committed to working with individuals and organizations to promote, and interpret the largest concentration of heritage properties in Nova Scotia. With over 135 designated properties – one of which includes Fort Anne, Canada’s first national historic site – Annapolis Royal has recognized that heritage conservation is its most important asset and an essential aspect of the local economy. Each year, more than 100,000 visitors are attracted to the town.

A leader among communities in the province of Nova Scotia, Annapolis Royal has developed and employed an array of bylaws, incentives and programs to protect and enhance its heritage fabric. The Town’s successful conservation initiatives include maintaining and promoting a designated national historic district, administering both a Heritage Building Award program, created to encourage and honour contemporary construction that is sympathetic to the community’s historic composition, and an incentive program that encourages the use of historically appropriate materials in the restoration of registered heritage properties. Most recently, the Town partnered with the Annapolis Heritage Society to create a series of 11 street panels designed to interpret the town’s significant waterfront heritage.

2005
For the sixth consecutive year, Heritage Canada awarded the Prince of Wales Prize to a deserving municipality that demonstrated an exemplary commitment to preserving its built heritage. The independent jury of heritage experts selected the City of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, whose local government developed policies and programs that enhance the city’s historic architecture and surroundings. These initiatives include an effective heritage bylaw and a heritage incentive program to help owners with restoration costs. The city has also made significant progress in public education and outreach to further promote the merits and value of heritage conservation.

2004
For the fifth consecutive year, the Heritage Canada Foundation has awarded the Prince of Wales Prize to a deserving municipality that has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the preservation of its built heritage. The independent jury of heritage experts selected the Town of Perth, Ontario, whose local government has worked diligently to enhance the significance of
the town’s historic stone architecture and natural surroundings, as the 2004 award recipient. Consisting of 19th-century mills and factories along the Tay River, Victorian store-fronts and grand homes, the buildings reflect the town’s rich history as well as the legacy of the Scottish stonemasons who built them. Settled in the early 1800s, Perth was the first planned community in what would later become Ontario, and today the preservation of that layout, as well as that of its buildings, adds to its unique charm.

Perth was also the first community to participate in the Heritage Canada Foundation’s Main Street program and is home to Algonquin College’s Heritage Institute—the only one of its kind in Canada. Established 15 years ago, the College’s heritage masonry and carpentry programs have strengthened the town’s position as a continuing centre for demonstrating conservation skills.

2003
For the fourth consecutive year, the Heritage Canada Foundation has awarded the Prince of Wales Prize to a deserving local government that has demonstrated exemplary commitment to the preservation of its built heritage. Citing the "deep, broad and full qualities of the nomination," the independent jury of heritage experts unanimously chose Québec City as this year's recipient. Québec City has developed and employed an array of forceful tools and incentives to protect and enhance its heritage fabric. The municipality's successful conservation initiatives include the maintenance and promotion of four historic districts and an innovative urban forestry scheme that enhances both the natural and built heritage.

Surrounded by enthusiastic nominators, Jim Bezanson, Heritage Development Officer, accepts the Prince of Wales Prize on behalf of the City of Saint John.

2002 The City of Saint John was the 2002 winner of the prestigious Prince of Wales Prize. As Canada's oldest incorporated city (1785), Saint John has the most intact collection of 19th-century commercial architecture in the country and has persisted in developing effective heritage policies and programs to support the sensitive restoration and maintenance of its historic fabric.

2000
Nominated by the Ward 1 (South) Thornhill Residents Association, the
Town of Markham was cited for its heritage policies, bylaws and programs developed for a period of more than twenty-five years. Drawing on the strength of community volunteers and a committed professional heritage planning unit, Markham achieved remarkable results in a climate of huge pressures from developers and builders. The Heritage Canada Awards Jury commended Markham for the strength of its heritage designation program, including not only a large number of individual properties, but also three significant heritage districts.

Back to top

Gabrielle Léger Award for Lifetime Achievement in Heritage Conservation

Madame Gabrielle Léger (1916-1998) consented to serve as patron for an award that recognizes individuals for their outstanding service to the country in the cause of heritage conservation. Founded in 1978, the Gabrielle Léger Award is Canada's premier honour for individual achievement in heritage conservation.

2007
Jacques Dalibard has dedicated much of his life to the practice and management of heritage conservation in Canada. As the federal government’s leading restoration architect and director of a team of emerging conservation specialists from 1968-1977, he developed and applied cutting edge technological and philosophical solutions to conserving several national historic sites – including Lower Fort Garry in Manitoba; the Rideau Canal in Ottawa and Dawson City, Yukon.

As an emerging leader in the heritage community, he became active in the newly established International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and played a key role in the creation of ICOMOS Canada. With a group of Canadian and American colleagues, he also established the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) - a cross-disciplinary, membership-based organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures and their settings. During his involvement with APT he has served as its editor and president.

From 1978 to 1995, he served as the Executive Director of the Heritage Canada Foundation, where he was responsible for creating and directing various programs including Main Street, Heritage Regions, Canadian Centre for Livable Cities, and the Canadian Heritage Network.

Education and training have always been priorities for Jacques Dalibard and over the years, he has lectured in Europe, the United States and Canada. In the decade leading up to his retirement in 2005, Mr. Dalibard taught in the Faculté de l’aménagement de l’Université de Montréal.

2006
Through his public service as a Winnipeg city councillor, chair of both the Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee and the Manitoba Heritage Council, as well as board member of Heritage Winnipeg and the Manitoba representative of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada,
Mr. William Neville has inspired municipal and provincial governments, heritage organizations and citizens to recognize and appreciate the importance of Canada’s historic building stock.

As the chair of Winnipeg’s Historical Buildings Committee (1980-1989), Mr. Neville played an important role in developing the criteria for designating municipal heritage sites, such as the unique Exchange District, while as chair of the Manitoba Heritage Council (1989-2001), he contributed to the creation of the province’s heritage policy. During his two-term tenure on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (1996-2005), he advocated for new commemorations, particularly those which related to ethno-cultural communities, and the designation of several prominent landmarks including Winnipeg's Exchange District and Walker Theatre, and the Inglis Grain Elevators.

In its decision, the Heritage Canada Foundation Awards Jury also cited Mr. Neville’s talent as a communicator. Through his regular contributions to the Winnipeg Free Press, he has become a public voice for conservation campaigns such as the one to save Winnipeg’s Eaton Building in 2001, while providing thoughtful insight into a variety of urban planning issues. Over the years, his articles have sparked public interest in heritage conservation, encouraged debate and discussion and influenced public policy.

2005
Mr. Muirhead began his professional career in the 1950s when several historic landmarks were being lost to the wrecking ball. He pioneered a movement which inspired municipal and provincial governments, heritage organizations, businesses and citizens to recognize and appreciate the importance of their historic building stock.

He was Kingston’s heritage planner and then director of planning and urban renewal. In these roles he promoted the restoration of Kingston’s historic City Hall, the creation of the city’s first architectural inventory, the establishment of the Frontenac Heritage Foundation and the revitalization of the downtown core, which involved the restoration of several prominent nineteenth century commercial buildings. Following retirement, Mr. Muirhead continues to influence conservation issues as a member of the Community Editorial Board of The Kingston Whig-Standard and as a frequent contributor of articles.

2002
For individual voluntary achievement, Dr. Michael McMordie of Calgary, Alberta, earned the Gabrielle Léger Award for Lifetime Achievement in Heritage Conservation. A long-time volunteer with the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada and a founding member of the Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary, Dr. McMordie committed himself, through his work with the Calgary Civic Trust, to the development of legislation on the application of legal convenants on heritage property.

2000
Although Ms. Anne West of Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been active in a variety of heritage projects over the years, she was honoured especially for her tireless efforts to raise funds for the restoration of St. George's Anglican Church in Halifax. Severely damaged by an arson fire in 1994, St. George's - also know as the Round Church, for its central plan - barely survived the fire. Ms. West immediately threw her energies and talents into the project to restore the building, raising more than $1.4 million and providing leadership for the daunting project.

1998
Dr. Chuen-yan David Lai has spent years studying the historic development of Chinese communities in Canada, and is credited with almost single-handedly preserving Victoria's Chinatown, once the largest in Canada. Under his leadership, several key buildings were restored and new inspirational projects initiated. Victoria's Chinatown was designated a national historic site in 1995.

1997
Ms. Janet Bingham of Vancouver, British Columbia, has been an exemplary volunteer and a leader in the heritage movement for more than 30 years. In the early 1970s Ms. Bingham was a key figure in the campaign to protect Gastown and Chinatown from a proposed freeway through those districts. She has also been active in a number of fights to save Vancouver landmarks, including Parksite 19, now known as Barclay Heritage Square. She is the author of two books, Samuel Maclure Architect and More Than A House: The Story of Roedde House and Barclay Heritage Square.

1996
For over 40 years, Ms. Ruth Redmond of Niagara Falls, Ontario, has purchased properties on the Lundy's Lane Battlefield site in an attempt to protect this historic area from development. This site is connected to the famous battle of the War of 1812. Recently, in a generous and magnificent act, she bequeathed her holdings,
3 acres of land, to the City of Niagara Falls as an historic park.

1995
Mr. John Woodworth is a professional architect who has served as Chairman of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and is in his twenty-third year as a founding director of the Nature Trust of BC. In his home region, the Okanagan Valley, Woodworth has provided leadership in the creation of important parks and reserves, including CathedralParks, Okanagan Mountain Park and Kalamalka Lake Park. Nationally, Woodworth has been a driving force behind the designation of the 8,600-km Alexander Mackenzie Voyageur Route, which the federal government declared a national legacy earlier this year.

1994 - Mr. John Bland, St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
1993 - Ms. Elizabeth Pacey, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1992 - Ms. Barbara Humphreys, Manotick, Ontario
1991 - Mr. Pierre Mayrand, Montréal, Québec
1990 - Ms. Shannie Duff, St. John's, Newfoundland
1983 - Mr. Stan White, Ottawa, Ontario
1981 - Mr. Anthony Adamson, Toronto, Ontario
1979 - Ms. Jean Minhinnick, Ontario
1978 - Mr. Hartland MacDougall

Back to top

Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Heritage Conservation at the Provincial/Territorial Level

The Lieutenant Governor’s Award was established in 1979 to recognize outstanding achievement in heritage conservation by an individual or group in a designated province or territory. The award recognizes continuous efforts in the conservation of historic places over many years.

2007
For more than 40 years Morris Flewwelling of Red Deer, Alberta has worked with museums, historical societies and heritage organizations on various innovative projects – including, most recently, the Heritage Community Foundation’s Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Such projects have enabled him to share his knowledge and passion for heritage, as well as inspire others to further promote Alberta’s historic resources. At the local level, he was involved in the creation of the Red Deer Heritage Preservation Committee, which was the first group in Alberta to designate a municipal site. Since its inception in 1984, the committee has saved numerous landmarks including the Old Red Deer Courthouse, the Armoury, the C.P.R. Station, the Allen Bungalow and the Alberta Ladies College. Mr. Flewwelling also helped establish the Red Deer Community Foundation and the Red Deer and District Museum. Provincially, he has served as the founding director of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, the founding president of the Heritage Community Foundation, president of the Alberta Museums Association and co-founder of the Central Alberta Regional Museums Network. He has also served as president of the Canadian Museums Association and as the governor for Alberta and the Northwest Territories for the Heritage Canada Foundation. Over the years, Mr. Flewwelling has received many awards for his outstanding service and leadership in Alberta.

2006
A graduate of Seneca College and the University of Toronto,
Ms. Margaret Kurtin has worked as a volunteer in heritage conservation for more than twenty years. She was a founder of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association, and led an extraordinary volunteer effort to establish the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District. Now consisting of more than 1,500 properties, the district continues to expand, protecting early, small-scale properties west of Parliament Street. Ms. Kurtin was president of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association for five years and was a key player in producing the book, Touring Old Cabbagetown.

For a number of years, Ms. Kurtin has also been a very active member of the Riverdale Farm Advisory Council which oversees the operation of the Riverdale Farm in Toronto. She currently chairs the Building and Grounds Committee.

Ms. Kurtin’s knowledge and experience has earned her a position on the Ontario Conservation Review Board.

2005
Working in the field of heritage conservation for more than 25 years,
Mr. Frank Korvemaker of Regina, Saskatchewan is most deserving of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award. This award recognizes his dedication as a public servant and volunteer in the conservation, management and stewardship of built heritage across the province and beyond.

Employed with the province's heritage branch for 25 years, he compiled records, conducted research and managed key Saskatchewan heritage conservation programs. He also coordinated the establishment of the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, assisted in the development of The Heritage Property Act of 1981 and contributed to the restoration and promotion of the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site.

2004
Mr. Harold E. Wright, a tireless publicist and popularizer of New Brunswick history, received the 2004 Lieutenant Governor’s Award. A native of Saint John, Mr. Wright has hosted a regional television program, “Reflections,” and written extensively on topics ranging from endangered houses to the province’s maritime history. The awards jury cited his relentless efforts to save the Chipman Hill Properties in Saint John and to have the Partridge Island Quarantine Station recognized, protected and interpreted as a provincial and national historic site. For more than 25 years, Mr. Wright has worked with various community organizations and heritage groups, including Heritage Canada, the Association Museums New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Museum, the New Brunswick Historical Society and the Minister’s Advisory Council on Heritage. His work and dedication to heritage conservation has also earned him several awards, including the Association Museums New Brunswick’s Award of Merit, the Canada 125 Medal, and a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History.

2002 The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia was the deserving recipient of the 2002 Lieutenant Governor's Award, established to recognize outstanding achievement in heritage conservation. For over 40 years, the trust has promoted, fostered and encouraged the preservation of historic buildings and sites throughout the province.
Dorothy Duncan, former executive director of the Ontario Historical Society, receives the Lieutenant Governor's Award from chair Trudy Cowan.	2001 Ms. Dorothy Duncan, recently retired Executive Director of the Ontario Historical Society, was cited by the Heritage Canada Awards Jury for her illustrious career in the field of heritage resource management and for her lasting contribution to the conservation of Ontario's heritage. During her 18-year tenure at the Ontario Historical Society, she has strengthened the network of some 600 affiliated local historical societies in the province.

1999
For the past 25 years, Ms. Ruth Canning has contributed to heritage preservation in many different ways. She is a founding member of the Newfoundland Historic Trust where she has held almost every executive office. She served on the Board of the Heritage Canada Foundation from 1988 to 1995 as well as the boards of the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation and the Newfoundland Historic Parks Association. More recently, she has fostered the preservation of the historical legacy and heritage places in the domain of Sir William Coaker, organizer of the Fishermen's Protective Union as well as social and political reformer. His union-built town, called Port Union, retains a remarkable collection of housing, shops, and industrial buildings where several restoration projects have been initiated under the guidance of the Coaker Heritage Foundation. Ms. Canning has also devoted her time to the Beothuk Institute, which is dedicated to improving our understanding of Newfoundland's aboriginal peoples.

1998
Mr. Alfred Pepin of Langley, British Columbia, received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for his preservation work in the Fraser Valley.

1997
Ms. Marion MacRae is an architectural and design historian who has made a lasting contribution to the preservation of heritage architecture in Ontario. She worked on several restorations, including Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, Ontario, a project that engaged her in various roles from 1957-1967. She has been a mentor to a generation of professionals in heritage preservation and written or co-authored important books such as The Ancestral Roof, Hallowed Walls and Cornerstones of Order.

1996
Mr. John Cousins of O'Leary, Prince Edward Island was recognized for his outstanding contribution to heritage preservation in the province. Some of his impressive achievements include his work with Island folk festivals and developing a school curriculum for Island history.

1995
The 1995 Lieutenant-Governor's Award was presented to the Hudson's Bay Company for its significant contribution to heritage conservation. The Heritage Canada Awards Jury cited in particular the magnificent gifts of the Company's archives and its museum collection to the Province of Manitoba.

1994 - Mr. Cyril Simard, Québec
1992 - Ms. Margaret (Peggy) Sarjeant
1991 - Mr. Russel K. Cooper, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Ontario
1990 - Mr. Shane O'Dea, St. John's, Newfoundland
1985 - Mr. Robert L. Boyce, Saint John, New Brunswick
1984 - Mr. Walter Jamieson, Calgary, Alberta
1981 - Mr. and Mrs. Lou Collins, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1979 - Mr. David Nicholas Spearing, Nanaimo, British Columbia

Back to top

Journalism Prize

The Heritage Canada Foundation Journalism Prize is presented annually to a journalist whose work has brought profile to Canadian communities’ historic places. Journalists and reporters working in the print, broadcast and electronic media are eligible.

2007
Ted Jones of Fredericton, New Brunswick, has dedicated much of his life to researching, writing and teaching about the history of the people, places, buildings and events that have helped to shape the province of New Brunswick, and in particular the greater Fredericton area. Over the years, he has authored numerous heritage-related articles in provincial newspapers, periodicals and magazines. His long-running column, “Fredericton Flashback” appeared bi-weekly in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner from 2000-2005. The nearly 150 articles in this series covered a wide variety of topics including education, built heritage, social and cultural events and politics. Mr. Jones has also published several books including Fredericton and Its People, 1825-1945 and Both Sides of the Wire, a two-volume history of the Fredericton Internment Camp. With his extensive historical knowledge, Mr. Jones has been called upon to make presentations in support of the retention of several notable buildings including York House and the York Street Train Station.

2006
Toronto architect and journalist Catherine Nasmith writes for the Globe and Mail and produces Built Heritage News. Started a little more than three years ago, Built Heritage News is distributed electronically, free of charge, to more than one thousand subscribers and a much larger audience of readers in Canada and other countries. The Heritage Canada Awards Jury praised Ms. Nasmith for her innovative publication, serving not only those working in the heritage conservation field, but also the general public.

2004
Employed by CBC Radio for 17 years, Mr. David Miller of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories has worked in almost every aspect of programming, in roles from morning show producer to newsreader. But it was his feature radio documentaries that earned him the 2004 Heritage Canada Journalism Prize. As a talented broadcaster and researcher, Mr. Miller has influenced the public’s awareness of, and appreciation for, the preservation of northern heritage.

2003
Throughout her years of research and writing, Ms. Jennifer Cook Bobrovitz has influenced public and media awareness of, and appreciation for, Calgary's architectural heritage. Featured in Legacy magazine, the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Real Estate News, her articles reflect a talent for researching facts and presenting them in a lively and educational style. She was also instrumental in creating a built heritage trivia program for CBC television and establishing the Virtual Tour of History Calgary Web site.

Renowned author and former Heritage Canada governor Pierre Berton presented the first Journalism Prize to Pamela Douglas, a reporter for the Brampton Guardian.

Corporate Prize

The Corporate Prize recognizes Canadian corporations who have invested in the conservation of historic property for the purposes of restoration, rehabilitation, or reuse.

2007
For more than 30 years, Andrex Holdings Limited of Ottawa, Ontario, has been a recognized leader in the redevelopment of landmark buildings. From acquisition and adaptive reuse to long-term management, the company has been dedicated to providing clients with an unparalleled urban living and working environment. In several instances, the company’s intervention has saved buildings from demolition. Among the examples cited by the awards jury were Wallis House – built as a hospital in 1873 which had fallen into disrepair, Andrex Holdings Ltd., converted it into 40 loft-style condominium apartments, and Davidson House, a stately Queen Anne residence built in the 1890s that the company restored and converted into their own offices. Other significant projects include the restoration of the Panet House and the Fleck-Paterson House – two initiatives which received a City of Ottawa Award of Excellence for Adaptive Reuse.

2006
Cityscape Holdings Inc. and Dundee Distillery (GP) Commercial Inc.,
Toronto, Ontario
Founded in 1832 by William Gooderham and James Worts, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery was the largest of its kind in the British Empire. Now recognized as a national historic site, it is comprised of 44 brick and stone buildings representing the best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America. In late 2001, more than a decade after its demise as a distillery, Cityscape purchased the site with a vision of transforming it into a vibrant, pedestrian-only village dedicated to the arts, culture and entertainment.

Designed by architect David Roberts Sr. and erected in 1859-1861, the Stone Distillery Building is the centrepiece of the heritage district and the oldest surviving distillery structure in Canada. Successfully rehabilitating the building into new office and retail space involved extensive repair work to the exterior masonry, the interior timber framework, as well as the windows and doors. A new roof was added re-introducing the dormers previously removed in the 1950s. While preserving several of the distinctive architectural features, the entire building was upgraded to current building code requirements. Much of the original equipment used in the distilling process was restored and remains on view as a testament to the building’s contribution to Canada’s industrial heritage. The project received financial assistance from Parks Canada through the Commercial Heritage Property Incentive Fund.

2004
Heritage Canada was pleased to bestow the first ever Corporate Prize on the Woodcliffe Corporation of Toronto for its restoration and rehabilitation of the
former North Toronto Railway Station. Designed by the architectural firm of Darling and Pearson in the Neo-Classical Beaux-Arts style, the station served as the Canadian Pacific Railway’s main terminal in Toronto between 1916 and 1927. Used for a variety of purposes over the succeeding 60 years, the station’s steady deterioration was thankfully reversed after the Woodcliffe Corporation purchased it in 2000. Work included cleaning and repairing the exterior Tyndall limestone, the installation of a new clock in the landmark tower and the restoration of the interior 40-foot-high (12-metre) ceiling and the original floors. In February 2003, the station reopened as a retail store complex and has been very successful in bringing new business and vitality back to the surrounding community.

Back to top

National Achievement Award

These awards honour individuals or groups for their achievement in heritage advocacy and volunteerism, and for conservation projects that demonstrate a community’s commitment to heritage conservation. Local heritage organizations are encouraged to submit nominations within prescribed criteria and eligibility rules. Each award is given jointly by the Heritage Canada Foundation and the heritage organization making the nomination. In this way, the Heritage Canada Foundation also recognizes the nominating organizations for their dedication and commitment to excellence in heritage conservation.

2008

Recipient of HCF 2008 Achievement Award: Reader Rock Garden Restoration Project

Reader Rock Garden, a provincially designated Edwardian Arts and Craft style rockery, has recently been restored by the City of Calgary. The project included rehabilitation and upgrading of the rock work, replanting of the original beds, rehabilitation of two ponds, and the reconstruction of a variety of structures, including the original house, gazebo, bridge and selected site furnishings.

The three-acre Garden dates from 1913—the year after a cottage was built on the property—and was used as a private residence and garden for William Roland Reader, Calgary’s most influential Park Superintendent.

The Garden followed a naturalistic design in order to demonstrate horticultural potential for pioneering Calgary within the rigours of the western Prairie/Foothills environment. Reader tested and documented over 4,000 plant species. His book, The Hardy Herbaceous Perennial Garden, lists the plants bed by bed. The quality of Reader’s plants and seedlings were recognized by Kew Gardens in London, the Botanical Gardens at Harvard; and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.

Most of the Garden was completed by the 1920s, but Reader continued collecting and experimenting with plant material until his death in 1943. The Garden was then opened to the public as a City park and named in his honour.

Following Reader’s death, the Garden experienced periods of decline and neglect, and the historic cottage was demolished in 1944. It was estimated that only 5% to 20% of the original plant material remained. After several years of restoration, the Reader Rock Garden has been rehabilitated according to Reader’s original plans and has earned official designation as a Provincial Historic Resource.

In 2003 the Reader Rock Garden project was awarded a grant from Infrastructure Canada – Alberta Program, and the City of Calgary committed to restore the historical landscape. Missing elements were recreated using historic photographs, plant lists, drawings, writings, and interviews with Reader’s grandchildren who lived in the original house.

This is the first garden in Calgary to be rehabilitated using the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of historic Places in Canada. It officially re-opened in May 2006 and visitation has exceeded expectations. Following the success of this project the City of Calgary has committed to rehabilitate its historic Central Memorial Park and Bowness Park.

    

The City of Calgary’s Reader Rock Garden Rehabilitation Project was awarded a 2008 Achievement Award on July 30. The Heritage Canada Foundation Achievement Award, given jointly with the Calgary Heritage Authority, recognizes outstanding work and commitment in the field of heritage conservation.

For more information about the Reader Rock Garden and William Roland Reader, visit:
http://www.calgary.ca/readerrockgarden
http://calhort.org/gardening/reader.aspx

2007

• The Heritage Canada Foundation and the Annapolis County Heritage Advisory Committee were pleased to present Marilyn Wilkins with an Achievement Award for her dedication and contribution to heritage advocacy and volunteerism.

  As a municipal councillor for the County of Annapolis for 16 years, Marilyn Wilkins has shown true leadership in promoting heritage within the community. Over the years, she has served as chair of the Annapolis County Heritage Advisory Committee, where she played a significant role in the creation of the town’s heritage inventory, the launch of a new municipal Coat of Arms, as well as co-chair of the Focus 2005 Committee, which culminated in the creation of a Calendar of Events listing almost 200 community activities celebrating the county’s 400th anniversary in 2005.

  Most recently, Marilyn served as a member of the Nova Scotia Voluntary Planning Heritage Strategy Task Force, an 18-month initiative which was commissioned by the Government of Nova Scotia and the Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage to consult, research and make policy recommendations on a provincial heritage strategy. Marilyn’s expertise relating to heritage issues and municipal planning were valuable assets to this important initiative, and her work along with that of her fellow team members will have a lasting and influential effect on the future of heritage in Nova Scotia. The province is planning to release its official heritage strategy in the fall of 2007 – a strategy which the heritage community is hoping will draw heavily upon the task force’s report and 59 recommendations which range from the management of museums and archives to the preservation of built heritage and archaeological resources.

• The Heritage Canada Foundation and the Canadian Chapter of the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM) were pleased to present the volunteers of the Watson’s Mill Manotick Inc., (WMMI) with an Achievement Award for their work in restoring and promoting Watson’s Mill—the only operating industrial heritage site within the amalgamated city of Ottawa.

  Located on the Rideau River, Watson’s Mill is considered one of the best-preserved examples of 19th century mill architecture in Canada. Built in 1860 by Moss Kent Dickinson and his partner, Joseph Currier, the five-storey limestone mill is an important part of the historic Dickinson Square in the heart of the village of Manotick.

  Since 1997, the mill and its museum have been operated by the Watson’s Mill Manotick Inc., a non-profit group dedicated to preserving the mill as a historic working site and as a social, cultural and educational focal point for the community and visitors. In 1998, WMMI established the Watson’s MILLennium Capital Campaign which raised more than $500,000 in grants and donations over four years for repairs and maintenance on the mill including the walls and foundations, chimneys and windows, as well as the installation of a proper drainage system and the restoration of the tin roof.

• The Heritage Canada Foundation and the Peterborough Chapter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) were pleased to present Derek Green with a 2007 National Achievement Award for the preservation of the Cox Terrace at 332 Rubidge Street, Peterborough, Ontario.

  

  
  One of only three national historic sites in Peterborough, the Cox Terrace was built in 1884 as a seven-unit row house for George A. Cox, a wealthy businessman and former Peterborough mayor. In the late 1980s, the Cox Terrace was threatened with demolition but was saved at the eleventh hour by a city council decision to designate it under the Ontario Heritage Act.

  In 2002, Derek Green purchased the by then derelict property and embarked on an ambitious project to restore it. The work included restoring the building’s distinctive yellow brick exterior, replicating and replacing the ornate wood brackets and mouldings, and rebuilding the covered veranda and roof.

• The Heritage Canada Foundation and Heritage BC were pleased to present the Canadian Museum of Rail Travelin Cranbrook, British Columbia, with a 2007 National Achievement Award for the ambitious and creative Royal Alexandra Hall Restoration project.

  The Royal Alexandra Hall, originally known as the Grand Café, was one of the finer features of the Royal Alexandra Hotel, which was built in 1906 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by the Canadian Pacific Railway. A favourite spot with Winnipeggers and the thousands of travellers who visited it, the café became synonymous with Edwardian elegance and first-class service.

  When the hotel was demolished in 1971, the Grand Café was dismantled piece by piece and, except for the curved beamed ceiling, stored for 25 years in a semi-trailer before being purchased in 1996 by Streit Brothers Antiques. In 1999, the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel (CMRT) learned of the room and purchased the contents, along with the massive two-storey-high carved oak fireplace from the hotel’s formal dining room. The Grand Café was recreated in the Royal Alexandra Hall, complete with its vaulted ceiling and eight curved double French doors, as a major Millennium project.

  Today, the elegant Royal Alexandra Hall is the centrepiece of the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel and its Deluxe Railway Hotel Architectural Tour. The space is also rented out for community and museum events.

2006
The first National Achievement Award of 2006 – given jointly with the Heritage Society of British Columbia – was presented to the Royal Theatre Façade Restoration project in Victoria, B.C. The award was presented to the theatre’s owner, Capital Regional District, the property manager, The Royal & McPherson Theatres Society and the project architect, Allan R. Cassidy Architect Inc.

Constructed in 1913 by the Victoria Opera House Limited, The Royal Theatre is one of the grandest surviving large-scale vaudeville theatres in Canada. With some of the century’s greatest performers on its stage, including Sarah Bernhardt, Carlos Montoya, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Luciano Pavarotti, this national historic site has served as the city’s showplace for the arts and is now considered a showcase for theatre restoration in Canada.

In 2004, two years following the restoration of the theatre’s original Rococo/Renaissance Revival style auditorium, the Capital Regional District and The Royal and McPherson Theatres Society undertook the restoration its decorative façade. The project included the meticulous cleaning and repointing of the brickwork and the restoration of the original, ornate terra cotta details and windows. The upper parapet wall and upper terra cotta elements were also seismically stabilized. During the project, various community groups, municipal officials and heritage planners were consulted to ensure that the theatre’s architectural and historical significance were preserved.

2005

• The first award of 2005 - given jointly with the Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society - was presented to the Friends of the Forestry Farm House for its restoration of the Superintendent’s Residence at the Sutherland Forest Nursery Station in Saskatoon.
  
  Built in 1913, the residence, along with surrounding lawns, walkways, trees and flower beds, was the focal point of the nursery until it quit operating in 1966. The residence soon fell into a state of disrepair and its demolition seemed imminent until the community banded together to form the Friends of the Forestry Farm House.
  
  This group created a restoration and sustainable development plan for the house and the surrounding lands. Completed in 2003 with the assistance of Stephen Stade of Homestead Construction, the project involved interior stabilization, a new roof and replacement of all electrical, plumbing and heating systems. Original floors were refinished and extensive work was carried out on the porch. By raising over $150,000 and working 5,000 volunteer hours, the group successfully restored and transformed the building into the Forestry Farm Teahouse for all to enjoy.



• The Heritage Society of British Columbia and the Heritage Canada Foundation proudly presented an Achievement Award to the parish of Christ Church Cathedral, Iredale Group Architecture and Proscenium Architecture and Interiors. The award was for the interior restoration of the 110-year-old Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver.
  
  Beginning in 1995, workers spent over nine years restoring the interior and exterior of the historically designated Gothic Revival style landmark to its former grandeur. The project also included seismic upgrades and installing a new church organ.



• The Heritage Canada Foundation and the Windsor Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario honoured SOS-Églises. This volunteer group worked tirelessly to prevent the demolition of the 121-year-old St. Joachim Church — one of the last remaining sentinels of French Canadian life in Essex County, southwestern Ontario.
  
  In the last four and a half years, SOS-Églises appealed several times to the Parish Council and the Roman Catholic Diocese of London to preserve the landmark. In May 2003, the group won a significant legal victory when an Ontario divisional court panel put an indefinite hold on demolishing St. Joachim. It ordered the town of Lakeshore to reconsider SOS-Églises’ application to designate the property. In a landmark ruling, the Court stated that the town violated the Act when it passed a March 2002 resolution requiring the owner’s consent before a consideration for designation could take place.

2004

• The 2004 Achievement Award went to Mr. Mike Corbett, Warden of the Westmorland Institution of Dorchester, New Brunswick, for its restoration of the 18th-century Methodist Dorchester Pioneer Cemetery. Mr. Corbett accepted the Achievement Award—given jointly with the Westmorland Historical Society—on behalf of the staff and inmates of this minimum security institution, who volunteered over 1,000 hours cataloguing, cleaning, repairing, and in some cases reconstructing, over 223 gravestones. Together they have made a significant contribution to the preservation of Dorchester’s rich history.

• A second 2004 Achievement Award was presented jointly by the Heritage Canada Foundation and the Heritage Society of British Columbia to the Mole Hill Community Housing Society of Vancouver, British Columbia for its Mole Hill Housing Project. Continuously threatened with demolition since 1950, Mole Hill is the city's only intact Victorian and Edwardian neighbourhood, with more than 30 houses built between 1888 and 1942. Thanks to the hard work of heritage preservation groups and housing activists, the neighbourhood has been restored to its former grandeur.

  In partnership with the City of Vancouver and the Government of British Columbia, through its HOMES BC Program, the non-profit Mole Hill Community Housing Society transformed 26 heritage houses situated on two city blocks into affordable housing, using state-of-the-art ground source heating systems. Completed in 2003, the Mole Hill Housing Project offers the community 170 units of housing, a daycare centre and a revitalized neighbourhood oriented to pedestrians.

  The Achievement Award was presented to the Mole Hill Community Housing Society on June 4, 2004 at a special ceremony held by the Heritage Society of British Columbia in Burnaby, British Columbia.

2003

• Heritage Canada was pleased to present two Achievement Awards in 2003. The first, in partnership with the Heritage Society of British Columbia honoured Mr. Donald Luxton for his significant contribution to heritage preservation. As a heritage consultant, educator and preservation advocate, Mr. Luxton has been involved in evaluating, planning, managing, restoring and writing about heritage properties for 20 years. He has also taken an active role in such positions as Director of Heritage Vancouver, founding and current President of the Canadian Art Deco Society and Director of the Vancouver Heritage Conservation Foundation. He is presently serving as a heritage consultant for the Mole Hill housing project in Vancouver, where 26 historic homes are being restored to their original colours. Mr. Luxton edited and complied the recently published book Building the West, a comprehensive, fully illustrated, biographical and historical account of B.C. architects who, from its colonial days to 1938, helped shape and influence British Columbia's built landscape.

• The Foundation was proud to present a second Achievement Award - this time in partnership with the Manitoba Historical Society - to La Maison Gabrielle-Roy Corporation of St. Boniface, Manitoba, for its dedication in restoring the birthplace of celebrated Canadian author Gabrielle Roy. Built in 1903, Gabrielle resided at 375 Deschambault Street from her birth in 1909 until 1936. La Maison Gabrielle-Roy Corporation purchased the historic home in 1997 and began an extensive eight-year project to restore it to its original design. Thanks to private donations and financial support from every level of government, the home officially reopened as a museum on June 19, 2003.

2002
Dr. Ruth Goldbloom, O.C., was recognized for her significant contribution to the preservation of Pier 21 - the port of entry for one million immigrants to Canada. The Achievement Award celebrates her role in spearheading a movement to recognize the former immigration building and to preserve its legacy for all Canadians.

2001
Melinda Seyler, Laurie Edmundson and Mikal Williams,
Victoria, British Columbia

1999
The Achievement Award for 1999 honoured the Battle Harbour Historic Trust for the restoration of 20 historic buildings in the village of Battle Harbour in Labrador.

1998
The British Columbia Buildings Corporation (BCBC) and the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) received the 1998 Achievement Award for the major rehabilitation of St. Ann's Academy in Victoria and for the historic restoration of the building's exterior, the chapel and adjoining areas.

1996

• Acadian Museum of Prince Edward Island in Miscouche for its videoThe Island's Acadie, portraying the history of the Acadians on the Island;
• Mr. Alden Weeks of O'Leary for his volunteer work at the Prince Edward Island Potato Museum;
• Island Trails for its Confederation Trail project;
• Island Nature Trust for its conservation programs, including protecting the endangered Piping Plover;
• Community Museums Association of Prince Edward Island;
• The Alberta Municipal Heritage Advisory Board honoured the
  Historic Resource Management Team for their accomplishments in creating and implementing a program designed to preserve the heritage of the City of Edmonton. Key components of the program included the establishment of a register of the city's most important historic resources, the introduction of a comprehensive management plan and the adoption of a tax policy that provides incentives to encourage designation and rehabilitation of heritage buildings.

1995

• The Association of Manitoba Museums recommended that the
  Museum of Saint Boniface be honoured with a Heritage Canada Achievement Award for the successful completion of extensive restoration and renovation of its building. The structure, designed by l'abbé Louis Franĉois Richer LaFlèche, was built between 1845-1851 of hand-squared logs and originally served as a convent for the Grey Nuns. The restoration committee was vigilant in ensuring that the methods of restoration respected the original fabric and character of the building.
• The second Achievement Award of 1995, recommended by the Manitoba Heritage Foundation, honours the
  Manitoba Genealogical Society for the outstanding work of their Special Projects Committee in the transliteration of burials in Ukrainian and Polish cemeteries.
• Robin Ward, Vancouver, British Columbia

1994 - Ms. Cécile Grenier, Montréal, Québec
1994 - Michael Kluckner, Langley, British Columbia
1993 - Mr. Herb Stovel, Montréal, Québec
1993 - Mr. John A. Harrison, Ontario
1993 - Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, Cranbrook, British Columbia
1992 - Hallmark Society, Victoria, British Columbia
1991 - Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, Manitoulin Island, Ontario
1991 - Alexander Mackenzie Trail Association, Kelowna, British Columbia
1989 - Secwepemc Cultural Education Society (SECS) British Columbia

Back to top