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From: Architectural Conservancy Ontario [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Architectural Conservancy Ontario Sent: February-05-18 2:33 PM To: Erica Cole Subject: Acorn in a Nutshell: Heritaga e Month Happenings

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ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY ONTARIO

The past. Our present. Your future.

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Dear readers,

This month's issue of Nutshell is a big one. We hope you enjoy the addition of event listings; they represent the work of so many peoplle across Ontario to preserve, share and discuss our heritage. If you have events to contribute for future issues, or wish to submit articles about projects in your community, please don't hesitate to send them in! The place to send your submissions is [email protected]

Just one more thing before we jump in: Although our advocacyy at ACO is focused on the Ontario and our local governments, our sister organization, the National Trust for Canada, has produced a Webinar and Advocacy Toolkit that deals with many of the same concepts. The first webinar is Tuesday February 6 from 2-3 pm. You are asked to register in advance. Here are the links:

National Trust for Canada Webinar Registration: http://bit.ly/2E4UlSj

Advocacy Toolkit: https://nationaltrustcanada.ca/what-you-can-doo/advocacy-action/the- advocacy-tool-kit

Upcoming Public Heritage Events

Heritage Day was created in 1973 by the Heritage Canada Foundation to preserve and promote Canada’s natural, architectural, and historical heritage. The theme of Heritage Day this year (February 19, 2018) is 'Heritage Stands the Test of Time'. February 19 is also Family Day in Ontario.

This year, Heritage Week in Ontario will be the week of February 19-25.

The Parliament of Canada officially recognized February as Black History Month In December 1995, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine.

In honour of Heritage Week and Black History Month, we have added this list of upcoming events across Ontario. It is by no means complete, but we have shared as many public events as we could find. For upcoming months, please email us information about your events and we will include them in future Nutshells.

Journeys (Amherstburg) When: Exhibit runs from Feb 2 to April 1 (Tues-Fri noon-5, weekends 1-5, closed Monday) Where: Amherstburg Freedom Museum, 277 King Street, Amherstburg Cost: $7.50 admission for adults ($6.50 students/seniors) For more information: exhibition info or museum info

Summary: Journeys features 14 works of art from a group of local Black artists. The exhibit celebrates and relays the story of Black enslavement and the long journey back to freedom. This exhibit shows how the Underground Railroad gave birth to the first racially integrated, religiously inspired movement for social change within the United States and Canada. Between 1840 and 1860, before the American Civil War, once-enslaved Africans followed the North Star on the Underground Railroad to find freedom in Canada. That journey to freedom was long, dangerous and life-changing.

Public Lecture: First Parliament Project (Toronto) When: Tuesday Feb 6, 6:30-8:00 pm Where: Temporary North St. Lawrence Market, 125 The Esplanade, Toronto Cost: free (but registration is required) For more information and to register: firstparliament.ca

Summary: In November 2017, the City of Toronto initiated a new project to develop a Heritage Interpretation Strategy and Master Plan for the publicly-owned First Parliament site located at Front and Parliament Streets in downtown Toronto. The First Parliament project will involve a detailed examination of the site's history followed by the development of strategies for telling the site's colourful stories. These strategies will then become the foundation for a master plan that will define how the site might be developed and for what purposes. This free lecture is the first event to kick off the public engagement aspect of this process.

Kitchener Movie Night (Kitchener) When: Tuesday Feb 6, 7:00-9:00 pm Where: Kitchener Central Library (Theatre), 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener Cost: free (but registration is required) For more information and to register: click here

Summary: Camera, lights, action! Travel back to Kitchener in the late 1940s and 1950s as we view recently digitized film from the Grace Schmidt Room collection. Join staff from the City of Kitchener's Economic Development Department to discuss how the downtown has changed and is continuing to evolve.

Waterloo School of Architecture's 50th Anniversary Lecture Series, Conversation 4 (Cambridge) When: Thursday Feb 8, 6:30 pm Where: 7 Melville Street South, Cambridge Cost: free For more information: click here

Summary: This conversation is the fourth of six conversations. The series will stage conversations around the different areas of the Waterloo Architecture curriculum with one broad ambition: “Questioning the canon: In a world of unprecedented possibilities and unforeseen brutalities, what can architectural education do?” This particular conversation will feature Siamak Hariri and Philip Yuan and will consider the following sub-question: "How can design pedagogy address the very real problems of the world while retaining its radical openness and experimentation?”

Black History Month at the St. Catharines Museum (St. Catharines) When: Tours will be offered every Thursday and alternate Saturdays for the month of February. Upcoming tours are Thursday, February 8, 15 & 22 at 10:00am and Saturday February 10 & 24 at 2:00pm. Where: St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centrre, 1932 Welland Canals Parkway, St. Catharines Cost: admission by donation For more information: 905-984-8880 or click here

Summary: The St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre is ccelebrating Black History Month this February with special guided tours of our award-winning Follow the North Star exhibit! Trace the journey to freedom through a history of slavery and emancipation, racism and prejudice, while exploring the lives of St. Catharines' first African-Canadian settlers.

The Restoration of the Petrie Building (Guelph) When: Thursday Feb 15, 7:00 pm Guest Speakers: Kirk Roberts (owner) and Allen Killin (Architect) Where: Unifor Local 1917 meeting hall (Old Stone School House), 611 Silvercreek Parkway North, Guelph Cost: Free for ACO members and $5 for non-members For more information about the Petrie Building: click here

Summary: The Petrie Building is Canada’s last remainiing example of a pre-1890 machine stamped metal clad building. Restoring this downtownn landmark is an investment in Guelph that will last a long, long time. Once completed, the Petrie Building owner will enter into a Heritage Easement with the City of Guelph which is a commitment that the restored exterior will be maintained for the future.

ACO's Guelph-Wellington Branch entered the Petrie Buiilding facade restoration project in the 2017 This Place Matters crowdfunding competition, and it received a first place regional prize of $15,000 toward the restoration project. The scaffolding came down in January to reveal the restored facade, which is nearly complete. The big reveal was covered by CBC News, Global News, the Guelph Mercury.

A Thousand Miles to Freedom (Dresden) When: Thursday Feb 15, 6:30-7:00 pm Where: Dresden Public Library, 187 Brown Street, Dresden Cost: free For more information: 519-683-4922 or click here

Summary: Celebrate Black History Month with the kids by taking an interactive journey from slavery to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Brenda Lambkin from Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site brings to life the fascinating story of William and Ellen Craft, who escaped slavery in Georgia and traveled all the way to England for freedom!

21st Annual Heritage Day Workshop (Waterloo) When: Friday Feb 16, 9:00-3:30 Where: Wilfrid Laurier University, Lazaridis Hall, 64 University Avenue West, Waterloo Cost: $10 (includes lunch and parking) For more information and to buy tickets: click here

Summary: The day features a variety of speakers on many topics including: leveraging local assets to grow cultural economies; cultural heritage landscape studdies; film and built heritage assets; and the real cost of heritage renovations. A keynote presentation by Greg McMaster will provide insight into the finding and preparing of locattions for filming. Mr. McMaster has worked as a location manager for numerous film and television productions, including Murdoch Mysteries and Frankie Drake.

6th Annual Heritage Fair: Celebrating Women in London (London) When: Saturday Feb 17, 9:00-3:00 Where: Central Library, 251 Dundas Street, London Cost: free For more information: click here

Suimmary: The 6th Annual London Heritage Fair will be a commemoration of the contribution of women in our city. In honour of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, the February 17 event will shine a light on the role women have played in shaping our community, featuring prominent guest speakers, interactive activities such as pottery making, henna tattooing, a film screening, and a drumming circle, as well as an informative Exploration Zone featuring 20+ local heritage organizations, all showcasing women in our community.

Flashback February: Heritage Week in Prince Edward County (PEC) When: Feb 17-25 Where: Various locations around Prince Edward County (check the website for each event/activity). Cost: Varies. Many events are free or by donation. For more information: click here

Summary: Flashback February is a week of hands-on learning, live demonstrations, talks, film screenings, culinary experiences and stories exploring the relationships of past, present and future in Prince Edward County. Talented chefs, local organizations, experts, curators, artists and innovators will be on hand to spark converssation, lead activities and dig into our rich history. This myriad of events offers something for all ages. Chheck our website for the event schedule, with pricing and session details, as well as the menus for our heritage themed dinners!

Family Heritage Day (Southampton) When: Monday Feb 19, 10:00-4:00 Where: Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, 33 Viictoria Street North, Southampton Cost: free For more information: click here

Summary: Spend the day with your family experiencing Family Heritage Day onn February 19 at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. Learn ttraditional crafting skills – such as weaving, spinning, creating violins, and using historical woodworking tools. Snowwshoes will be available to borrow, so bundle up and trek around Fairy Lake. Inside, there’s storytelling, Celtic dancing workshops, old-time music and a model railroad to run. There willl be a cash food booth offering delicious chili and snacks. This event is a full-day of exploration and discovery that everyone is sure to enjoy!

Family Day at Eldon House (London) When: Monday Feb 19, 1:00-4:00 pm Where: Eldon House, 481 Ridout Street North, London Cost: $10.00 (incl. HST) per person or $30.00 for families (up to 5 in a family) For more information or to buy tickets: click here

Summary: Looking for a family outing to celebrate Family Day? Tour Eldon House and enjoy hands-on activities for children and adults in our Interpretive Centre. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in or register.

Caught up in Conflict: Civilian Women of 1812 Lecture (Port Colborne) When: Thursday Feb 22, 7:00 pm Where: L.R. Wilson Heritage Research Archives, 286 King Street, Port Colborne Cost: free For more information: click here

Summary: This lecture will detail the lives of the women during the War of 1812 and showcase how their lives were affected by the conflict.

St. Marys Heritage Fair (St. Marys) When: Friday Feb 23, 7:00-9:00 pm Where: Pyramid Recreation Centre, 317 James Street South, St. Marys Cost: free For more information: click here

Summary: Join the St. Marys Museum and the St. Marys Historical Society for the 22nd annual St. Marys Heritage Fair! This event features a number of community exhibitors, a silent auction and the annual presentation of the St. Marys Heritage Awards.

Heritage Week Open House (Richmond Hill) When: Saturday Feb 24, 2:00-4:00 Where: Richmond Hill Heritage Centre, 19 Church Streeet North, Richmond Hill Cost: free For more information: click here

Summary: Join the celebrations at the Richmond Hill Heritage Centre on February 24. Meet local masons, enjoy some Victorian refreshments, participate in crafts for the kids, and be among the first to see the following informative new exhibits:

Freemasonry – A History Hidden in Plain Sight: This exhibit informs the public, arouses curiosity and promotes learning about freemasonry’s heritage and cultural identities. Freemasonry contributes to communities in a number of ways through the unspoken and invisible act of helping those in need. On loan from the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

Queen Victoria's Secrets: The time of Queen Victoria’s reign was a time of considerable change, including women’s fashions. As the dress changed shape, the undergarments also changed to give a woman the desired and fashionable silhouette. This exhibit will look at the various stages of a woman’s dress.

Heritage Fair (Delaware) When: Saturday Feb 24, 10:00-4:00 Where: Delaware Community Centre, 2652 Gideon Drive, Delaware ON Cost: free For more information: http://middlesexcentrearchive.ca/

Summary: Learn about Middlesex County heritage with local historians, historical societies, museums, archives & other organizations

Endless Possibilities Await in NextGen's Job

Shadow Program

In celebration of Heritage Week, ACO NextGen organizes its annual Job Shadow Program. It’s a popular program that provides unique one-day opportunities for students and emerging professionals to gain insight into the heritage field. It can also lead to unimagined career opportunities, as experienced by one of our NextGen executives, Jocelyn Kent.

Three years ago, Jocelyn was figuring out the next step of her career. She had graduated Shadow Program, applied, and was placed with ASI, an archaeological firm in Toronto. She gained hands-on experience handling artifacts and preparing them for storage and display, and she was able to discuss her career path with heritage professionals. Her job shadow experience confirmed her desire to work in museums.

The following year, while pursuing a Masters in Museum Studies at the University of Toronto, she applied again and was placed with ACO. For one day, she shadowed Rollo Myers, ACO’s former manager, who taught her more about ACO’s work and introduced her to wide array of heritage professionals.

Through the contacts Jocelyn made during job shadowing, she landed her dream internship with Fort York and City of Toronto’s museum services. She gained experience developing new exhibits for Fort York’s Visitor Centre and the Market Gallery at St. Lawrence Market. Following her internship, she obtained a museum attendant position at Fort York.

For Jocelyn, the Job Shadow Program was a rewarding experience. It helped focus her professional goals and inaugurated her involvement in ACO. Jocelyn is now the Chair of ACO NextGen.

During 2018's Heritage Week, there will be over 40 NextGens shadowing heritage professionals across Ontario. Good luck to this year’s participants as they explore the possibilities of the heritage field!

Former job shadow host Rollo Myers (ACO’s former manager) with Jocelyn Kent

Sidbrook -- Demolition by Neglect? by Gail Rayment

In Sidbrook, a “chic…Italianate Villa” in Cobourg, designed by the eminent architect Kivas Tully, was built in 1857. For a hundred years, as home to well-connected families who enhanced it by adding a west wing, a third storey, a portico supported by four Corinthian columns, Sidbrook was the centre of social life for Cobourg’s summer colony of wealthy Americans.

Dramatic change came in 1952 with conversion into a private hospital, as its grrounds were reduced to the current acreage. The hospital closed in 2002 and the property sold. In 2009 the owners proposed conversion into six condominium units, then withdrew the application.

Sidbrook, one of the few grand houses remaining in Cobourg, hass been empty ever since. with peeling paint and boarded windows, is the subject of ongoing effort to keep the house secure. Appeals to protect the building’s heritage attributes by enforcing Cobourg’s Building Standards by-law result in frustration for the Chief Building Officer. He now, in January 2018, reports the owners’ claim that they lack the resources to do needed roof repairs.

The local ACO Branch, after monitoring this situation for over ten years, now fears another case of demolition by neglect.

We Did It!

(Sarah King Head for the Friends of Beaaverdams Church)

The Friends of Beaverdams Church are thrilled to announce that its fundraising drive of 2017–18 has been an astounding success! More than $50,000 has been raised to replace all 26 windows in less than a year through a combination of events and individual donations. Twelve of these windows have already been installed, and the remaining 14 will

Following the design of project heritage engineer, Mark Shoalts, Webwood Windows of Newton have replicated the 12-over-12, single-glazed window units as they would have appeared when the meetinghouse style church was buuilt in 1832. (The larger-paned two- over-two configuration, by contrast, represents early twentieth century glazing techniques.)

As they move to the second storey, Square Roots Carpentry of Fenwick will also open seven apertures that were closed when renovation work in the 1870s blocked the upper level, three-sided gallery with a false ceiling.

The next phase of the restoration process will be replacement of the weatherboard siding. The three different styles of boards currently extant provides insight into the methods used to restore an exterior that has been subjected to extreemes of weather for nearly 175 years.

One of the two oldest frame churches remaining in the province, Beaverdams Church has important cultural heritage value on many levels. Key among these are its associative value with both Indigenous history in the region (through its location at an intersection of an ancient trail network) and the foundation of public education in Onttario by Egerton Ryerson.

To support this work or make a donation, please contact the Friendds at [email protected]

Photo courtesy of Don Duval, 2018. The photo shows the new winddows on the north and part of the east sides, were concealed, along with two at the rear (south) and three on the west side (probably in response to prevailing weather directions).

2018 Ontario Heritage Conference: June 7-9, Sault Ste. Marie

If you are planning to attend this year's Ontario Heritage Conference, you can keep up to date on the conference website www.ontarioheritageconference.ca. The theme for this year, our 30th anniversary, is “What Have We All Achieved?”

Interested in hosting a future conference in your coommunity?

Click here for more information.

ACO is moving

In March, ACO's provincial office will be moving to 401 Richmond Street West (Suite 206) in Toronto. Our services will continue uninterrupted by the move -- if you'd like to visit us in this more accessible location, you are welcome!

Have a story to share? Please send in your stories and photos for ACORN in a Nutshell to

[email protected].

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Through advocacy and direct action, ARCHITECTURAL CONNSERVANCY ONTARIO

(ACO) has been involved in preserving Ontario's architectural and environmental heritage since 1933.

Our mailing address is: Architectural Conservr ancy Ontario Suite 403, 10 Adelaide Street East Toronto, ON M5C1J3 Canada

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From: Architectural Conservancy Ontario [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Architectural Conservancy Ontario Sent: January-03-18 10:51 AM To: Erica Cole Subject: Acorn in a Nutshell: Happy New Year!

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ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY ONTARIO

The past. Our present. Your future.

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From the COO

Dear friends of heritage,

As we welcome a brand new year, I want to thank all of you for your continuing interest and commitment to preserving Ontario’s heritage. It has been a very busy year for ACO members across the province, and our staff are working hard to expand our programs over the year to come, so that we can support your efforts even more.

In November we held a full-day strategic planning session with the help of an engaging facilitator, Caryl Arundel, and the strategic priorities we identified will form part of our new strategic plan in the coming months.

As you know, 2018 is an election year in Ontario. We will be working with you to bring heritage issues to the attention of local politicians across the province, at a time when they are listening carefully. We anticipate that new legislation will be in play relating to heritage this year, and will be keeping you well-informed about how we can all get involved. Please take the time to engage your local candidates on heritage issues.

In March our provincial offices will be moving to a larger and better accessible space, and we look forward to being able to do more for all of our constituents, grow our programs, and do more outreach. It is with optimism and resolve that I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year. I look forward to working with you to fight the good fight of heritage conservation in 2018 and beyond.

Sincerely, Will Coukell COO, Architectural Conservancy Ontario

2018 Ontario Heritage Conference: June 7-9 returning to Sault Ste. Marie!

Sault Ste. Marie hosted the very first heritage conference in 1988, so 2018 will mark the 30th anniversary. What a great opportunity to re-visit that wonderful region.

The local organizing committee has been hard at work for a few years now, planning and organizing to offer you the best opportunities to learn and explore the region’s heritage assets. The program is shaping up to allow the attendees to attend visit local heritage sites and venues; Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Heritage Discovery Centre, Algoma Conservation Building amongst them.

The social program and tours offered during the conference and on Sunday will provide choices to explore the sites and the history. This beautiful area is a gateway to the canal, and is surrounded by natural beauty.

The main venue will be the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre; group rates will range from $139 for a Delta room to $159 for a Deluxe room offering a waterfront superior view. For budgeting purposes, flights from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie are less than $300.

The conference website www.ontarioheritageconference.ca will keep you updated as time and planning progress. Mark your calendar and join us for the 2018 edition of the Ontario Heritage Conference.

Interested in hosting a future conference in your community?

Click here for more information.

ACO NextGen seeking Job Shadow Hosts

ACO NextGen is preparing for its 6th annual Job Shadow program, which will be held during Heritage Week (February 19-25, 2018). The program brings together students and emerging professionals with established members of their chosen field, allowing hosts to share their knowledge and expertise with the next generation. In 2017, ACO NextGen featured more than 30 hosts right across Ontario, from Leamington to Ottawa. These hosts included municipal governments, consulting firms, educational and nonprofit organizations, and heritage/restoration tradespeople. We are interested in including hosts involved in all aspects of heritage, in addition to architecture.

Hosts are asked to commit one business day during Heritage Week to host a student or emerging professional. Participants have had the chance to tour offices and workshops, sit in on meetings, go on site visits to past or current projects, assist with special events, review documents and legislation, do hands-on restoration work, and discuss the industry with those who know it best.

Interested in participating? Please complete the online form by January 12, 2018. >>> Complete Application Form

Please share this information with colleagues or anyone else you think might be interested in hosting. For any questions, please contact Jocelyn Kent at [email protected].

Stephen Otto awarded Order of Canada

Stephen Otto, C.M., a longtime member of ACO and one of Ontario’s strongest advocates for heritage conservation, has been appointed to the Order of Canada for his sustained advocacy in support of heritage conservation and for his contributions to preserving and promoting Ontario’s buildings and architecture. The first head of Ontario’s heritage conservation programs, he has written extensively on Ontario history and built heritage, including revisions to Eric Arthur’s classic, Toronto: No Mean City. Among his numerous other accomplishments, he was a co-founder of the Friends of Fort York, and has worked tirelessly on its behalf. His accomplishments are too numerous to list here, but you can learn more about the extent of his contributions on ACO's website here.

Congratulations, Steve, on this richly deserved honour.

MARY ROBINSON RAMSAY, 1947-2017

We were saddened to learn of the death of Mary Robinson Ramsay from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy on December 13th. One of the original six members of the ACO South Bruce Grey branch, she served as its President for a number of years. She played a key role in saving Victoria Jubilee Hall from destruction and worked with Alice King Sculthorpe to acquire it for ACO.

The Hall had been designated by the Municipal Council in 1979, but in 1997 Council attempted to remove the designation and announced plans to demolish it. A local citizens’ group, the Friends of Victoria Jubilee Hall, made an offer to purchase it in trust for one dollar, and Mary presented their case to ACO Council, indicating that their group was interested in becoming a branch of ACO. The branch was accepted in principle on June 14th, 1997.

In addition to her many other contributions to the community of Walkerton, Mary remained closely involved with the restoration and refurbishment of the Hall for the next twenty years, helping it renew its role as a cultural centre for the community. In the words of Ruth Fischer, the Administrator at the Hall, Mary was the heart and soul of Victoria Jubilee Hall. She will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to her husband, Alex Ramsay,

and her family.

Have a story to share? Please send in your stories and photos for ACORN in a Nutshell

to [email protected].

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Through advocacy and direct action, ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY ONTARIO

(ACO) has been involved in preserving Ontario's architectural and environmental heritage since 1933.

Our mailing address is: Architectural Conservancy Ontario Suite 403, 10 Adelaide Street East Toronto, ON M5C1J3 Canada

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From: Architectural Conservancy Ontario [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Architectural Conservancy Ontario Sent: December-06-17 4:45 PM To: Erica Cole Subject: Acorn in a Nutshell: December Celebrations and Reflections

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ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY ONTARIO

The past. Our present. Your future.

Donate to ACO Join ACO Visit our Website

Celebrating our accomplishments in 2017

As we look back on the past year, ACO members and volunteers have much to be proud of. But with 24 branches, we don't always know what others are doing in their communities. In the spirit of celebrating together, this issue of ACORN in a Nutshell will focus on sharing the good work that's being done by ACO branches, large and small, across Ontario.

If your branch didn't get a report to us in time for this issue, please send one along by December 15 and we'll include it in the January issue.

ACO Cobourg and East Northumberland Branch

ACO Cobourg & East Northumberland ran a Canada's 150 project that made headlines this year. Signs reading "This building was standing in 1867" were installed in front of more than 200 buildings in Cobourg, funded by a grant from the Town of Cobourg. Owners of pre-Confederation buildings were invited to be a part of the project, while local ACO volunteers delivered and installed the lawn signs. The project's legacy is an inventory with photographs to be added to the Town's website.

Two active Branch members received the Town's Heritage Award in April, to recognize their services to heritage over the past 20 years. Wendy McQueen and Gail Rayment oversaw the preparation of the Town's Heritage Master Plan, both volunteered as organizers of for the 2011 Ontario Heritage Conference when it was held in Cobourg, and both have been active members of this ACO Branch. Congratulations to Wendy and Gail!

Mayor Gil Brocanier installs the ACO sign in front of Victoria Town Hall on July 4 assisted by ACO Cobourg President Diane Chin and Project Chair Felicity Pope

ACO Toronto Branch

On October 23, just three days after ACO's Awards Dinner, Heritage Toronto held its annual awards ceremony, and ACO's Toronto Branch was given an award for Community Heritage Organizations by popular vote of Heritage Toronto members. Some of the projects undertaken by the Toronto Branch in 2017 included surveying 500 schools for the TO Built database, holding a party to celebrate the history of York Square, and hosting the Toronto 150+ event, a symposium at the Ontario Science Centre, for which they also created a video about Raymond Moriyama (architect of the OSC), which you can watch here.

Catherine Nasmith at the Heritage Toronto Awards, representing the Toronto Branch

ACO Toronto Members (l-r) John Wilcox, Gee Chung, Matthew Zambri, Janet Walters, Catherine Nasmith, Penina Coopersmith and Stephanie Mah

ACO Clarington Branch

We have had a busy year. In April the Municipality had their annual Volunteer Appreciation night. The ACO selected Bernice Norton to be honoured for her work with the ACO, Doors Open and many other functions within our local branch.

The Ehrenwort Trail is a municipal trail that was put in to keep eyes on the Bowmanville Training School/POW Camp 30. The ACO has been doing guided tours on the trail. This was our second year and we started the tours in May with participating in the Jane’s walk with 3 tours and had 35 visitors. The ACO had 7 tours and 102 visitors. The ACO also has private tours for groups of 10 or more. If interested please contact www.jurylandsfoundation.ca, [email protected] or www.claringtonmuseums.com May was our municipality's Maplefest which is a major event to promote Doors

Open for Clarington. June was our Doors Open event. We featured a small hamlet called Kendal. We had 15 sites and over 4700 visitors. This was a huge success for the ACO. In August we had a booth in the municipality's Blueberry Festival and in October Applefest. Both events were well attended.

Our Branch is still advocating for Heritage Building preservation in our area with our main focus on the preservation and adaptive reuse of the Bowmanville Training School/POW Camp 30 buildings. We are working closely with the Municipality and Jury Lands Foundation to support in any way possible. The branch is gearing up for Doors Open 2018.

Council recently moved to designate six buildings at Camp 30 under the Ontario Heritage Act. Oct. 21, 2017 - Jason Liebregts / source: Metroland (DurhamRegion.com)

ACO Halton Hills Branch

Georgetown’s c.1852 Railway Exchange Hotel, know locally as “The Station House” was most likely built to accommodate work crews building the Toronto Guelph Railway which became part of the GTR in 1856. It has been identified as the oldest

frame stagecoach-style hotel, still standing in context with its original station, in all of North America.

In 2012, the family that had owned the hotel for 100+ years needed to settle an estate and applied for a demolition permit. In spite of a unanimous recommendation for designation from the Heritage Committee, Halton Hills Council granted the permit. The fight that followed was basically what inspired the founding of ACO-HH and the permit eventually expired.

In March 2012, ACO-HH arranged for a Preservation Works report to be completed by award winning Heritage Architect, Ian McGillivray. We’re not out of the woods yet but the hotel was subsequently purchased by Habitat for Humanity and this past summer, closely following suggestions in Ian’s report, the building was stripped of unsympathetic later additions in preparation for future use as a home for a needy local family.

Below is the only archival pic of the hotel in 1913 and a picture as it looks today.

ACO North Waterloo Branch

The North Waterloo Region Branch participated in Doors Open in September. We held our series of three lectures about education. One lecture was in November of 2016 and described early schools and architects who designed them. The second and third lecture were held spring of 2017 and described schools built in the early 1900s up to and slightly past mid-century. This included the University of Waterloo.

We are hosting another series of three educational lectures open to the public for 2017-18. The City Building Lecture Series will examine the role played by planning, urban design and landscape architecture in the 3-dimensional development of our communities while still encouraging the preservation of our built heritage. The first talk in our City Building series was on November 9th.

As a preview to the City Building series of talks, we partnered with Princess Cinema this Fall in presenting the ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE film series. The first film is of particular interest. Citizen Jane: Battle for the City, according to one review is "...a timely tale of what can happen when engaged citizens fight the power for the sake of a better world. Arguably no one did more to shape our understanding

of the modern American city than Jane Jacobs, the visionary activist and writer who fought to preserve urban communities in the face of destructive development projects. This film vividly brings to life Jacobs' 1960s showdown with ruthless construction kingpin Robert Moses over his plan to raze lower Manhattan to make way for a highway, a dramatic struggle over the very soul of the neighborhood." (Rotten Tomatoes). The film has many lessons to be learned about the struggle to maintain a heritage landscape in the face of development pressures.

The City of Waterloo has launched a Cultural Heritage Landscape study to identify what places are of cultural heritage value to the community and why. Understanding which places are important to people will help the City of Waterloo plan how and where it should grow, and where there might be opportunities to celebrate, enhance or protect places valued for their cultural heritage. The COMMUNITY MAPPING ONLINE TOOL contains an interactive mapping tool to enable you to identify and describe the places you value. The map you create will help the City develop an inventory of Cultural Heritage Landscapes (places of heritage value) in the City of Waterloo.

ACO Stratford-Perth Branch ACO Stratford-Perth was busy in 2017 raising money for a documentary film entitled GRAND TRUNK -- A City Built on Steam, Stratford, Ontario. We received a grant from the Ontario 150 Community Celebration Program to help finance the film about the GTR/CNR locomotive repair shops in Stratford. We partnered with Powerline Films, a local film company, who produced the documentary. “I have always wanted to make this film,” said Simon Brothers, co-creative director of Powerline Films, “Growing-up in Stratford I have been fascinated with the story of the railway and the shops and their influence on the development of the city and on the lives of its residents.” Collaborating with local author and historian, Dean Robinson, Brothers recorded interviews with several people who worked in the shops. Woven through and around those stories is archival film footage which has never before been aired publicly. The film premiered on October 16. You can see a preview of the 30-minute film here.

In addition to the grant, we raised an additional $20,000 through a fabulous concert and auction as well as donations from the people and businesses in Stratford. The event featured favourite local singers and musicians as well as local personalities who agreed to act as master of ceremonies and auctioneer for a live auction.

We also celebrated our 200th historical plaque presentation last February during Heritage Week. Our Historic Plaque Program was inaugurated in February 2011 as part of our outreach program, which is designed to help residents better understand the built heritage, social and cultural history of their community. Since the program’s inauguration the people of Stratford have taken to the program and we are averaging between 30-35 applications a

year and have had to expand our volunteer research team.

ACO NextGen Design Charrette a resounding success

On November 11, 2017, ACO NextGen hosted their 6th Annual Design Charrette at Campbell House Museum in Toronto. The one-day design charrette for students and emerging professionals is intended to encourage creative thinking, cross- disciplinary collaboration, and provide networking opportunities with esteemed industry professionals.

This year’s project centred on the Toronto Coach Terminal, a block-long motor coach terminal, built in 1931. The two-story Art Deco building boasts a limestone and aluminum façade, enclosed coach loading bays, and an elegant interior that includes a grand T-shaped staircase and an impressive stained glass window and ceiling light. While much of its architectural design has survived the decades, the structure has become run-down and likely to be abandoned in coming years.

The twenty-one participants began the day by visiting the exploring the history of the downtown neighbourhood with a walking tour led by Tatum Taylor, Heritage Planner at ERA Architects and co-editor of The Ward: The Life and Loss of Toronto’s First Immigrant Neighbourhood. Along the route, they had a chance to visit and

examine the Toronto Coach Terminal. Afterwards, participants returned to Campbell House’s Ballroom for a presentation by Scott Weir, a principal at ERA Architects, which provided insights into how similar heritage properties have been developed. At 11 o’clock, a Remembrance Day service was held in the house of an American Revolutionary war veteran and surrounded by the war memorials of University Avenue and Queen Street.

The participants were split into interdisciplinary groups to collaborate on the adaptive re-use of the Toronto Coach Terminal. After three hours, groups presented their designs to a panel comprised of Brian Brownlie and Robert Allsopp, partners at DTAH, Steven Bell, Program Manager at the City of Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services, Sarah Hill, Senior Consultant at Lord Cultural Resources, and Steven Ziegler, Development & Construction Facilitator from the Downtown Yonge BIA. While the judges were conferring, a tour of Campbell House Museum and a discussion of its impressive conservation story were provided by its executive director, Liz Driver.

Although proposing a variety of designs, each group sought to integrate the building’s heritage while creating new spaces to enhance the community and city. Ultimately, Group 2 consisting of Paolo Jabile, Linette Jackman, Joseph Libertor, Justin Sharp, and Colin Tilbrook – with backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and art history – was declared the winner by the panelists. The group proposed the redevelopment of the Toronto Coach Terminal as “Gray Coach Commons”, taking into account the architecture and landscape of adjacent properties to present a mixed-use design that included the creation of residential, commercial and park spaces, as well as a market and a museum.

ACO NextGen is grateful to all of the panelists, speakers, and participants who took part in the design charrette, and looks forward eagerly to next year’s event!

The event attracted a lot of media attention in Toronto. You can read about it on urbantoronto.ca, NOW Magazine, and Metro News.

Call for submissions: Remnants of the Past

ACORN Spring 2018

A remnant is defined as a remaining piece or surviving trace when the greater part of an entity is gone. Ruins of former buildings and landscapes, abandoned public works, and relocated fragments of a lost community sometimes attract attention as remnants of an important activity from Ontario’s past. Even better, some are now enjoying active preservation or repurposing.

The Spring 2018 issue will look at both rural and urban examples where surviving traces remain to draw links to valued heritage and historic continuity. Articles should be a maximum of either 500 or 1000 words in length and “encourage the conservation and reuse of structures, districts and landscapes of architectural, historic and cultural significance to inspire and benefit Ontarians.”

Before commencing work on an article, please send your proposal or questions to [email protected] to avoid duplication and ensure photo guidelines are received. Deadline for submissions is January 29, 2018. Submitters are encouraged to look at past issues available on the ACO website: www.arconserv.ca.

A message from ACO President Leslie Thompson

On December 4, 2017 the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development released a report: Preserving Canada's Heritage: The Foundation for Tomorrow. I urge you to review the report---it is a good read. The National Trust for Canada has scheduled a toll- free teleconference with Liberal MP John Aladag who led the Committee’s study for Thursday December 7th at 11am:

Toll Free Number: 1-866-999-9779 Participant’s Code: 469414

I participated in the call on Tuesday. Given the national implications of the report, the National Trust of Canada has suggested that our voice would be stronger if they coordinate the strategy of all concerned heritage organizations. They promise to share their strategy and response shortly and the ACO Policy Committee may suggest action at that time. In the meantime, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the report and/or participate in the teleconference.

Best regards, Leslie

If you like what we're doing, please help us grow

It's the time of year when we (both people and organizations) take stock of what we've accomplished and plan for the upcoming year, ideally with optimism, energy, and resolve. At ACO we have much to be proud of and much more work to do in 2018.

It's also the time of year when non-profits ask their constituents for support, as we depend on donations to do our valuable work, and holiday giving is a significant part of our revenue. Please know that we are working hard to stretch our resources, and that your donations are crucial to ACO's operation and deeply

If you are able to lend your support, you can do so through CanadaHelps.org, on our website, by phone (at 416.367.8075 or 1.877.264.8937) or by mail (cheques payable to 'Architectural Conservancy Ontario' can be mailed to ACO at 10 Adelaide Street East, Suite 403, Toronto ON M5C 1J3). If you have already sent in a donation, thank you!

We'll be back to you soon to talk about plans for 2018, but in the meantime, from the staff of ACO's Provincial Office to all of you, we wish you a safe, happy holiday, time with loved ones, some rest and relaxation, and a wonderful new year!

Will, Devorah, Elizabeth and Marie

Have a story to share? Please send in your stories and photos for ACORN in a Nutshell

to [email protected].

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Through advocacy and direct action, ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY ONTARIO (ACO) has been involved in preserving Ontario's architectural and environmental heritage since 1933.

Our mailing address is: Architectural Conservancy Ontario Suite 403, 10 Adelaide Street East Toronto, ON M5C1J3 Canada

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