Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Heritage Conservation Past Recipients
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2016
Harry Barrett (Oakville, Ontario)
Harry Barrett is the recipient of the 2016 Lieutenant Governor’s Award, recognizing his individual outstanding achievement in heritage conservation in Ontario, for his work in the preservation of Oakville’s cultural, natural and built heritage over the past sixty years.
Born in Oakville, Ontario in 1925, Harry Barrett spent his early years in an 1830’s Ontario Gothic Revival residence at the edge of downtown Oakville. After serving in the Royal Canadian Artillery in Europe in 1943, Mr. Barrett returned home to Oakville and joined his father in the family plumbing and heating business, working on local homes, which proved invaluable during his later work with the local municipal heritage committee.
Mr. Barrett was largely responsible for the Town of Oakville by-law passed in 1961 that allows the town to take ownership of waterfront lands when those lands become available for sale and development. The waterfront trail system links lands stretching along Lake Ontario from Brockville, through Toronto, to Niagara On The Lake, and have become a large part of Mr. Barrett’s legacy to the town.
During Mr. Barrett’s time as mayor, from 1973 to 1985, he supported a number of heritage preservation initiatives. From saving historic buildings through renovations, to assisting with the renovations of other historical properties, he has been at the forefront of the preservation and enhancement of his community. Well past his retirement, and even past his 90th birthday, Mr. Barrett continues to serve as a volunteer and advocate in his lifelong commitment to the Town of Oakville, and is an inspiration to all of its residents.
Harry Barrett was nominated by Susan Schappert, Heritage Planner, Planning Services, Town of Oakville, Ontario.
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2015
Marianne Fedori (Edmonton, Alberta)
Marianne Fedori has been called Edmonton’s most dogged champion of architectural conservation. For thirty years, Ms. Fedori has been an unwavering advocate for the protection of heritage buildings both in Alberta’ capital and throughout the province.
An historian by training, Ms. Fedori completed her Bachelor of Arts in Canadian History at the University of Calgary in 1980. In her first job, she undertook research related to heritage conservation at the Calgary Public Library. Since then, Ms. Fedori has worked with provincial and municipal governments, architects, museums, educational institutions, publishers and the media as a researcher and historical consultant, but her true impact has been in her work as a volunteer.
A leader in Alberta’s heritage conservation community, Ms. Fedori’s resumé paints the picture of her extensive involvement in all things historical. She is a past president of the Historical Society of Alberta, a founding member of the Alberta Heritage Alliance, past chair of the Edmonton Historical Board, a former vice chair of the Government House Foundation, founding member of the Glenora Community Association and a lifetime member of Canada’s National History Society.
Ms. Fedori has been instrumental in raising public awareness about heritage in Alberta. She helped create both Historic Calgary Week and Historic Edmonton Week. She is a founding member and tour leader for Jane’s Walk Edmonton and serves as a mentoring historian for student Heritage Fairs. Ms. Fedori has also made a significant contribution to the published record of Alberta history with numerous articles, historical reports, and publications, and regularly gives talks on local history and heritage conservation.
A steadfast defender of historic places, Ms. Fedori has been involved in numerous heritage conservation campaigns, advocating on behalf of such places as the Glenbow Archives, Reader Rock Garden, Stephen Avenue, Lougheed House, the Rossdale Power Plant, Government House, the Roberts Wells residence, the Hudson’s Bay Company Building and the Birks Building. Her commitment to conservation extends to her own home: she purchased and carefully restored the 1946 William Blakey House, obtaining municipal heritage designation in 2007.
Throughout the Alberta heritage community, Ms. Fedori is admired for both her grace and iron will. She has proven herself to be an outspoken and indefatigable public leader for the cause of conservation.
Marianne Fedori was nominated by Leslie Latta, Executive Director, Provincial Archives of Alberta and by Anita Jenkins.
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2014
Dr. Edward MacDonald (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
A native Prince Edward Islander, Dr. Edward MacDonald has been an important members of its heritage community for three decades. Known as Dr. Ed, he has served as editor, curator, teacher, policy advisor, heritage advocate, media resource, author, poet and outstanding public speaker.
Armed with a BA in History and English from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) and a MA and PhD in History from Queen’s University, Dr. MacDonald began his career as curator with the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation in 1985, where he also edited its popular history journal, The Island Magazine.
In 2000, Dr. MacDonald joined the faculty of the UPEI as Associate Professor of History, a position that has garnered him numerous awards for excellence in the classroom. His Applied Public History course has inspired many graduates to pursue work in heritage related fields.
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2013
Mr. Charles Fairbank III (Oil Springs, Ontario)
Known as “Charlie” to his friends, Mr. Fairbank has worked tirelessly to protect and promote a unique piece of Canada’s industrial heritage: the First Commercial Oil Field National Historic Site, at Oil Springs, Ontario. The world’s longest-producing oil company, it still operates using the original “Jerker-Line” pumping technology developed by Mr. Fairbank’s great-grandfather in 1863. Today, Fairbank Oil Properties produces approximately 24,000 barrels of oil per year from 350 wells on 600 acres.
It was Mr. Fairbank’s use of the historically accurate pumping system, his dedication to preserving his great-grandfather’s legacy and his advocacy for heritage protection that led to the designation of Fairbank Oil and the greater Oil Heritage District as Ontario’s only working industrial-based Heritage Conservation District in 2010.
Mr. Fairbank has been a national and international champion of Oil Springs and Petrolia as the location of the world’s first commercial oil field, whose drilling and pumping technology quickly spread to the United States and later to oil fields around the world, giving birth to the global petroleum industry.
Mr. Fairbank runs Canada’s oldest petroleum hardware shop, Van Tuyl & Fairbank Hardware in Petrolia, which continues to provide obscure oil production equipment essential to the viability of Ontario operators. He is also a founder of Petrolia Discovery, a working museum of petroleum history, and is a constant financial supporter and partner with the Oil Museum of Canada.
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2012
Francine Lelièvre (Montreal, Quebec)
Preparing for the future by protecting and promoting our heritage and archeological history is the motto that motivates Francine Lelièvre. Founder of the renowned Pointe-à-Callière museum, Mme. Lelièvre is a passionate historian and teacher who has been devoted to preserving history through cultural, heritage and tourism institutions for over thirty years. She began her career with Parks Canada in 1973, where she took charge of the conservation, promotion and interpretation of several national historic sites including Louis-S. St-Laurent in Compton and Grande-Grave in the Gaspésie, the first site to be developed as a “cultural landscape”. She was named Chief of Interpretation Services and Promotion for Québec in 1982, where she was responsible for 3 national parks, 26 historic sites and 4 historic canals. Her career then took her to the Musée de la civilisation du Québec before she set up her own heritage consulting firm, Processus inc, for 5 years prior to 1992.
Mme. Lelièvre had the vision and determination that saw the establishment of the Pointe-à-Callière museum of history and archeology in Montreal, set on the site of extensive archeological discoveries from the 1970s that revealed over 1,000 years of human activity including the ruins of the earliest French fortifications. She was determined for the site to not only become a nationally recognized destination for Canadians, but one that is celebrated internationally. Mme. Lelièvre has overseen the museum’s expansion that has resulted in the preservation of surrounding heritage buildings: the Old Custom House, the Youville Pumping Station, the first electrically operated wastewater pumping facility in Montreal, the Old Mariners’ House—now used as educational and exhibits spaces. She also established the first school for archaeological digs in an urban centre on the site of the Fort Ville-Marie—where Montreal was founded—and integrated it into the complex.
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2010
Ralph Clemens (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrardor)
Ralph Clemens has worked in the field of heritage restoration in the province for over four decades. During Ralph Clemens’ 27 years as Museums Technician with the Provincial Historic Resources Division, he was responsible for the reproduction and restoration of furniture for Government House, and for all the provincial museums and historic sites. Some of his other projects include Commissariat House, Bonavista Lighthouse, Mockbeggar Property, Hiscock House and Point Amour Lighthouse. A true artisan in every sense of the word, Ralph Clemens has brought devotion and a love of the craft to everything he has worked to create and restore. It is the skill, precision and care which he has brought to every project that has ensured many of Newfoundland and Labrador’s heritage treasures are still around today for current and future generations to enjoy. Mr. Clemens was awarded the 2010 Lieutenant Governor’s award in St. John’s in October for his outstanding achievement in heritage conservation for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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2009
Stephen Otto (Toronto, Ontario)
Stephen Otto has been contributing to the field of heritage for over 40 years. As the founding head of heritage conservation programs with the Ministry of Culture, Mr Otto has been ceaselessly educating the public on places that define people’s experience in Ontario. Mr. Otto has inspired others in the field with his dedication in protecting the public on places such as The Distillery District National Historic Site, Todmorden Mills and Spadina House. Mr. Otto was the former director of the Ontario Heritage Foundation and Canadian Association of Professional Heritage Consultants, and has sat on several boards in various capacities. Mr. Otto was awarded the 2009 Lieutenant Governor’s award in Toronto in September for his outstanding achievement in heritage conservation for the province of Ontario.
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2008
Dinu Bumbaru (Montreal, Quebec)
Dinu Bumbaru of Montréal was the 2008 winner of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award in honour of his lifetime leadership and commitment to heritage conservation in the province of Quebec. Policy Director at Heritage Montréal since 1982 and Secretary-General of ICOMOS International since 2002, he is committed to building alliances, public consultations and working with public officials and volunteers to ensure good conservation practices wherever possible.
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2007
Morris Flewwelling (Red Deer, Alberta)
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.
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2006
Ms. Peggy Kurtin (Toronto, Ontario)
A graduate of Seneca College and the University of Toronto, Ms. 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. The jury unanimously recommends that Ms. Peggy Kurtin receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Award. Ms. Kurtin was nominated by Ms. Pam McConnell, Councillor, City of Toronto.
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2005
Mr. Frank Korvemaker (Regina, Saskatchewan)
For more than twenty-five years, Frank Korvemaker, both as a public servant and as a volunteer, has established a reputation in heritage circles across Saskatchewan, and beyond, as a respected and knowledgeable authority on diverse aspects of built heritage conservation, management and steward. Employed with the provincial Department of Culture and Youth’s Heritage Branch from 1979 to 2004, Mr. Korvemaker compiled records, conducted research and managed key Saskatchewan heritage conservation programs. In the early 1980s, he was involved in developing The Heritage Property Act of 1981 and from 1990 to 1992, coordinated the establishment of the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. He served as its first manager. More recently, he worked as the research and restoration advisor with the foundation, primarily reviewing grant applications, providing technical and project management advice, conducting site audits for building restoration projects, and liaising with lottery-funded provincial heritage organizations, including the Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society. Today, he is employed with the Government Records Branch of the Saskatchewan Archives Board where he remains involved with the province’s activities in the broad heritage field. The Heritage Canada Awards Jury praised Mr. Korvemaker’s many accomplishments, noting especially his contribution in saving the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site from demolition and then, over a period of 15 years, continuing his involvement in all aspects of the site’s research, restoration, public presentation and promotion. The jury also cited his collection of over 40,000 photographic images of historic buildings and sites across the province. In the case of those buildings now demolished, Mr. Korvemaker’s images are the only ones that remain in a publicly accessible inventory.
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2004
Mr. Harold E. Wright (Saint John, New Brunswick)
A native of Saint John, Mr. Harold E. Wright has been a tireless publicist and popularizer of New Brunswick history, hosting a regional television program, “Reflections,” and writing extensively on topics ranging from endangered houses in Saint John to the province’s maritime history. The awards jury cited his relentless efforts to save the Chipman Hill Properties and to have the Partridge Island Quarantine Station recognized, protected and interpreted as a provincial and national historic site. On Partridge Island, Mr. Wright led by example, undertaking physical stewardship on a voluntary basis. For more than twenty-five years, he 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.
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2002
Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia
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.
Founded in 1959, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is a voluntary, non-profit organization, whose mandate is to “promote, foster and encourage interest in and preservation of buildings and sites of an historic, artistic and cultural nature within Nova Scotia.” It is the oldest known heritage advocacy group in Canada.
“Among heritage organizations in Canada, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has achieved a remarkable record in public education and advocacy – balancing both in an exemplary manner,” stated the Heritage Canada Awards Jury. Examples of the trust’s commitment to heritage preservation include the establishment of the Conservation Fund, which provides financial support to individuals, groups or organizations preserving heritage property and the trust’s active program of tours, workshops and publications, including its newsletter, The Griffin.
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2001
Ms. Dorothy Duncan (Ontario)
Ms. Dorothy Duncan, recently retired from her position as Director of Administration with the Ontario Historical Society, received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award. The Heritage Canada Awards jury cited Ms. Duncan’s illustrious career in the field of heritage resource management and her longstanding contribution to heritage conservation in Ontario. She was the Director of Administration of the Ontario Historical Society for 18 years, during which time she consolidated the network of some 600 local historical societies in the province.
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1999
Ms. Ruth Canning (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)
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.
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1998
Alfred Pepin (Langley, British Columbia)
Mr. Alfred Pepin of Langley, British Columbia, received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for his preservation work in the Fraser Valley.
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1997
Marion MacRae (Hamilton, Ontario)
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.
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1996
John Cousins (O’Leary, Prince Edward Island)
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.
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1995
Hudson’s Bay Company
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.
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1994
Cyril Simard (Québec)
1992
Margaret (Peggy) Sarjeant (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
1991
Russel K. Cooper (Black Creek Pioneer Village, Ontario)
1990
Shane O’Dea (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)
1989
Martin Segger (Victoria, British Columbia)
1988
Catherine Hennessey (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
1985
Robert L. Boyce (Saint John, New Brunswick)
1984
Walter Jamieson (Calgary, Alberta)
1983
The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario
1982
John H. Archer
1981
Mr. and Mrs. Lou Collins (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
1980
Mary Elizabeth Bayer (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
1979
David Nicholas Spearing (Nanaimo, British Columbia)
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