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At a recent gala event in Toronto, the developers, designers, contractors and other industry professionals who made significant achievements in building heritage preservation in the past few years were able to take a bow.

The event was the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario’s (ACO) 18th annual heritage awards. A non-profit heritage advocacy and education charity, the conservancy recognized 16 individuals and nine projects.

A five-member jury selected the winners from 35 nominations using criteria such as the significance of a heritage issue or project, the challenges, the effect of the project’s success on the immediate community and the project partners’ innovation, commitment and leadership. The projects also had to be completed within the past five years.

One of the award winners was a renovation which transformed the former St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener into a 43-unit non-profit housing complex, while retaining most of the original sanctuary for community gatherings and events.

Designed by Invizij Architects, Indwell’s St. Mark’s Place was the Recipient of the Paul Oberman Award for Adaptive Reuse: Large-Scale/Team/Corporate. New Hamburg-based Nith Valley Construction Ltd. was the general contractor in charge of the project which started in September 2021 and was completed this past June.

Built to a Passive House standard, “the project demonstrates that the reuse of existing buildings can reduce construction costs and shorten construction time,” said the jury.

The transformation and commissioning of the 1921 Sandwich Fire Hall in Windsor into the John Muir Branch of the Windsor Public Library was the recipient of the Paul Oberman Award for Adaptive Reuse: Small-Scale. Locally based Studio g+G was the architect.

In its review of the project, the jury had high praise for Jason Grossi, the firm’s principal, citing his use of original building materials.

“Mr. Grossi designed the adapted reuse with a firm eye on its history.”

Another award winner was the restoration and enlargement of a landmark 1916 Andrew Carnegie library in central Toronto.

Consisting of the construction of a 9,000-square-foot addition and extensive restoration of the original structure, the The Wychwood Neighbourhood Branch Library Restoration and Addition was the recipient of the Peter Stokes Restoration Award: Large-Scale/Team/Corporate.

Designed by Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd, the library project started in the fall of 2018 and was completed in the spring of 2022. Steelcore Construction was the general contractor.

In another category, a volunteer organization was recognized for its work in preserving and restoring an important piece of Ontario’s maritime history.

The Marine Heritage Society of Southampton received the Peter Stokes Restoration Award: Small-Scale/Individual/Small Business for restoring the Range Light at the mouth of the Saugeen River.

Built in 1903, the “pepper pot” light, built in 1903, is paired with another beacon upriver and together they still provide mariners with two points of light to visually align their safe passage into Southampton Harbour. The beacon was heavily damaged during the winter of 2019/2020.

Two projects had the distinction of receiving ACO Special Jury Awards.

Bala residents Linda and Jack Hutton received the award for their transformation of a former tourist home into the Bala Museum, officially known as With Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery. The renowned author of Anne of Green Gables once dined at the home and the Huttons have recreated the ambiance of Montgomery’s era through the use of artifacts and furnishings.

The second Special Jury Award went to the Kitchener-Waterloo Urban Native Wigwam Project and Warrior Home 2023 Design Team. The award acknowledged their work in converting a 1890s house, which had been unoccupied and needed substantial repairs, into a rent-geared-to-income housing for Indigenous individuals and their families.

Besides the awards for building restoration, a number of awards were presented to individuals for their contributions in research, advocacy and leadership.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the Eric Arthur Lifetime Achievement Award, one of ACO’s highest honours, to North Dumfries resident Mary-Jean Page. The award was for her dedication and commitment to heritage preservation efforts in her community and other areas of Waterloo Region.

“ACO’s Heritage Awards celebration is an opportunity to recognize the passion, expertise, innovation, and determination of so many individuals, teams, and organizations conserving Ontario’s heritage structures and landscapes important to communities large and small,” says its chair, Deb Crawford.

“We are privileged to celebrate the achievements of the heritage award recipients and hope others will be inspired by their accomplishments.”