Heritage Trust recognizes Caledon residents

Peter Elms is presented his Lifetime Heritage Achievement Award by Mayor Marolyn Morrison and Ontario Heritage Trust representative Dawn Bennett (right) for his volunteer contributions as one of the founding members of the Caledon East & District Historical Society

The Town of Caledon has a strong commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the community's cultural and built heritage. At the Sept. 26 meeting of council, the recipients of the Ontario Heritage Trust's annual Heritage Community Recognition Program were announced.

Caledon council, in conjunction with Heritage Caledon, nominated members of the community for their leadership in the categories of cultural heritage and lifetime achievement. Ontario

Heritage Trust representative Dawn Bennett was on hand at the council meeting to present the award recipients with certificates of recognition.

The editorial team and steering committee of Answering the Call - A History of Firefighting in the Town of Caledon were recognized in the Cultural Heritage category for their significant commitment over a two-year period in the researching and writing of this book. Written by volunteers about volunteers, the book preserves the memories and stories of the

During the Ontario Heritage Trust's annual heritage community recognition program, the editorial team and steering committee of Answering the Call - A History of Firefighting in the Town of Caledon were recognized in the cultural heritage category. Ontario Heritage Trust representative Dawn Bennett presents the award recipients with certificates of recognition.

firefighters who have served our community with commitment and compassion since the late 1800s.

Peter Elms was recognized with a Lifetime Heritage Achievement Award, for his significant volunteer contributions since the early 1970s as one of the founding members of the Caledon East & District Historical Society. Elms is an avid researcher, collector and documenter of local history through oral histories, newspaper clippings and photography - work which was initiated through his participation in Environment Canada's Tornado Project. Peter wrote two chapters of Settling the Hills, a local history produced by the Caledon East & District Historical Society in 2001. He provided many of the photos used in the book, as well as research and assistance to its other contributing authors. Most recently, he contributed photographs to The School on the Hill, a soon-to-be-published history of the Caledon East public school.

"Conservation and restoration is highly valued by our community," said Mayor Marolyn Morrison. "On behalf of council and Town staff, we are proud of the tremendous work accomplished to preserve the legacy of Caledon for present and future generations."

Recipients included Peter Elms, Anne Allengame, Diane Allengame, Maureen Baker, Al Bracken, Lorne Brook, Jim Cannon, Tom Chapman, Peter Coe, Don Cook, Rowena Cooper, Rod Coulter, Sheilagh Crandall, Donna Davies, Peter DeMartini, Mike Denreyer, Sally Drummond, Mark Ebdon, Boyd Finger, Christina Guschewski, Bob Hilton, Terry Irwin, Gord Kuster, Peter Lyons, Jack MacDonald, Greg Manion, Glenn Martyn, Fay McCrea, Kathryn Mifsud, Merle Middlebrook, Harry Newlove, John Payne, Jean Proctor, Ivan Sharp, Donna Slopek, Gillian Smillie, Councillor Nancy Stewart, Margo Tennant, Bob Vandersluis, Betty Ward and Brian Zimmerman.

Originally established in 1967, the Ontario Heritage Foundation Act was amended in 2005 to enhance its mandate to identify,

preserve, protect and promote Ontario's rich and varied heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. The agency also changed its name to the Ontario Heritage Trust, and remains the province's lead heritage agency.