Local groups receive heritage recognition

The Alton Grange Association was recently honoured by the Ontario Heritage Trust during its Heritage Community Recognition presentations at the June 19 meeting of Caledon council. Past president Linda Lockyer (centre) accepts the award from Dawn Bennett (front, left) member of the Ontario Heritage Trust board of directors. They were joined by Mayor Marolyn Morrison and councillors Doug Beffort, Richard Whitehead, Nick deBoer, Richard Paterak, Allan Thompson, Gord McClure, Annette Groves and Jason Payne.

Two Caledon groups were honoured by the Ontario Heritage Trust during its Heritage Community Recognition presentations that took place at the June 19 Caledon council meeting.

The Ontario Heritage Trust was established in 1967 as the province's lead heritage agency, entrusted with protecting Ontario's built, cultural and natural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.

The two groups recognized for their contribution in preserving the heritage of this community were the Alton Grange Association and the Bolton Community Action Site Committee.

The Bolton Community Action Site Committee was also honoured during the Heritage Community Recognition presentations at Caledon council. Dawn Bennett, from the Ontario Heritage Trust board of directors, presents the award to committee members Brenda Heenan, Carole Whitehead, Heather Ghey Broadbent, Richard Hunt, Mary Sasiela, Gary Wilkins and Jerry Gorman. They were joined by Mayor Marolyn Morrison and councillors Doug Beffort, Annette Groves, Jason Payne, Richard Paterak, Gord McClure, Allan Thompson, Nick deBoer and Richard Whitehead.

The Alton Grange Association was recognized under the Natural Heritage category. The association is a group of about 80 volunteers dedicated to the protection, restoration and enhancement of a 350-acre property, adjacent to the village of Alton. These lands are bounded by Highway 136 on the west and north, by Beech Grove Sideroad to the south, and by Porterfield Road to the east. The property is of particular environmental significance as it contains an area of fragile wetlands. Shaw's Creek and the Credit River flow south and converge on the property. Much of the higher land was reforested with pines in the 1930s, but there are considerable areas of natural hardwood and mixed forest, plus meadows and open floodplain. With its varied habitats, the Grange is home to many species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

In September 2002 the Alton Grange Association signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources to manage this property. With the support from the MNR, Caledon Chapter of the Bruce Trail Association and Credit Valley Conservation, bridges have been installed, trails brushed out, garbage collected and trees planted. They have completed a boardwalk to facilitate yearround access through a marshy area of trail, thus mitigating damage to this environmentally sensitive area.

The Alton Grange Association board of directors includes past president Linda Lockyer, Councillor Richard Paterak, president Moreen Miller, Debby Storr, Debra Wilson, Tony Williams, Eric Holmes and Graham Bryan.

The Bolton Community Action Site Committee was also recognized under the Natural Heritage category.

The committee is a volunteer community group established in 1997 by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to actively assist in the conservation of the Humber River where it passes through Bolton, and in the development of associated passive recreational opportunities. Core representation on the committee is from the Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association, the Albion-Bolton Historical Society, the Bolton & District Horticultural Society and the Bolton Kinsmen, with other local volunteer groups coming on board for specific projects.

The Bolton Community Action Site Committee's accomplishments include the establishment of a hiking trail link from the southern end of the Humber Valley Heritage Trail at Regional Road 50 and Columbia Way through downtown Bolton to the Caledon-Vaughan border, re-creation of a small wetland in Bolton Mill Park, creation of a lookout with interpretive signage to view the Bolton Mill Dam and park and fish ladder, relocation of the provincial heritage plaque describing the founding of Bolton to its originally intentioned location next to the river, establishment of a walkway under the Regional Road 50 bridge, and partnering with the Albion-Bolton Historical Society in the production of the historical booklet Glasgow - A Hamlet of the Humber River. The varied activities and interests of committee have been important in promoting community access to, and awareness of the Humber River (which is a Canadian Heritage River) as a key aspect of Bolton's cultural landscape.

The Bolton Community Action Site Committee members are: chair Bill Wilson, Heather Ghey Broadbent, Jerry Gorman, Councillor Annette Groves, Chris Harker, Brenda Heenan, Richard Hunt, Suzanne and the late Robert Keefer, Joe Luschak, Valerie Mackie, Garry Moore, Dan O'Reilly, Mary Sasiela, Carole Whitehead and Gary Wilkins.