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3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 18, 2009 No age barrier to preserving local heritage By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Local residents, both young and old, were recently recognized for their dedication in preserving Oakville's heritage. A special reception was held last week at Town Hall, where Ontario Heritage Trust Awards were presented to eight Oakville residents. The Ontario Heritage Trust Community Recognition Program is geared towards volunteers who are working towards heritage preservation in communities across the province. "Oakville's heritage creates a community foundation and a sense of belonging," Oakville Mayor Rob Burton said. "We are grateful to all of our residents who take up the challenge of preserving our heritage and we are very proud of all the award recipients." The awards are a testament to the dedication of the volunteers who make heritage a priority, said Michael Seaman, manager of heritage planning with the Town of Oakville. "This is the first time the Town has submitted nominations for the Ontario Heritage Trust Awards," Seaman said. "We are very proud to have such dedicated volunteers who really do take heritage to heart." The eight residents who received an Ontario Heritage Trust Award were: Harry Barrett, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his support of Oakville heritage for more 40 years. The former mayor of Oakville, from 1973-85, has been proactive over the years in maintaining the town's storied past. He has been involved in various projects throughout the past decades, using his skills from his work as a local contractor and later, as a politician. Now in his 80s, after a lifetime of service to Oakville, as well as to his country as a veteran of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Barrett continues to be a leader in support of heritage conservation in this historic town in his role as a chair of Heritage Oakville and as an active member of the Oakville Historical Society. Barrett said it was a great honour to be recognized for his work. "I'm highly flattered and I'm in illustrious company with all these people who have received awards, particularly my friend Harry Buxton," he said. "It (heritage) is one of the most important features the town of Oakville has. Oakville has been noted HERITAGE HEROES: Oakville's Ontario Heritage Award recipients are (front row, l-r) Joyce Burnell, Harry Buxton, Harry Barrett, Barbara Savage (back row, l-r) Francine Landry, Meagan McKeen, Maxwell Austensen and Zahir Noorbhai. for years for protecting its heritage. like schools and nursing homes, vol- heard from people in places like Oakville has a very rich history and it unteering at the Thomas House Japan and Australia and these people is important that we pass that on to Museum (1829 pioneer farm house), think it is wonderful that we saved a the next generations." and organizing the popular ghost very old tree." Francine Landry, who received walks and historical home walks in Harry Buxton, who received the the Built Heritage Award for her ded- Oakville. Lieutenant Governor's Ontario ication and volunteerism in support She said preserving Oakville's her- Heritage Award for Lifetime of the conservation of Oakville's her- itage is extremely important. Achievement recognizing sustained itage. "This is very thrilling and is quite volunteer contributions to communiLandry has held various roles and an honour," she said of the award. "I ty heritage over a period of 25 years or worked on numerous projects over always enjoy working with the more. the years in support of Oakville's her- Historical Society and I've been there Buxton has been active with the itage, such as serving as chair of the quite a while, and there are so many Oakville Historical Society since the Oakville 150th Citizen Task Force and different projects and it is always a early 1980s as a volunteer, board leading community efforts to estab- busy place. It is very interesting. I member and for several years, as its lish Oakville's third heritage conser- think it enriches the community and president. He was responsible for the vation district along Trafalgar Road. if we have a good knowledge of our Oakville Historical Society newsletter She also assisted in the establishment past, I think we'll appreciate our town until 2005. He also spent much time of the inaugural Doors Open Oakville all the much more. I always enjoy researching and answering enquiries festival in 2008. talking to the school children and about Oakville's past from many parts Landry said she is accepting the hope they will learn to love history, of the world. award on behalf of the many people in too." Now in his 80s, after more than 30 the community who work together to Joyce Burnell, who received the years of service to Oakville and its make heritage a priority. Natural Heritage Award for her com- heritage, and to the cause of freedom "It is humbling to receive this mitment to preserving Oakville's nat- as a veteran of the Royal Air Force award because there are a lot of peo- ural heritage. She is best known for Ferry Command Army in the Second ple in this town who help make this her leadership of a successful cam- World War, Buxton continues to be a possible," she said. "Oakville has the paign in 2006 to preserve a 250-year- leader in support of heritage conserbest-preserved town in all of Ontario. old oak tree on Bronte Road from vation in this historic town. The reason for that is all of the people being destroyed through road con"This is the culmination of years over the years who have made a dif- struction. A major aspect of this cam- of work, but really, it is all the memference." paign was leading a committee that bers who deserve recognition," he Barbara Savage, who received the raised $268,000 of the required said of his award. "I'll never forget Cultural Heritage Award for the out- $343,000 to support the preservation being a part of this. It is very imporstanding contributions she has made of the tree. Burnell said she has tant because history only survives to the enhancement and appreciation received feedback from around the when people are active in preserving of Oakville's history. globe from others who were inspired their history. History will drive our Savage has been a very active by her mission. nation in the future." member of the Oakville Historical "I enjoy if I can make a difference Maxwell Austensen and Zahir Society since 1992, doing such tasks in this world and I didn't expect this Noorbhai, who received the Young as organizing community events, award," she said. "I know it (saving Heritage Leaders Award for their serving as a guest speaker in locations the tree) has had a ripple effect. We've work on the Oakville Museum exhib- it called From Time To Time: Oakville 1928 and 2008. The pair worked from April through July 2008 on the exhibition. They attended weekly meetings, planning sessions, conducted research, took photographs, wrote text, helped design and install the exhibit, as well as conduct surveys. The exhibit focused on the lives of teenagers 80 years apart, but living in the same town of Oakville. The two teens, along with Meagan McKeen, represented the youth of Oakville, who are tomorrow's leaders and future protectors of Town heritage. "We are honoured and grateful," said Austensen. "We learned a lot about the town itself through the history when we were contrasting the two different times, so we got to know more about where Oakville came from and it was a good experience." Noorbhai was left almost speechless by the recognition. "We are very honoured and we didn't think it (the exhibition) was going to be that big of a deal," he said. "It is overwhelming." Meagan McKeen who was nominated by her high school Abbey Park, received two awards. For her work in Oakville, McKeen received the Individual Young Heritage Leaders Award. She was then selected out of all the Young Heritage Leader Award winners across Ontario as the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement. "It is an honour to receive these," she said. "The community of Oakville is where I've grown up, so it is really important to me to provide my volunteer work for the community, so I appreciate it and hope to always give back to Oakville." McKeen travelled to London, England in March 2008 as one of three Canadians to represent the global youth voice on climate change. She went to Kobe, Japan in May 2008 to represent Canada at the G8 Environment Ministers Climate Summit. She has also been proactive in Oakville, researching the effects of pesticides and working to persuade Town Council to enact a bylaw banning their cosmetic use. She said she hopes her story will inspire other youths to get involved in saving the planet. "My award is for natural heritage and it is so important to me to preserve our environment," she said. "They (youths) are the next leaders and they are the ones who can make changes for a better future."