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Recognized for keeping past, present alive By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville residents who work to preserve the town's heritage were recognized with the Ontario Heritage Trust Awards Monday, during a ceremony at Town Hall. Hosted by Mayor Rob Burton, the event saw five residents and one group honoured for their valuable contributions to keeping local history alive. "These awards reflect the dedication and the commitment of the Town and of our citizens to the conservation and celebration of our local heritage," said Burton. "We're grateful to the many individuals who have helped preserve our heritage in Oakville. Over the years, their hard work has helped to enrich and further beautify our community and make it the little jewel by the lake that we are." Those recognized Monday included Gordon Spragge, who received a cultural heritage award for his contributions to the art exhibit Returning Home:ACarrieHillyardRetrospective, organized and presented by Spragge and the Oakville Museum. As a private collector and researcher, Spragge has spent years collecting Hillyard's artwork and dedicated countless hours to researching her life and work. "Thanks to him, Carrie Hillyard's work has been brought home to Oakville allowing our community to expand our thinking and encourage dialogue and creativity," said Burton. Jamie Macrae received an award in the built heritage category. Macrae has served two terms on the Town of Oakville's Heritage community, they have done all the work. I just played a small part in it. Things couldn't have been achieved without both the association that is Oakvillegreen and the community, our supporters. It was a real honour to accept this award on their behalf." An avid birdwatcher, Domingo said he has been an environmental activist in Canada and South Africa, with interests ranging from environmental health issues to conservation and preserving biodiversity. Christopher Borecky was recognized for spreading awareness of Oakville's outdoors with an award for youth natural heritage leaders. Borecky led his Grade 7 class on a nature walk through Morrison Valley Creek Trail and introduced classmates to garlic mustard, buckthorn and the Emerald Ash Borer. He planted trees with Oakvillegreen and Conservation Halton, participated in annual Earth Day clean-ups and has been involved in the preservation and protection of birds of prey and the proposed Songbird Meadow in north Oakville. The final award of the evening went to St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School students responsible for initiating the Bronte Veterans' Garden project. The garden, located in Donovan Bailey Park on Bronte Road, was created after St. Dominic students went to the Town of Oakville saying more was needed to honour Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. To bring their idea to fruition, students staffed information booths and raised funds with the help of sponsors, including MEDIchair, Richard Brock of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) and the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 486, Bronte. The garden opened in 2011 and features several plaques, and newlyplanted trees commemorating the lives of several Canadian soldiers. The students were recognized at a Queen's Park ceremony Friday where they received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement. The Ontario Heritage Trust, the Province's lead heritage agency, is dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's rich and varied heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. The Heritage Community Recognition program and Young Heritage Leaders program recognizes volunteers and youths across Ontario for their heritage work. 11 · Wednesday, February 27, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog dedicated to preservation: Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Oakvillegreen President Karen Brock with the recipients of the 2012 Ontario Heritage Trust Awards -- Enver Domingo, far left, and Christopher Borecky, right. "This was very unexpected," said Fordham. "I like to do things and felt that since I retired I could use some of the skills I had while I was working." Fordham, a retired elementary school librarian, has volunteered doing collection and maintenance work, serving as treasurer, and organizing archives and research files. Not all award recipients had worked to preserve historical buildings or documents though. Enver Domingo was honoured under the natural heritage category for nearly a decade of work with local conservation group, Oakvillegreen. Burton said Domingo assisted with the creation of the town's trail standards for North Oakville's Natural Heritage System and worked to protect important songbird layover areas in Shell Park. "This is not just my award," said Domingo. "Oakvillegreen and the Committee, and as an Oakville Historical Society volunteer, has led the house plaquing program for a number of years. Macrae has also been an active volunteer for Doors Open Oakville, opening his wooden 1920s schooner Anitra for tours. Under lifetime achievement, Donalda Fordham was recognized for volunteering with three local heritage organizations over the last 20 years. She has been actively volunteering with the Bronte Historical Society for at least 15 years, has volunteered on a weekly basis for the Halton Regional Museum for 21 years and has spent time on an occasional basis at the Thomas House for the Oakville Historical Society. Fordham has also been an active member of the Oakville Hooking Guild, which promotes and develops the craft of traditional rug hooking. March Break Special Only Oil & Filter $ Driving South Get Environmental fee and taxes not included. 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