Printed Dec 17, 2024 • Final up to date Dec 18, 2024 • 4 minute learn
Members of the Marine Heritage Society (MHS) accepted kudos from the City Dec. 9. Available have been, from left: MHS builder Derek Seaman, MHS members Eric Tolton and Deb Kaufman, Wayne Kaufman, Mayor Luke Charbonneau, John Willets, Scott Good and Vicki Tomori. Photograph by Screengrab City web site
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The City of Saugeen Shores added its proud congratulations to the Marine Heritage Society (MHS) for its award-winning work to revive the wind and wave battered Saugeen River Entrance Vary Gentle in Southampton.
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One in all a pair of vary lights in service for over a century guiding maritime site visitors into Southampton harbour, the Saugeen River Entrance Vary Lighthouse continues to offer navigation help.
The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) award introduced Oct. 18 in Toronto acknowledged the MHS for its “exemplary restoration of a heritage structure or important architectural feature undertaken in accordance with recognized best practices for conservation in Ontario.” The ACO consists of skilled architects, designers, and heritage consultants who volunteer their expertise and advocacy to protect heritage buildings for future era.
The City’s certificates of recognition, echoing the ACO reward, was introduced to MHS members by Mayor Luke Charbonneau on the Dec. 9 City council assembly.
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Studying from notes drafted by Coun. Cheryl Grace, chair of the Municipal Heritage Committee that made the provincial nomination, Charbonneau mentioned the City was grateful to volunteer MHS members for main the neighborhood restoration effort, and to the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario for recognizing this vital landmark – a nationally designated Heritage web site beneath the 2008 Lighthouse Safety Act.
The MHS was one in every of 33 nominees throughout eleven award classes to be honoured. The MHS acquired the Peter Stokes Restoration Award for small-scale initiatives. Stokes (1926 – 2013) was one in every of Canada’s most notable restoration architects, with an enduring affect seen in preserved buildings, an ACO information launch saying the 2024 recipients mentioned.
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Charbonneau learn that the MHS restoration work started after excessive winds and waves and heavy ice brought on vital injury to the Entrance Vary Gentle over the 2019-2020 winter.
The MHS began a restoration fundraising marketing campaign and with beneficiant donations of time, expertise and money, volunteers handled inside rot, pests, lead paint and the necessity to change 3,700 shingles with hand-painted cedar shakes.
The mayor mentioned the MHS rebuild design fastidiously saved the Vary Gentle’s historic options whereas constructing for long-lasting sturdiness.
Lake Huron waves at the moment are deflected by galvanized metal angle irons across the base and the lighthouse has new glass and a brand new door.
Charboneau mentioned when MHS chair Wayne Kaufman accepted the ACO award he ended by saying: “We make history come alive.”
“With countless other accomplishments such as seasonal tours to the restored Chantry Island keeper’s cottage and lighthouse, more recent restoration of the Back Range Light, the annual Marine Heritage Festival and operating the summer-long Marine Heritage market in Southampton, we agree,” the mayor mentioned.
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ACO judges regarded on the restoration as a small-scale challenge, however it was something however, Charbonneau mentioned because it required a “big time effort to fundraise and repair the beacon.”
Talking on behalf of the “great volunteers” who assist preserving and restoring Southampton’s nice marine historical past, MHS chair Wayne Kaufman thanked the City’s Municipal Heritage Committee for the nomination and recognition.
He recounted the journey of the journey to Toronto to the awards ceremony and admitted it could have been a protracted drive dwelling had they not received.
Kaufman requested the City if it may discover a appropriate public place to show the MHS awards – earlier this yr MHS member Vicki Tomori acquired a June Callwood Excellent Achievement Award for Volunteerism in Ontario.
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MHS volunteer builder Scott Good mentioned his work on the “top half” of the Vary Lights in 2021
He mentioned working with builder Derek Seaman they decided the shingles wanted to get replaced and so they painted 3,700 cedar shingles over 10 classes on the Boathouse in Southampton, a complete of 800 volunteer work hours.
“It was a lot of fun doing it. I really appreciate the honour. I consider it an honour to be able to work on this Range Light to help take care of them and be on a board to help take care of them and keep them looking good for a long long time,” Good mentioned.
MHS member Vicki Tomori detailed a number of the fundraising that helped pay for the restoration – COVID curtailed in-person occasions.
She mentioned the Rotary Membership of Southampton stepped up and kicked off fundraising with a ‘Jazz for the Gentle” occasion that generated $14,500.
“At the end of a year-and-a-half of fundraising – it really wasn’t fundraising because we couldn’t do any events with COVID – people just caught onto it and cheques coming in the mail and phone calls (from people saying) ‘can you put this on my VISA?’ Anyway, we ended up creating the account of $70,161,” Tomori mentioned.
The cash got here from 91 donors together with firm and private cheques, together with 15 donations of $1,000 or extra. She mentioned supplies value $37,000 and $35,000 of labour was donated in-kind by builder and Derek Seaman and Sons Contracting.
“So, our community has so much support for these range lights. Its incredible and we still have money pouring in for the Rear Range Light now that it’s finished, we’ve got to think about (the) McNabb (Bayview Point lighthouse) …” Tomori mentioned, thanking the City and neighborhood for his or her assist.
Excessive wins and waves and heavy ice brought on injury to the Saugeen River Entrance Vary Gentle.
Over 800 volunteer hours helped restore the Saugeen River Entrance Vary Gentle.
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