DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning & Urban Design
	PREPARED BY:	Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
	DATE OF MEETING:	2004-May-18
	SUBJECT:	Heritage Markham B. Napier Simpson Award

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Heritage Markham be congratulated on winning the Ontario Historical Society’s B. Napier Simpson Award for 2004, for its special contribution to heritage conservation in Markham.

PURPOSE:

To inform Council that Heritage Markham has won the 2004 B. Napier Simpson Award from the Ontario Historical Society.

BACKGROUND:

Ontario Historical Society acknowledges significant contributions to heritage preservation

In 1967, The Ontario Historical Society established an Awards Programme to honour individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Ontario’s heritage. The Programme is intended both to acknowledge the work of outstanding individuals and organizations, and to raise public awareness of Ontario’s history and the people who work to preserve and interpret it.

There are thirteen award categories. Nominees may be volunteers, professionals, non-profit organizations, businesses or corporations as indicated in the awards criteria. All nominations are assessed by The Ontario Historical Society’s Honours and Awards Committee.

All recipients of awards receive recognition in subsequent publicity, and a framed certificate accompanied by a copy of the citation acknowledging the contribution to the heritage community.

The only award for heritage advisory committees is the B. Napier Simpson Award of Merit. It is given to a municipal heritage committee in Ontario for special contributions to heritage conservation in its municipality in the recent past. This award has not been presented since 1998.

DISCUSSION:

Staff nominated Heritage Markham for this award

In November 2003, Heritage Section staff nominated Heritage Markham for this prestigious award. Now celebrating its 28^th year, Heritage Markham has for over a quarter century, provided leadership to ensure that the Town of Markham has one of the best heritage conservation programs in Canada. Thanks largely to its volunteer efforts, Markham is proud to have over 177 individually designated buildings, over twenty-five heritage conservation easements and three heritage conservation districts (Unionville, Markham Village and Thornhill), which encompass virtually the entire historic urban area of the municipality.

Heritage Markham members are volunteers, appointed by Council, and contribute an extraordinary amount of time at committee meetings, on site visits, advising heritage property owners on appropriate restoration and maintenance practices, and promoting heritage conservation initiatives in the community.

Napier Simpson was a resident of Markham

Heritage Markham alumni still remember the local preservation work undertaken in cooperation with the late B. Napier Simpson Jr., while he was resident in Thornhill-Markham, during the founding years of the Heritage Markham committee. Mr. Simpson had his architectural office in the red cottage on Colborne Street. The Ontario Historical Society named this award in honour of Mr. Simpson to acknowledge his work in the preservation of both Ontario and Canadian heritage resources. Mr. Simpson died in a plane crash in 1978 while working for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

In 2000, the work of B. Napier Simpson Jr. was recognized by Heritage Markham at its 25^th Anniversary Awards. Ms. Audrey Simpson and son B. Napier Simpson III received the award on behalf of the late Mr. Simpson.

Presentation of award on June 13^th

The Ontario Historical Society’s Awards presentation ceremony will be on Sunday, June 13^th at 2:30 p.m. at the Society’s headquarters in the John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Avenue, Willowdale. A reception is to follow the ceremony. It is expected that the Chair and a number of members of Heritage Markham will attend the event.

ATTACHMENTS:

Letter from The Ontario Historical Society

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning & Urban Design

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services

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