The Municipal Heritage Committee bases its decision on a number of criteria:

• Those who voluntarily promote the importance of preserving significant heritage structures
• Those who show leadership in restoration and preservation of heritage buildings, sites, etc
• By recognizing individuals for long standing service in an organization dedicated to maintaining heritage locations
• By demonstrating appreciation for personal collections of local artifacts, heritage photographs or memorabilia – which they share with the community to promote appreciation of heritage.

Architectural heritage is one of the most visible signs of past history and many residents in Saugeen Shores are active in heritage conservation either by renovating and restoring their own homes or storefronts.

The McDermid home was built in 1899. The back part of this house was originally built in about 1876.  It was in poor condition and was dismantled with a double car garage and sunroom built of compatible style and brick constructed in its place.

The restoration started in the basement where new steel beams were installed to level the entire structure. The yellow brick exterior was also re-pointed, sand- blasted and sealed with a complete rewiring and insulating of the whole house.

The gingerbread detailing was kept intact and replaced where needed. The front veranda was completely restored including new period style doors; one opens onto an upper level open porch where there had only once been a "suicide door".

The McDermids stripped, refinished and re-used the interior doors, trim, baseboard and flooring and the kitchen floor was replaced with hard maple from their own sugar bush.

John (known to family and friends as Jack) and Marion McDermid and their family have recaptured the original magnificence of their attractive farm home ... a project that took more than 17 years.