Joint Heritage Award Given

 

Heritage

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They had a vision that everyone thought was unachievable but, on Monday night at Saugeen Shores Town Council meeting, Mike Sterling and Bob Trelford of Southampton were awarded the Heritage Community Recognition Award for 2008.

The duo, that Sterling referred to as the Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn of Chantry Island, were given the award in recognition of their tireless work to restore Chantry Island's Keeper's (lighthouse) Quarters and boathouse and open up the Island to tourism.

Joyce Johnston, Chair of the Municipal Heritage Committee explained that the Heritage Recognition Program through the Heritage Trust works with communities to celebrate volunteers for their significant achievements and contributions surrounding heritage preservation.
 

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28/04/2009 11:32 PM

 "These two recipients lead a core of volunteers who  put in upwards of 60,000 man-hours and raised approximately $1 million through fundraising, without any government assistance," Johnston added. "In addition, as part of the Marine Heritage Society, they restored historical navigational range lights, Pioneer Park that houses historical storm signals and, of course, opened up Chantry Island to the more than 10,000 visitors that have visited during the summer months."
 

Sterling, who spoke first in response, thanked the former Mayor, Mark Kraemer. "We met with him at the beginning with our proposal," said Sterling, "and he looked at us and said, 'do you think you can do it?' and we said, 'yes' and he let us go with it."

Sterling also went on to thank many others who were involved at the beginning of the restoration. "I'd like to thank Coucillor Thead Seaman and his brother,Ron, and Diane Huber's father, Doug, who gave us the first real donation of $1,500. There are also workers with the town that we could not have done this without their help."

Both Sterling and Trelford remain fast friends today. "When we began," said Trelford, "we borrowed everything we could from everybody we could think of ... from boats to life jackets and we were very fortunate that people shared our vision and followed us."

Mayor Smith thanked both recipients saying, "You have worked tirelessly for our community and we are all the better off for it. Thank you."

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