Joyce Johnston, Chair of the Municipal Heritage Committee, presented the group's List of Priorities for 2008.

Several initiatives, such as the Property Plaque Program and Annual Heritage Conservation Award, will be on-going. The organization will also continue to advise Town Council about matters that relate to architectural and historical value, including properties that have been provincially designated.

One of the major undertakings is the collection and moving of historical documentation and records to the Bruce County Museum's Archives. "This centralization of all key records," explains Johnston, "will assist greatly in historical research.

We are currently also attempting to create a photographic registry of all current properties that are plaqued."

The group is hoping to have the registry in book format of the 60 to 70 homes in book format in time for Southampton's 150^th Anniversary celebrations this summer.

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The Committee is now working with the Ministry of Culture to also take a proactive role in the preservation and historical documenting of the area's cemeteries. The members are looking, for instance, at incorporating Pioneer Cemetery into the Master Parks and Trails Plan.

According to Johnston, the Provincial government now has a heightened awareness of cultural heritage. The Ontario Heritage Act's purpose is to give municipalities and the provincial government powers to preserve the heritage of Ontario.

"The Municipal Heritage Committee is very important," said Johnston. "We help to ensure that cultural heritage related to things like buildings, monuments, landscapes, cemeteries and museums and to inspire us to build and preserve for future generations."