HISTORIC PLACES
The National Trust for Canada has honoured a number of heritage sites across the country with its Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone Awards. Presented in two categories — Transformative Projects and Resilient Historic Places — they identify exemplary projects and places that illustrate the viability of heritage sites and buildings for new and traditional uses.
Projects involving well-known structures — such as the restoration of Vancouver’s 1932 art deco Burrard Bridge and the transformation of Ottawa’s former central train station into the interim Senate of Canada Building — are recognized along with lesser-known locations such as the Garrick Theatre in Bonavista, N.L., the Shingwauk Residential School Site in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and B2 Lofts in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
The restoration of Montgomery’s Inn Museum in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke involved the adaptation of a historic building during a staged project that allowed the museum to continue its operations and to explain the restoration work during visitor tours. With improved accessibility and flexibility, historical spaces can be adjusted for uses such as a farmers market or other gatherings.
At the Gur Sikh Temple National Historic Site in Abbotsford, B.C., the ground floor was converted into the Sikh Heritage Museum. Public exhibits and tours documenting the history of Sikhs in Canada take place in the early 1900s structure that remains a place for worship and prayer.
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum — a National Historic Site in Almonte, Ontario — is located in the annex of the 1837 Rosamond Woolen Company building and combines industrial displays with events that showcase the area’s heritage and culture as well as the role of the textile industry in its development. A part of the community for more than thirty-five years, it was recognized for its resilience and its continuing evolution to meet the needs of visitors.
To learn about all the winners, visit nationaltrustcanada.ca/awards.