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Heritage Stratford accepting nominations for 2020 James Anderson Award

Heritage Stratford is accepting nominations for the 2020 James Anderson Award from now until the end of February.

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The City of Stratford is once again looking to recognize residents who made an effort to preserve the city’s heritage.

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Named after a local historian and archivist who was instrumental in the creation of Heritage Stratford’s precursor committee and helped form the Stratford-Perth Archives and the Stratford Perth Museum, the annual James Anderson Award is presented annually to individuals or small groups who have made a significant contribution toward preserving Stratford’s built, cultural, garden or natural heritage.

“It’s about going that extra mile. That’s what the James Anderson Awards are for. They’re the acknowledgement of the time and effort and thoughtfulness and love and money that have been put forward to preserve heritage,” said Cambria Ravenhill, the Heritage Stratford member overseeing this year’s awards.

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“James Anderson was a tireless champion of heritage here. He did all kinds of crazy things to make sure that people understood that it was really important to the City of Stratford to maintain heritage. … He was a bit of a one-man army for a while, championing this.”

If it hadn’t been for the efforts of Anderson and the city’s other heritage advocates, Ravenhill said many of the original buildings that people think of when they picture Stratford – including Stratford City Hall – could have easily been lost to time and newer, more modern developments.

“There were a lot of logical arguments (in the past) against heritage, but now, thanks to the efforts of James Anderson (and others), heritage is really front and centre,” Ravenhill said. “It’s something that is really part of the character of Stratford.”

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Past winners of the James Anderson Award for built heritage include Paul and Elena Veldman in 2019 for their work on restoring the old Bradshaw Building, Derek and Jacqueline Barr in 2016 for their work on the Chocolate Barr’s Candies building on George Street, and Wayne Graham in 2010 for his work on re-establishing the pergola at the Orr Dam.

Past winners for cultural heritage include Rick and Carole Huband in 2018 for establishing the local Architectural Conservancy of Ontario chapter, historical author Dean Robinson in 2015 for his local history books, and Barb Hacking in 2017 for her work in establishing the Ted Blowes Memorial Peace Garden.

Nominations for the 2020 James Anderson Award are open now until the end of February. For more information and to download a nomination form, visit www.stratford.ca/en/live-here/james-anderson-award.aspx?.

gsimmons@postmedia.com

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