City of Charlottetown Celebrates Winners of Annual Heritage Awards
Posted on 05/08/2024
The City of Charlottetown celebrated Heritage Day on Wednesday, May 8 with an awards ceremony to honour individuals and organizations in the community who have worked diligently to preserve and uncover the City’s heritage.
“In a time when we continue to see exciting and rapid change in our community, I’m really happy for this chance to celebrate the citizens in Charlottetown who help preserve the heritage of the birthplace of a nation,” said Mayor Philip Brown. “We move forward in a more thoughtful and considerate way when we respect what came before us and honour our community roots.”
The Heritage Awards were presented to the following individuals and groups:
Donna and Andy Hurry – For their conservation work of the beautiful 1846 heritage home, Sidmount. The Gothic-style residence is the only one of its kind in Charlottetown and was once part of a large estate owned by Justice James Horsefield Peters and Mary Cunard (Peters).
Landfest Inc. – For the careful restoration of 85 Edward St. Originally built to house a store and private residence, the building was constructed in 1906 for the Honorable Thomas V. Grant and damaged by fire in 2019. Due to the careful restoration, the building now stands as a proud reminder of Charlottetown’s historic past.
Lorraine Clements – For her book, The Girl From 108, which provides a rare first-hand account of growing up in 1960s Charlottetown. Clements’ parents ran a boarding house at 108 King St. and wrote about the characters, culture and way of life in Charlottetown during the mid-to-late twentieth century.
Tangle Lane Inc. – For the publication, Red: The Island Story Book, which provides space for local authors to share stories about the community and its history. First published in 2010, Red now has 34 volumes and four special editions that share the social history of Charlottetown and the Island.
Dr. Edward MacDonald, CM – For his many years of research, documentation and promotion of the City’s history, Dr. MacDonald was selected as this year’s recipient of the Catherine G. Hennessey Award. His generosity in sharing his vast knowledge with the public via his published works, lectures, and exhibits has greatly enriched the community.
“On behalf of Mayor and Council, we offer our sincerest congratulations to Dr. MacDonald on this very well-deserved award,” said Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov, Chair of the Planning and Heritage Committee. “Dr. MacDonald has proven himself for decades to be an irreplaceable figure in the heritage preservation community. From his presentations highlighting aspects of Charlottetown’s history to his numerous published works, Dr. MacDonald’s work brings colour and life to our past.”
The Catherine Hennessey Award was established in 2011 to honour the long-time historian, author and heritage activist and is presented annually to an individual or group whose efforts have increased the appreciation of Charlottetown, stimulated love for the community or helped shape the city.