G. William (Bill) Streeter, local historian, researcher, storyteller and volunteer was honoured at the Saugeen Shores Heritage Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 24th, with a Certificate of Recognition for his long exemplary service.

Streeter was a member of the Heritage Committee for nine years and for two years served as its Chair, but his involvement in the heritage of the community is far more extensive.
In 2019, he was also the recipient of the Municipal Heritage Conservation Award.
Although born in Chesley (due to a lack of an obstetrics doctor in Southampton), he was raised in Southampton where he and his family lived in the apartment upstairs over what is today, the Post Office.
Streeter has long had a passion with the history of the area and, in particular, its people. He was instrumental in the Commemorative Banner project that organized banners of those local veterans who served in wartime, and that line the streets of both Southampton and Port Elgin each November for Remembrance Day.

“Bill’s passion for heritage is exceptional in its productivity,” said Committee Chair Cheryl Grace. “Through the years his in-depth and meticulous research has led to lasting additions to the cultural heritage of Saugeen Shores, such as the Veterans Banners, the rich array of interpretive plaques throughout the municipality and so much more. Bill’s ability to connect with the people behind the plaques has significantly increased the public visibility of our heritage.”
According to Deputy Mayor Diane Huber (as quoted by Chair Grace), “Bill has contributed to all the historic interpretative plaques made over the past decade or so. The Mosquito Bomber plaque was one of particular significance. He took an idea generated by the Municipal Heritage Committee and ran with it. That story and that plaque played into one of the best unveilings of any plaque we have hosted in Saugeen Shores. A wonderful crowd attended a ceremony in George Marion park on a holiday weekend and it was amazing. He made incredible connections with veteran pilots and a group who had served on the Mosquito. Bill made connections with a group in Windsor that is rebuilding a Mosquito. They were the group that brought along a sheet of plywood stamped Dominion Plywoods – it’s now at the Museum.”
Grace went on to say that he had researched the pictures and content for most of the recent interpretive plaques, including one of the most memorable the ‘Ladies in Uniform’ that stands at the entrance to the Saugeen Shores Plex. He worked with the local Legions and connected with some of the women who were able to attend the unveiling.
Streeter has also been part of the sub-committee recently organized for the town’s Border Tours for the upcoming 25th Anniversary of Amalgamation celebrations.
His research skills and “… deep knowledge of the town and his family background …” have also contributed to preparing files for the Heritage Registry properties said Grace, who thanked Streeter, saying that he “… leaves an incredible legacy within the Heritage record.”
Mayor Luke Charbonneau added that the community is fortunate to have many people who care about its heritage and who “… work hard to ensure we preserve and celebrate that heritage … but even among those people, the name Bill Streeter rises to the top. Anyone who has spent so much time and energy recording our history, making sure that our history is recorded and celebrated, will himself go down in history as one of its most outstanding citizens.”
Streeter said that as a young man he had a choice. “Was I going to go to Hepworth’s furniture factory for sixty-five cents an hour? i had a cousin in Toronto who suggested I go there. With a black cardboard suitcase and $25, I hitchhiked to Toronto where I began my career with the Goodyear Tire Company … and stayed for 38 years.”
An avid curler and consultant, he retired to Southampton in 1998, where he had owned property since 1969 (now the parking lot across the street from the hospital), and became passionate and active in the community, helping to preserve its history.
He recently resigned from three of the Town’s committees to take more time to travel. “I have to stay active and I continue to research and write. We all learn every day. Now though, it’s going to be me, on my time, and I will work on what I want to and when I want to … no more meetings.”
“My grandmother was the storyteller and was the niece of the two Martindale boys who drowned on the Saucy Jack and I remember her talking about the family and the community.”
Streeter is now about to embark on a South Asian tour to add to his 82 countries that he has visited.