Heritage Award recipient says we cannot become slaves to the past

Southampton resident, Duncan McCallum, was this year’s recipient of the Saugeen Shores Heritage Conservation Award.

McCallum was recognized at Monday night’s Council meeting (Dec. 10/18) for his dedication, commitment and involvement in his community and the many organizations in which he has been a member over the years.

Heritage Committee past-Chair Diane Huber, Duncan McCallum and Mayor Luke Charbonneau

Several members of the Heritage Committee along with family and friends were in attendance to see the well-deserved award presented.

(L-R) Members of the Heritage Committee – Diane Huber, Bill Streeter, Joyce Johnston and Tracey Edwards

 

Huber said that McCallum has spoken often that cultural heritage is an investment and not a cost for the community.  “Cultural Heritage includes tangible cultural things such as books, buildings, artifacts, art, landscapes, etc. and intangible heritage such as folklore, language and knowledge and natural heritage that includes culturally significant landscapes and biodiversity.”

She went on to say that McCallum was part of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Southampton Town Hall that encouraged a Cultural Master Plan with the view that it would be a legacy with the Town Hall and Library being a lasting core for the next 75 to 100 years.

McCallum’s involvement in the community has been incredible, added Huber.  “He represents a classic example of the role residents play within the cultural heritage of our community.  He personifies the impact that someone in the present can have because they respect the past and embrace the future.  His many hours of volunteerism over many years make him a worth recipient of this year’s award.

He has been a member of the Municipal Heritage Committee, President of the former Southampton Ratepayers’ Group, a member of Council during amalgamation, member of the Cemetery Board, a member of the Saugeen Parks and Trails Committee, a leader in hosting and planning the Soouthampton 150th anniversary, a Director on the Arts Society Board, a member of the Propeller Club, Chair of the Southampton United Church Board, Chair of the Southampton Town Hall Ad Hoc Committee and now helps the Board of the Bruce County Playhouse.  He is also a grandfather and has helped his wife Mary with her work on the Hospital Auxiliary.  He was also the first to recognize the significance of the H.M.S. General Hunter (a shipwreck on Southampton Beach).  He continues to realize that an appreciation of the past helps us to live fully in the present and embrace our future.”

Huber pointed out that the intersection between the past and the future has always played a key role with McCallum.  When it came to the Town Hall, a heritage building and the library and the changes that could be made to the space, “.. he always talked about what we would gain”.  “Cultural Heritage,” said Huber, “is about more than old buildings.  The Heritage Committee continues to promote interest in history and  heritage but it is the stories that hold the most value as a community continues to grow and we need people like Duncan McCallum to be involved.  The story of our development is the story of our community’s cultural heritage.  Duncan is a role model for what makes a civic leader in our community,”

In thanking the Committee, McCallum said, prior to moving to Southampton on a permanent basis, he had been coming since he was born and every summer thereafter.  “I’ve been involved in this community for 80 years.  I have great admiration for a community that respects its heritage and we do recognize our heritage, encourage our heritage, support our heritage and respect it, but we also have an exciting future.  We have to give the future as much exciting promotion and enthusiastic support as we do the past.  We have to be awfully careful that we don’t let ourselves become slaves to the past.  We have to look forward to future opportunities.  The Marine Heritage Society does wonderful things for our marine heritage and the aquatic centre and ice-rinks speak to the future.  It’s really important however, to find opportunities to bring that heritage and the future together.  We had an opportunity presented to us by proponents to build an Innovation Institute next to the Museum and Cultural Centre and what a wonderful opportunity to bring the past  and the future together.  Let’s not lose that opportunity to make that happen, particularly, when heritage is important but the future is so bright.”