Saugeen Shores Heritage Conservation Award has now added the 2023 award recipient to its plaque – Linda Doll, as Mayor Luke Charbonneau presented the award at Monday night’s Council meeting (Jan. 8/24).
Doll was the driving force behind the movement to have St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Southampton on Albert St. N., designated as a heritage building.
The building, in its Gothic Revival Style with its stained glass, is integral to the heritage streetscape of predominantly 19th century buildings on Albert St. N, stretching between the Saugeen River and High Street.
She originally approached the Municipal Heritage Committee in 2021 to inquire about having the church designated as heritage under the Provincial process. Then, in April of last year (2023), she brought a presentation on behalf of the Church Trustees and Congregation to the Municipal Heritage Committee, to have the property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, and followed up with a presentation to Town Council.
In July (2023), Town Council passed a By-law authorizing the Heritage designation of St. Andrew’s, the first Heritage designation in Saugeen Shores since 1998.
“The Heritage Committee recognizes Ms. Doll’s leadership in modelling the designation process for our community,” said Councillor and Heritage Committee Chair, Cheryl Grace, “at a particularly opportune time for heritage conservation in our province.”
“We thank Linda and the congregation of St. Andrew’s for their commitment to Heritage Conservation in our province,” added Grace.
“I want to thank the Town for this award but there were so many more people involved, so I accept on behalf of our Congregation,” said Linda Doll.
