ABOYNE – Centre Wellington is one step closer in identifying cultural heritage landscapes within its boundaries.
A public open house on Jan. 30 in the Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives provided an overview of project progress and invited input on possible cultural heritage landscape locations.
A cultural heritage landscape is a “defined geographical area that may have been modified by human activity and is identified as having cultural heritage value or interest by a community including in the aboriginal community,” explained Annie Veilleux, a cultural heritage specialist with ASI.
She explained it’s a grouping of individual heritage features like structures, archeological sites and natural elements that make a significant heritage form, separate from the individual features.
“These are spaces that are hallmarks of the municipality,” Veilleux explained. “They are landmarks, they are places that people are proud to talk about, to visit, to show to people visiting.”
Templin Gardens in Fergus and the Wellington County Museum and Archives in Aboyne are already recognized as cultural heritage landscapes in Centre Wellington.
Through background research, consultation with municipal officials and community engagement, Veilleux presented other possible cultural heritage landscapes in Centre Wellington:
– the Grand River, including Wilson’s Flats, Elora Gorge, Elora Quarry and Shand Dam and Belwood Lake;
– Elora Cataract Trailway;
– historic Belwood;
– South River Road, Elora;
– Trestle Bridge Trailway;
– Salem;
– Elora/St. Mary’s Cemetery;
– Victoria Park and Victoria Crescent Neighbourhood, Elora;
– downtown Elora;
– Aboyne and Allan Farmstead;
– Beatty Brothers factory and residential area, Fergus;
– downtown Fergus;
– Union Street East, Fergus;
– Highland Park, Victoria Park and Belsyde Cemetery, Fergus;
– Victory Housing, Fergus;
– Pierpoint settlement, Fergus;
– Confederation Park and trail system, Fergus; and
– Gow Park, Craighead, Blair Park and Arboretum, Fergus.
Attendees at the public meeting were invited to discuss an identified group of potential cultural heritage landscapes. They were asked:
– what is significant about this landscape and/or what significant features should be recognized?
– do you agree/disagree with the preliminary boundary? How would you refine it? Why?
After further research and evaluations are completed and recommendations presented, a report about cultural heritage landscape studies will come to a Centre Wellington council meeting.
For information and/or to complete an online survey visit connectcw.ca/CHL .
