Charlottetown, PE - The City of Charlottetown celebrated Heritage Day, Tuesday, May 9, with an awards ceremony to honour individuals and organizations in the community who have worked diligently to preserve and celebrate the City’s heritage.
“In a time when we’ve seen so much rapid change in our lives, I’m really happy for this chance to celebrate the citizens in our community who help preserve the heritage of the Birthplace of Confederation,” said Mayor Philip Brown. “We move forward in a more thoughtful and considered way when we respect what went before.”
Historian Gordy McCarville received the Catherine G. Hennessey Award for his extensive work documenting and promoting Charlottetown’s history. This 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. McCarville’s publications on long-lasting businesses such as Hickey and Nicholson as well as his collection of artefacts related to local business will provide accurate and authoritative information on city history for generations to come.
“On behalf of Mayor and Council, congratulations to Gordy McCarville on this well-deserved award,” said Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov, Chair of the Planning and Heritage Committee. “Much like Catherine Hennessey, Gordy McCarville has researched, documented and shared numerous aspects of the capital’s history with generations. From teaching at Charlottetown Rural High School to his latest works celebrating local businesses, Gordy exhibits an admirable enthusiasm and passion for history.”
2023
Charlottetown Heritage Day Award Recipients
Lynne
Thiele – Esther
of Farringford
For
her book chronicling the history of the Haviland Club and the woman who built
the house formerly known as Farringford.
Steve
Dunn and Spencer Campbell – 24 Water Street, The Warehouse
For
the sensitive exterior restoration of the 1860s former ship chandlery turned
apartment building.
Dr. Alan
MacEachern and Dr. Edward MacDonald – The Summer Trade: A History of
Tourism on Prince Edward Island
For
their scholarly work that explores the history of tourism and its impact on
Island culture from the Victorian period to the 2020’s. The associated exhibit
of the same title delighted locals and visitors alike through the tourist
season (and shoulder season) of 2022.
Linda
Hennessey – Long
term researcher and presenter of Black History on PEI
For
her over thirty years of research, uncovering and sharing the stories of Prince
Edward Island’s Black families with their descendants and the public via
speaking engagements, exhibits and podcasts.
Derrick
McQuaid – 129 Pownal Street
For
his sensitive restoration of the 1884 former double tenement and Catholic
Family Services building.
The
Native Council of Prince Edward Island, Chief Lisa Cooper – Honouring Our
Elders Photo Wall
For
the Council’s project that captures and displays the images of First Nations
Elders. The Elders are a testament to the strength of character and resilience
of this community and the project serves to acknowledge them as the
storytellers, keepers of knowledge and collective history.
Katherine
Dewar – We’ll
Meet Again: Prince Edward Island Women of the Second World War
For her
work as an educator, lecturer, author and genealogist promoting women’s history
and recent book that tells the stories of Island women who served in the Second
World War.
Dave
D.A. Stewart – Before Grindr – The Secret History of Gay and Lesbian PEI series
For
producing a group of videos that offers a throwback to the 1970’s and 1980’s
where life as a member of the Gay and Lesbian community on the Island was
generally kept secret. These videos uncover and preserve the social history of
the the community on PEI pre-internet.
Jacqueline
Sorenson and Rick Young – 32 Pownal Street
For their
sympathetic maintenance and improvements to the Lockett House, a brick home
built just after the Great Fire of 1866 destroyed the original wooden building
that stood on the site.
D.
Scott MacDonald –
Through the Grace of God: A History of Zion Presbyterian Church,
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island 1847-2022
For his
latest work that chronicles the history of Zion Presbyterian Church, its
congregation and development.
Fred
MacDonald –
A Tale of Two Fiddlers
For
his book that chronicles sports and daily life in Charlottetown during 2023 Charlottetown Heritage Day Award Recipients
For more information about Heritage Day 2023, contact the Planning and Heritage Department at: 902-629-4158.