Charlottetown honours individuals, organizations for preserving city's heritage
By SaltWire, May 11, 2023
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The City of Charlottetown celebrated Heritage Day with an awards ceremony on May 9 to honour individuals and organizations in the community who have worked diligently to preserve and celebrate the city’s heritage.
Historian Gordy McCarville received the Catherine G. Hennessey Award for his extensive work documenting and promoting Charlottetown’s history. This award, which was established in 2011 to honour the long-time historian, author and heritage activist, 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 artifacts related to local business will provide accurate and authoritative information on city history for generations to come.
Alanna Jankov, deputy mayor and chair of the planning and heritage committee, congratulated McCarville on behalf of the mayor and council.
“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.”
Mayor Philip Brown noted that in a time of such rapid change, it’s appropriate to celebrate the citizens who help preserve the heritage of Charlottetown.
“We move forward in a more thoughtful and considered way when we respect what went before.”
Award recipients
Following are the other 2023 Charlottetown Heritage Day Award recipients:
Lynne Thiele – for “Esther of Farringford,” her book chronicles the Haviland Club's history and the woman who built the house formerly known as Farringford.
Steve Dunn and Spencer Campbell – 24 Water St, The Warehouse – for the sensitive exterior restoration of the 1860s former ship chandlery turned apartment building.
Alan MacEachern and Edward MacDonald – for their scholarly work of “The Summer Trade: A History of Tourism on Prince Edward Island,” a book that explores the history of tourism and its impact on Prince Edward Island culture from the Victorian period to the 2020s. 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 P.E.I. – for her over 30 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 St. – 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. The project acknowledges 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 a 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 P.E.I.” – for producing a group of videos that offers a throwback to the 1970s and 1980s when life as a member of the gay and lesbian community on Prince Edward Island was generally kept secret. These videos uncover and preserve the social history of the community in P.E.I., pre-internet.
Jacqueline Sorenson and Rick Young – 32 Pownal St. – 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 from the 1950s to the present day.
