Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
The James Anderson Memorial Heritage Award plaque will find a permanent home at Stratford City Hall.
But the decision didn’t come easy for council – sitting as the public works committee at Monday’s meeting – which seemed divided over the matter.
The award was established by Heritage Stratford in 2006 to recognize the achievements of individuals or groups in heritage conservation and preservation.
Anderson was a well-known in the city for his efforts in heritage preservation.
He helped form Heritage Stratford, the Stratford-Perth Museum and the Stratford-Perth Archives, where he served as the head archivist.
He was also known for leading the charge to save several historic buildings, including the Gordon Block downtown. He died in 1994.
Coun. Dave Gaffney, chair of the committee, suggested the plaque would be best displayed at the new Stratford-Perth Museum.
Coun. Tom Clifford agreed, saying council needs to be careful in making decisions about displaying awards at City Hall.
“I have great respect for James Anderson, but I think once you open this door ...” Clifford said.
“We’ve had great hockey players, we’ve had great actors and actresses, we have the stars in the sidewalk.
“I think we have to be very careful who and what we allow to come into City Hall.”
However, Anderson’s tireless work to save important structures is the very reason several councillors thought the plaque should be displayed in the building.
Coun. Keith Culliton, who supported razing City Hall several decades ago, admitted it was Anderson who talked him out of making a big mistake.
“James Anderson was the one who talked to me by the hour about how wrong I was,” Culliton said, in support of displaying the plaque at City Hall.
“I think that he was responsible for a lot of people saying ‘Let’s keep City Hall,’ and I think his plaque should remain in City Hall and be seen by all citizens.”
Coun. Don Chapman agreed.
“This is Stratford City Hall, it is a heritage building I believe the plaque should be here.”
Coun. Karen Smythe noted a permanent photographic display of heritage homes hangs in the City Hall Auditorium and suggested the plaque would complement the exhibit.
A motion to deny the request to hang the plaque in City Hall was narrowly defeated 5-6, with Mayor Dan Mathieson, Gaffney, Clifford and councillors George Brown and Dave Hunt voting in favour.
A subsequent motion to display the plaque at City Hall was passed 7-4, with Mathieson, Culliton, Smythe, Mark, Chapman and Coun. Bonnie Henderson in support.
The matter requires final approval at an upcoming city council meeting.
