Architectural Conservancy Ontario presents annual heritage awards

TORONTO — Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) recently held its annual heritage awards.

About 175 heritage advocates came together at Junction Craft Brewing in Toronto, which is the 1930s Symes Road Destructor brought back to life as a brewery.

It was a record year for the awards, with more nominations and more attendees than ever before. This year the ACO waited until awards night to announce the winners.

Awards were presented to:

• Eric Arthur Lifetime Achievement Award: Janet Hunton, London;
• James D. Strachan Award for Craftsmanship: Eve Guinan, Toronto;
• A.K. Sculthorpe Award for Advocacy: The Working Centre (founders Joe and Stephanie Mancini), Kitchener;
• Peter Stokes Restoration Award (small scale): The Spire Restoration at Ste. Anne Church, Tecumseh;
• Peter Stokes Restoration Award (corporate): The Opinicon (owner Fiona McKean), Elgin and The New Petrie Building (Tyrcathlen Partners), Guelph;
• Margaret and Nicholas Hill Cultural Heritage Landscape Award: Leaside Matters, Toronto;
• Paul Oberman Award for Adaptive Re-use (small scale): Schmaltz Appetizing, Toronto;
• Paul Oberman Award for Adaptive Re-use (corporate): Junction Craft Brewing/PLANT Architect Inc., Toronto;
• ACO Media Award: Simon Brothers and Dean Robinson, Stratford;
• ACO NextGen Award: Sampoorna Bhattacharya, Ottawa;
• Mary Millard Award for Special Contributions: Stephanie Mah, Toronto; and
• Special Jury Award for Advocacy: The Tenants of 401 Richmond and Margaret Zeidler, Toronto.