A.C.O. PORT HOPE BRANCH MEETING
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Time:
Place:
Present:
Regrets:
7:30 p.m.
Caretaker’s Cottage
Patsy Beeson, Peggy Bennett, Matt Desbarbieux, Terry Hill, Peter Kedwell, Dennis
Hogarth, Moya McPhail, Jo Mathew, Ed Pamenter, Jane Staunton, Charles Wickett
Phil Goldsmith, Dennis Hogarth
Regrets:
None
CALL TO ORDER:
Charles Wickett
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION: (Matt/Moya)
CARRIED
ADOPTION OF MINUTES of March 5, 2015
Correction to minutes –
 Auction painting 10’x6’4” (corrected dimensions) needs to be transported from Durham House to
The Waddell.
Motion: To adopt the minutes - (Patsy/Terry)
CARRIED
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
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Heritage Business Improvement Area – Charles spoke with Blake Holton who mentioned the
Town’s plan to disband the organization had been cancelled.
Storefront signage – ACO will explore our leverage, with HPH to change/enhance signage. Te rry
mentioned that there are also bank signs that aren’t acceptable either and should also be
investigated. Signage and Store Fronts to be included in “Business Arising” on next month’s
agenda.
CORRESPONDENCE:

Letter from town regarding Port Hope Civic Awards. Phil Carter will receive a Community Service
Award at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, April 16th at 7 pm. This has been confirmed.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Charles Wickett
What has been happening?
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I attended the ACO Council meeting in Stratford on Saturday March 21st. The major item for
discussion was the commissioning of an organizational and operational review to address the
inefficiencies in Provincial Office.
I also attended the ACO Provincial Executive meeting last evening in Toronto – where the same
matter was discussed as well as the upcoming conference and AGM. Succession is critical as a
new President will be required to take over at the AGM and I do not know if anyone has come
forward…
During the course of the month I also met with Mary and John Shaw-Rimmington with Stephen
Smith but I will cover more under “Other Business”.
What’s coming up?
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Tomorrow Phil Carter and I will be meeting with the Manager of the Royal Bank regarding the
upstairs for their building. Subject will be whether we can reopen discussions about making it a
public space again.
The Auction is imminent – weekend of April 24th-26th. Sounds like that the Committee has
outdone themselves again! I will be making myself available to them for all of that weekend
and I know they would certainly appreciate any support they can get from any Executive for this
very important fundraiser.
The Bus Tour will be held on the 29th and I think is fully subscribed. Patsy, I am sure, will be
providing an update.
On the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following the Bus Tour, I will be attending the Ontario
Heritage Conference as well as the ACOs AGM.
Lastly, if Dennis and I look a little shell shocked at our next Executive meeting on May 7 th, it is
because we will have spent the day with auditors from Head Office as they review four years of
financial records.
Thank you to:
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All of you and our membership that were able to come out to the OMB Pre-Hearing on 17th
March. We are sure that the swell of our membership there helped to demonstrate our
commitment of keeping “our town” – our town.
Peter for pulling together and submitting the nomination of Phil Carter for a Port Hope Civic
Award.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Dennis Hogarth

Auditors are arriving from Head Office on May 7th to conduct an audit.
No report
COMMITTEE REPORTS
AUCTION – Joan Tooke
Statistics:
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Over 95 donors, not including the Silent Auction. This is a record
Second storage location made this venture possible. Many thanks to Will Ryan.
Downtown window displays: The Walton (3 windows), Flourish, Ganaraska Art, Gould’s
Footwear, Insight Optical in Cobourg. Some are up – others are scheduled
140 promotional cards mailed to 2014 bidders (excluded many local ACO members due to costs
and their proximity to information and the event)
25 Silent Auction items – boxed, out of the box, beyond the box etc. – great variety
Current:
 Preparation of a survey for Sunday, April 26th
 June 1st is the date for acceptance of donations for 2016 event
 Confirmation of volunteer placements
 Radio advertising as begun; newspaper ad being prepared
 Completing cataloguing, preparation for appraisals
 Antiques & Artifacts website. Many thanks to Carrol Levin
 Sorting will result in donations to the Archives Yard Sale in September
 Leftovers will by picked up by volunteers from Friends of Wesleyville for a sale
Help needed:
 Moving of boxes, small items to Town Park Recreation Centre Thursday evening or Friday
morning, April 23-24. Please coordinate with Ed Pamenter
 Attendance, enthusiasm, promotion to your friends, bids, purchases
Big Thanks:
 To the 2015 Antiques and Artifacts committee – everyone is working very hard
Wrap up meeting will be held in May to evaluate the 2015 event and to plan for the future. At present,
there is an agreement that the team will produce one more event – namely the 12th Antiques & Artifacts
on April 24, 2016.
COMMUNICATIONS – Jo Mathew

Jo has met with Andrea Patterson, Tourism office of PH, to work on publicity and marketing for
the Garden Tour and will continue to research and new opportunities to publicize the tour.
GARDEN TOUR – Mary Shaw-Rimmington

Moya reported that the committee has confirmed the second event for the tour, which will
feature the “Toronto Garden Bloggers.” This event will take place following the tour, at an extra
cost, featuring wine and hors oeuvres.
GOVERNANCE – Trish Doney

Meeting with Trish Doney next week.
HERITAGE TRUST FUND – (from Charles Wickett)
 No Report
HOUSE TOUR – Peggy Bennett
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Peggy reported that all plans are progressing well
Activities/attractions with retailers and lunches still to be determined and confirmed
Shannon Kyles booked for Saturday night event at the Sculthorpe Theatre – cost is $20 to
include refreshments. Cash bar.
MEMBERSHIP – Peggy Bennett

Peggy raised the issue of offering complimentary memberships this year – no changes at this
time.
NEWSLETTER/BUS TOUR/LECTURE SERIES– Patsy Beeson
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Deadline for Newsletter is April 29th, 2015
Bus Tour – Wednesday, April 29th – sold out with wait-list
Evenings- John Shaw-Rimmington- Stone Alone - June 11th – (dated to be confirmed)
PIER GROUP – Phil Goldsmith

Charles advised he understands the Town is considering salvaging the remains of one of the
buildings that will be taken down, to rebuild at a later date.
PROJECTS /DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE – Tom Cruickshank/Phil Carter via Charles Wickett
No Report
 28/32 Walton Street – progress made on the windows.
PROPERTY/HPH – Ed Pamenter

Work on Chapel – the exterior to be painted and windows to be cleaned
SCHOLARSHIP – Matt Desbarbieux

Matt spoke with a student who is interested in attending the masonry program in Perth and will
follow-up with a discussion regarding scholarship application.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE –Peter Kedwell

Summer BBQ confirmed at Helene and Don McQuigge’s home. Date set for August 13, 2015 @
5:30pm.
WEBSITE –
No report
OTHER BUSINESS – Farley Mowat
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On April 2nd Charles met with Mary and John Shaw-Rimmington as well as Stephen Smith – on
whose property the Farley Mowat Boat Roofed House sits.
It was built in 2006 as part of the Northumberland Dry Stone Festival – an event which attracted
working whalers from Canada, the U.S. and Europe – many of whom were here to honour
Farley.
Charles believes the structure was built on private property rather than Town land as the Town
Administration of the day felt there might be some liability issues.
Stephen is selling his property and unless the Structure is relocated in a reasonable time – it
could be at risk – i.e. there would be nothing to prevent future owners of the property from
tearing it down.
Stephen is keen to work with the Town to find a better and permanent location – on Town
property. He and John will be meeting with the Mayor on April 29th to discuss the matter.
At this point they are aiming for the Town to recognise what a valuable asset to the community
it is and work together to move it to a suitable permanent location. They see the relocation as
an opportunity for holding a special event where Farley would be recognised.
And this is where we come in:
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They are looking for our support – our endorsement - of this initiative. This way, in talking to
the Town, they can say that their recommendations are endorsed by the ACO.
Does it fall within our mandate? I think so: “The Mission of the Branch is to support the
preservation of buildings and structures of architectural merit and places of natural beauty or
interest through:
o Provision of financial assistance…
o The advocacy of said activities with government, business and the public at large…
I am sure they would like our financial assistance but I think before we consider that – they and
the Town need to do some work.
I do think though that we can offer our endorsement of the initiative at this time…
Motion: That the ACO Port Hope branch endorses and supports the preservation of the FARLEY
MOWAT BOAT ROOFED HOUSE through the expert dismantling, relocation and rebuilding of the
structure to a permanent public site. MOTION: (Terry/Peter)
CARRIED
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:05 pm
NEXT MEETING – April 9, 2015