Sheila Latham is this year’s Municipal Heritage Award winner in Saugeen Shores.
Saugeen Shores Councillor Cheryl Grace gave a presentation outlining reasons for her nomination at Monday’s council meeting, and celebrating Latham’s, “leadership in preserving and enhancing the cultural and built heritage of the community.”
Latham is a Southampton resident, who lives in a heritage home with her husband David which they restored and had provincially designated.
Grace said, “Sheila’s efforts have been instrumental in assisting with the designation process of heritage buildings in Saugeen Shores. Her meticulous research and presentation has supported property owners with recent designation applications for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Southampton, 697 Market Street in Port Elgin, the Southampton Lawn Bowling Club and 117 Huron St. South in Southampton.”
She added, “Latham’s intensive research has uncovered stories and facts which bring to life our community’s history and its significance.”
Grace also noted Latham created a designation template which she has shared with the municipality for public use through its website. “This step by step template is an invaluable tool that will aid the designation process for years to come, take the guesswork out of how to prepare an application and could be used as a model throughout the province,” said Grace.
She was also a founding member of the Southampton Cultural Heritage Conservancy and is also the editor of the conservancy’s newsletter and Facebook page.
“Her over 300 posts since 2019 are written and illustrated with current photos and archival images to promote interest in the history and culture of Saugeen Shores.”
She’s the author of at least six essays on architectural styles and heritage buildings in the community.
She also organized an event in 2019 called “History in my Attic, Love Letters in My Eaves” where grace says community members shared stories about artifact found in their homes.
Latham spoke to council following the presentation of her award, saying, “I appreciate so much receiving this award because its very existence shows that Saugeen Shores values and appreciates the importance of heritage to the future of our town. Over the years I’ve come to understand how the ideals of heritage uplift our lives by maintaining our connections with the best hopes and dreams pursued by generations from the past and the promise they hold for the future. These connections enable us to develop a socially engaged community.”