Mayor Ann Lawlor's February 2026 Message

HALTON HILLS, ON –  It is Olympic season, and suddenly everything that matters seems to come with a score! I am writing this with one eye on hockey and curling coverage and the other on my laptop, while our February Town Council meeting hums along in the back of my mind.

This month, as has often been the case in the past two years, the Council meeting featured several reports recommending heritage designation for buildings located in the historic areas of Acton, Georgetown, our hamlets, and the surrounding countryside. In Halton Hills, protecting our heritage is earning top marks.

The urgency around these designations comes from a directive by the Ontario provincial government which effectively dismantles existing municipal heritage registers as of January 1, 2027. Once that happens, fewer homes, places of worship, shops, and industrial buildings will be reviewed and receive special heritage recognition. The province’s intent is to ease planning challenges for builders and developers who may wish to redevelop sites with older or architecturally distinctive structures.

Heritage properties play a vital role in shaping the look and feel of our community, and residents consistently tell us how much they value the character and charm these buildings bring to our streetscapes. In response, Town Council has asked staff to make heritage designation a key priority. At present, 130 properties in Halton Hills are formally designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, with another 441 listed on the heritage register and awaiting professional evaluation. With time running short, the oldest and most historically significant buildings are being reviewed first. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to review all that are on the register.

This month, Council will consider designation for the following properties: 23 Stewarttown Road in Stewarttown (an 1850s cottage); 67 Main Street South in Georgetown (a limestone commercial building from around 1890); and 14406 Third Line in Churchill (the Churchill Community Church, dating back to about 1840).

Readers who follow history news might also recall that last year, there was some public concern when the Region of Halton stepped back from responsibility for the Halton Regional Museum and a decision was taken to deaccession the artifacts. As mayor, and a member of Halton Region Council, I wanted to make sure that items important to Halton Hills stayed close to home. So, I committed to bringing together a local advisory group and working closely with Halton Region staff to identify and protect these treasured pieces of our history. Our local historians have been generous with their time and expertise, and their enthusiasm has been encouraging. Work is now underway to preserve the stories these artifacts can tell — from old seed catalogues and handmade tools to bonnets, boots, and everyday kitchenware. In the coming weeks, we’ll begin reviewing these items and determining how best to preserve and share the stories of our past.

I’m proud to say that we’re paying attention to heritage and preserving our history in Halton Hills and getting top scores for the effort!