NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE: 13 Wilbur Street North

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE UNDER THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT AND IN THE MATTER OF the lands in the Town of Halton Hills known municipally as 13 Wilbur Street North, Regional Municipality of Halton, legally described as “PT LT 50, BLK 7, PL 31, AS IN 170669 ALSO SHOWN ON PL 1098; HALTON HILLS” and known as the Cordiner-Johnston House. 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Halton Hills intends to designate the property at 13 Wilbur Street North under Section 29(1), Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter O.18. 

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest: 

The Cordiner-Johnston House at 13 Wilbur Street North has physical and design value as a representative example of an Edwardian Foursquare building in the community of Acton within the Town of Halton Hills. The building features elements typical of this style, including the massing, hipped roof, smooth brick façade, front porch with semi-white painted wood half columns, American Foursquare layout, as well as the segmentally arched window openings with brick voussoirs and concrete sills. Similar to the adjacent residential buildings at 9 and 19 Wilbur Street North, the existing building reflects the transition from elaborate Victorian designs to more functional and modest styles within the existing neighbourhood during the early 20th century. 

The Cordiner-Johnston House at 13 Wilbur Street North has historical and associative value due to its associations with Stephen Cordiner. The subject property was purchased from the Lawson family in 1921 by Stephen Cordiner, a local builder, painter, and contractor who worked extensively in the community. Cordiner also constructed the adjacent homes at 9 and 19 Wilbur Street North in the same design and architectural style. Cordiner and his wife, Emilia, were also significantly involved in the local community; Amelia was a member of both the Ladies’ Aid and Women’s Missionary Society, and both were members of Knox Presbyterian Church in Acton. Cordiner also served as a member of Acton’s Town Council during the early-20^th century. 

The property is also associated with the Johnston family, who owned the extant house for over 25 years. The Johnston family were one of the early pioneer families to settle in Esquesing and established themselves on a farm along First Line. Richard grew up on the Johnston family farm and continued to farm this property until retiring and moving to Acton in 1930. Here, Richard moved with his wife Virena, whom he married in 1898. The Johnston family were actively involved in the United Church, where Richard was a member of the Board of Trustees. 

The Cordiner-Johnston House at 13 Wilbur Street North has contextual value as it is important in defining and maintaining the early-twentieth-century residential character along the northwest side of Wilbur Street. Built adjacent to two additional Edwardian residential buildings also constructed by Stephen Cordiner, the extant building is physically, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings. The Cordiner-Johnston House is relative in scale to surrounding buildings and has not been identified as a landmark. 

The heritage attributes of the property at 13 Wilbur Street North that contribute to its physical and design value include: 

• The setback, location, and orientation of the existing early-20^th-century residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills;

• The scale, form, and massing of the two-and-a-half storey Edwardian building;

• The materials, including the red brick exterior, concrete sills, and stone foundation;

• The front (southwest) elevation, including:

• The side (southeast) elevation, including:

• The side (northwest) elevation, including:

The heritage attribute of the property at 13 Wilbur Street North that contributes to its historical and associative value includes: 

• The legibility of the existing building as a representative example of an Edwardian Foursquare residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills. 

The heritage attributes of the property at 13 Wilbur Street North that contribute to its contextual value include: 

• The legibility of the existing building as a representative example of an Edwardian Foursquare residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills, 

• The setback, location, and orientation of the existing early-20^th-century residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills; and,

• The scale, form, and massing of the two-and-a-half storey Edwardian building.

Further information respecting the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest and proposed designation of 13 Wilbur Street North (refer to Report PD-2026-070) is available by contacting Laura Loney, Manager of Heritage Planning for the Town of Halton Hills at 905-873-2600 x 2358 or by email at [email protected]

Any person may, by September 13, 2026 (within 30 days after the date of the publication of this notice) serve the Clerk ([email protected]) and Laura Loney notice of their objection to the proposed designation in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, setting out the reason for the objection and all relevant facts.

Dated at the Town of Halton Hills this 14^th day of August 2026.

Laura Loney, Manager of Heritage Planning, Planning and Development, The Corporation of the Town of Halton Hills, 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2.