A celebration of heritage properties in Niagara-on-the-Lake held this week took on a more sombre tone as those in attendance took time to mourn the sudden loss of Glencairn Hall.
The ceremony, held at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, was meant to honour and highlight NOTL’s heritage properties that have been designated since 2019.
Glencairn Hall, which was designated last April, went ablaze during a fire on April 16, resulting in what investigators call a “total loss” of the property.
“The fire at Glencairn Hall is a profound loss to Niagara-on-the-Lake’s cultural fabric,” said Kirsten McCauley, the town’s director of community and development services, during her presentation.
Designed in 1832 by John Latshaw for prominent local figure John Hamilton, Glencairn Hall served as an exemplary model of Greek Revival architecture, McCauley said.
“Its association with prominent families and its role in the region’s development underscored its importance as a historical site.”
“The estate not only embodied the architectural aspirations of its era, but also served as a physical manifestation of the community’s rich history and stories of those who shaped it.”
McCauley extended sympathies to the homeowners, who were not named, on behalf of the town.
“The town extends its sincere condolences to the property owners of this devastating loss and thanks our volunteer firefighters who worked tirelessly through the day to contain and extinguish the blaze,” she said.
Property records show the nearly three-acre Glencairn Hall was purchased for $6 million on Oct. 15, 2024.
The ownership of the property was registered to a numbered company, 1001021589 Ontario Corp., which was incorporated on Sept. 30, 2024.
Provincial records show the sole director of the numbered company is Scott Cameron Corbett, of Marine Parade Drive, Toronto.
During the service at the Pumphouse, McCauley and municipal heritage committee members provided a planning update and gave remarks.
McCauley highlighted the 14 properties granted designation since the launch of the town’s priority designation work in 2023.
She also drew attention to ongoing local heritage preservation projects, including the expansion of the heritage district and continued work on NOTL’s ordnance boundary stone restoration.
Couns. Gary Burroughs and Tim Balasiuk presented the heritage plaques along with heritage committee members David Snelgrove and Alexander Topps.
Of the 16 properties receiving recognition Wednesday evening, seven owners were present to accept their plaques.
Burroughs shared his personal experience of designating his former home on 187 Queen St. back in 2002.
“You take great pride in what you are doing by designating your property,” he said.
“Tonight, you guys are the winners. You get a plaque and you also have that pride.”
