By Cecilia Nasmith
Port Hope's own Rod Stewart received provincial recognition Oct. 12, as he was named the winner of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario's James D. Strachan Award for Craft.
Port Hope ACO Ian MacKay shared the news of the nomination earlier this month, prior to the awards ceremony at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse.
While Stewart's accomplishments are well known in the community – not the least of which are the enormous differences he has made to the preservation of such landmark buildings as the old St. Lawrence Hotel and the Capitol Theatre – MacKay said in an interview prior to the awards ceremony that this nomination recognizes quite another achievement.
Referring to the “craft” in the name of this award, he noted that its winner is being recognized for his pioneering work in heritage plaster conservation techniques that have been used all over the country in significant buildings.
“Rod is a master of many crafts,” MacKay said in the interview.
“He's a great connector of people as well. He's got the technical know-how, and he digs into that, but he also is a great big-picture thinker who has helped connect people and buildings and possibilities in a lot of places.”
Stewart was one of two local nominees, the other being the team behind the COVID-inspired pivoting of the group's annual house tour to a virtual and video format that enhanced the educational component behind the event, This would be as ACO members Bill and Marnie Bickell, Aaron Peacock and Aidan Kennedy of Two Blue Shirts Productions, as well as 100-year-old Bluestone House owner Ruth Redelmeier (who attended the awards ceremony personally).
