Duncan McCallum (centre) was presented with the 2018 Heritage Conservation Award by Past Chair of the Municipal Heritage Committee Diane Huber and Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau in Council Chambers December 10. Town of Saugeen Shores photo

Hub Staff

Duncan McCallum received the 2018 Heritage Conservation Award in Council Chambers December 10.

Past Chair of the Municipal Heritage Committee Diane Huber presented the award and said that it represents contributions to preserving, promoting and celebrating cultural heritage in Saugeen Shores.

Huber said McCallum was very deserving as his involvement has touched many aspects of cultural heritage, something she said was a combination of the past, the present, and the future and can include tangible items such as buildings, monuments, art and artifacts; intangible culture such as folklore, traditions, language and knowledge; and natural heritage such as culturally significant landscapes and biodiversity.

McCallum was significant in the creation of the Cultural Heritage Master Plan and a member of the Southampton Town Hall Ad Hoc Committee, something Huber said ensured the viability of the Town Hall and the creation of a library and community spaces that will prove to serve the community for the next 75 to 100 years.

Huber said McCallum's involvement has been "absolutely incredible" and that he represents a fantastic example of the role that residents play within the cultural heritage of Saugeen Shores. "He personifies the impact that someone in the present can have as they respect the past and also embrace the future," she said. "His many, many hours of volunteer activity over many, many years make him a very worthy recipient of this year’s [Heritage] Award."

Offering a snapshot of McCallum's contributions since retiring to Saugeen Shores with his wife Mary, Huber mentioned the Municipal Heritage Committee, Saugeen Shores Council, Parks and Trails Committee, Cemetery Board, Southampton community groups, Art Society, Southampton United Church, and Bruce County Playhouse.

Huber made special mention of McCallum's contribution to the General Hunter story.

"He always has understood and continues to represent how an appreciation of the past lets us live fully in the present and embrace our future," said Huber.

McCallum graciously accepted the award, said he was honoured to be included in the group of past recipients and humbly wondered if Huber had made a mistake when she added him to that group.

McCallum said he's been involved in the community in one form or another for 80 years, from summer vacationer to summer resident to finally retiring here. "I have a great admiration for a community that respects its heritage," said McCallum and added that we have an exciting future.

"We have to give the future as much excitement, promotion and enthusiastic support as we do the past," McCallum said, adding that events such as the Marine Heritage Festival give a nod to the past while projects such as the aquatic centre and the Nuclear Innovation Institute support the future.

McCallum said we need to find opportunities to bring the past and the future together in Saugeen Shores "where heritage is so important and the future is so bright."