Hub Staff

Five determined advocates are poised to dive into the depths of Southampton's heritage, surfacing treasures to share with the community. Gabrielle Di Francesco, Pat Dobec, David Latham, Sheila Latham and Laura Robinson are board members of the new Southampton Cultural Heritage Conservancy (SCHC) who vow to build awareness and honour the community's settler history while recognizing the area's Indigenous roots. Consisting of an array of professional experience including a historian, a librarian and a doctor, the collective passion and knowledge is evident.

In a June 18 telephone interview, Board Member Laura Robinson described why the need for such a group in Southampton exists.

“Provincial laws are weak. We don’t have strong legislation to protect our history,” declared Robinson. “[SCHC members] all care about the civil society of our community, and have for years. This year we’ve made it formal," she said.

Previously, the group had acted as silent guardians of Southampton’s past but debate around the former Anglican rectory led to these friends officially banding together and rallying troops to strengthen their voice in the community.

Robinson said the recent addition of 254 High Street to Canada’s Top Ten Endangered Places was a result of their efforts. The application was sent in months ago by board member Sheila Latham. “We had forgotten all about it,” said Robinson.

A recent Circle the Woodland event was not organized but was fully supported by the SCHC and, along with the listing of the rectory, has stoked a growing optimism within the group.

A Rectory Rally scheduled for Sunday, June 30 from 8 to 11 a.m. at at Fairy Lake aims to not only garner support for 254 High Street but also to introduce SCHC to the community.

For more information about SCHC and upcoming events, visit www.southamptonheritage.org.