Couple's commitment to heritage honoured.
Ontario Heritage Trust chair, the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, left, and Lt.-Gov. of Ontario David C. Onley, right, present Edith and Geoff Geduld with the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement during a ceremony held Friday at Queen's Park.
Photo/TESSA J. BUCHAN-ONTARIO HE
Edith Geduld was "somewhat embarrassed and overwhelmed" when it was announced she and husband Geoff were two of 19 recipients of the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement for 2009.The annual awards recognize volunteers and communities for outstanding contributions to the preservation, protection and promotion of Ontario's heritage."I think my husband felt that way, too," Edith said with a laugh. "We have written up nominations over the years for other people so it's quite something to receive one for yourself."The Geduld's have worked for more than 30 years to preserve North York's heritage, with Edith a past chair of the North York Community Preservation Panel and Geoff current president of the North York Historical Society and past chair of the Toronto Historical Museums Management Board.The City of Toronto endorsed the Geduld's nomination for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award after their names were put forward by Geoff Kettel, chair of the North York Community Preservation Panel.After moving to Toronto from England in 1957, the Gedulds uprooted to Montreal in 1964 before settling in Willowdale in 1978. Soon afterwards, Edith attended a meeting at Gibson House Museum after reading a community newspaper ad looking for North York Historical Society volunteers and the rest, she said, was history."Preservation and conservation of our history is important," she said. "In the days of Mayor Mel Lastman buildings were torn down to make way for parking lots. Things are better now but we still need to be watchful."In a release, Ontario Lt.-Gov. David C. Onley said heritage preservation enriches the quality of life for Ontarians while making a valuable contribution to communities. "These award recipients have made outstanding achievements to conserve Ontario's heritage and I'm pleased to recognize their accomplishments," he said.Onley presented the awards at a Queen's Park ceremony Feb. 19, which was attended by The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, chair of the Ontario Heritage Trust.The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards recognize achievements in three categories:- Nineteen individuals will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement for volunteer contributions to conserving community heritage over a period of 25 years or more.- One individual and two groups will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement for exceptional voluntary contributions by young people to heritage conservation.- Four communities will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership for exemplary leadership in heritage conservation and promotion.The awards are administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the provincial government dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.The awards were established in 2007 by former Ontario Lt.-Gov. James K. Bartleman in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust.Nominations for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards are submitted by municipal and regional councils, First Nation band councils, Métis community councils and schools from across the province to recognize local contributions to heritage conservation.