Awards

The Heritage Perth Architectural Conservation Award Program aims to recognize and encourage excellence in heritage conservation within Perth. Awards may be granted to projects, individuals, or groups in the following categories:

• Buildings
• Landscapes
• Education (related to Heritage Awareness)
• Heritage Craftspeople

To be considered for an award, nominations must be submitted by December 31st each year. For more information and to make a nomination, please visit the Architectural Conservation Award Program Nomination Form.

The Perth Medal is awarded annually by the Mayor to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the Perth community across various fields, including community work, fundraising, and volunteerism, without seeking personal financial gain. The Perth Medal Policy provides additional details and outlines the nomination scoring process.

Nominations for the 2024 Perth Medal are now closed. Submissions were accepted until 4 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2024. For more information, and to submit a nomination, please complete the Perth Medal Nomination Nomination Form.

In 2014, the Town of Perth earned a prestigious 5 Blooms rating in the Ontario Provincial Edition of Communities in Bloom, along with a Heritage Conservation criteria award. This recognition highlights the efforts of the Town’s Community Services Department and the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA, who work together each year to beautify the downtown area. Perth’s vibrant streetscape, featuring stunning heritage architecture, provides the perfect backdrop for floral displays that brighten the town from spring through fall.

Communities awarded 5 Blooms are automatically entered into the National Communities in Bloom contest. In 2015, Perth competed nationally and won the National Communities in Bloom Award for communities with populations of 9,999 and under. This incredible achievement was the result of a cooperative effort by the entire community.

The awards are proudly on display at Town Hall.

On Friday, September 30, 2005, Shellee Evans, Director of Community Services, along with Jeff Dean from CGIS Spatial Solutions and Todd Stone from iCompass, accepted the 2005 Marketing Canada Award from the Economic Development Association of Canada. The Town of Perth’s website was selected from 188 submissions as the best website in Canada with a budget of under $200,000. The website was praised for its clear and effective messaging, design that supports the message, innovative merchandising, and success in meeting its objectives.

Originally created in 2000 to provide basic information for taxpayers, the Town’s website underwent a complete revamp in 2004. It has since become a crucial tool for attracting new business and development, promoting local events, and keeping residents and visitors informed about Perth’s business life.

One of the site’s leading-edge features is the Perth Live Map, a virtual map that offers users access to detailed property information, including the Town’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The map displays streets, municipal addresses, parking lots, garbage and recycling schedules, and even solar panel installation potential. It also highlights Perth’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Information about the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA, historic walking tours, and public documents is readily accessible, with more updates to come as the Business Registry is expanded.

The Marketing Canada Award is proudly displayed in the Community Services Office at Town Hall.

On February 20, 2009, in Toronto, Mayor John Fenik proudly accepted the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership on behalf of the Town of Perth. This inaugural award, presented by Ontario Lieutenant Governor David C. Onley, honors communities that demonstrate exemplary leadership in heritage conservation and promotion.

The application for this prestigious award was submitted in the fall of 2008. It recognizes both the past efforts to preserve Perth’s heritage and the town’s ongoing commitment to heritage-friendly policies and community values. Being recognized in the first year of this award is a great honor for Perth.

The Lieutenant Governor's Award is considered the provincial equivalent of the Prince of Wales Prize, which Perth received from the Heritage Canada Foundation in 2004.

The award committee examined several factors, including the presence of a town heritage committee, research initiatives, tax incentives for preserving heritage buildings, and heritage-supportive bylaws and policies. They also looked at stewardship programs like Perth’s Main Street Program and the number of historic sites in town. Perth’s "adaptive re-use" of historic buildings—such as housing Town Hall in a heritage building while maintaining its original character—was of particular interest.

Perth has been described as having "substantial stone buildings of remarkable age, which you typically see in larger communities, but rarely in a small town like Perth. That is unique."

Everywhere you look in Perth, there’s a connection to the past. The town has a rich story, and as its stewards, we are proud to be part of that ongoing legacy.

On December 16, 2008, at the inaugural meeting of Lanark County Council, the Seven Wonders of Lanark County were revealed. The Town of Perth was honored to receive recognition for Stewart Park, a 5+ acre park often referred to as the jewel of the town.

Residents have enjoyed the tranquil beauty of Stewart Park since Jessie Mabel Stewart began designing and maintaining the area behind Perth’s Town Hall. In 1947, Mrs. Stewart deeded the parkland to the Town in memory of her late husband, the Honourable John Alexander Stewart. Throughout his career, Mr. Stewart held prestigious roles, including president of the Henry K. Wampole Co. Ltd., Andrew Jergens Co. Ltd., and Perth Shoe Co. Ltd. He also served on Town Council from 1900-1904 and was elected to the House of Commons in 1918, where he served as Minister of Railways. Mr. Stewart passed away in 1922.

Stewart Park is known for its majestic maple trees, vibrant rock wall gardens, and the peaceful Tay River. It is also home to the beloved Stewart Park Music Festival, a free three-day event held each July that attracts over 20,000 visitors to Perth’s downtown core. The park’s 19th-century Bandshell and the elegant Millennium Gates further enhance its welcoming atmosphere.

2008 County Warden Bob Fletcher commented, "It was not easy for the committee to narrow it down to just seven... This certainly shows that Lanark County is truly an outstanding place."

After more than 80 years, Stewart Park remains a natural beauty and a cherished part of the Perth community.

On June 6, 2000, Perth was declared the Prettiest Town in Ontario by TV Ontario on their program, Studio 2.

Nominations from several Perth residents and groups convinced the judges that Perth was the most deserving of the title. And who could disagree? Perth is an architectural gem, with stunning Victorian storefronts in the BIA and hundreds of grand heritage homes and buildings scattered throughout the town.

The Town’s Parks & Facilities staff, along with the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA, work tirelessly to keep the downtown vibrant. Beautiful floral displays, benches, clean streets, and the crown jewel of the town—Stewart Park—create a picture-perfect atmosphere. Stewart Park, highlighted in the TVO feature, was gifted to the Town by Jessie Stewart in honor of her late husband. Parks staff maintain the park’s lush greenery and the meandering Tay River, continually adding features like rock wall gardens to enhance its quaint, heritage charm.

The downtown shopkeepers also contribute to the beauty of Perth by creating attractive window displays and adding to the abundant floral units that decorate the town. The Perth BIA plays a key role in seasonal beautification, including the downtown Christmas tree lighting, cedar garlands on storefronts, and special initiatives in fall and spring.

Perth’s parks are naturally weed-free, thanks to an anti-pesticide by-law. Trees, both young and old, line the town’s heritage streets in business and residential districts alike, adding to its charm.

Beyond the physical beauty, the spirit of the community is what truly makes Perth shine. The town’s rich Scottish history is kept alive by residents who take pride in maintaining the cleanliness and character of the town.

The TVO award is proudly displayed in the main foyer of Town Hall.

In September 2004, Perth Mayor Dennis Cordick attended the Annual General Meeting of Heritage Canada in New Brunswick to accept the prestigious national Prince of Wales Prize on behalf of the Town of Perth.

The Prince of Wales Prize is awarded annually by the Heritage Canada Foundation to a community that demonstrates outstanding stewardship of built heritage. Perth’s 19th-century mills and factory buildings along the Tay River, Victorian storefronts, and grand homes reflect its rich history and the craftsmanship of the Scottish stonemasons who built them.

Perth was the first community to participate in Heritage Canada’s Main Street program in the 1980s, led by John Stewart. This initiative sparked decades of preservation efforts. According to Peter Code of the Perth Historical Society, who nominated Perth for the award, "we're fortunate that we had the fabric and had only to strip off the outer layer to reveal the beauty beneath."

The Heritage Canada Foundation award jury also highlighted the role of Algonquin College’s Heritage Institute, which has been teaching heritage carpentry and masonry in Perth since 1989. The jury praised the restoration projects completed by students, noting that their work has further strengthened the town’s commitment to conservation.

Established in 1999, the Prince of Wales Prize honors municipal governments for their dedication to preserving heritage buildings. Previous recipients include Markham, ON; Victoria, BC; Saint John, NB; and Quebec City.

Perth received a plaque, framed scroll, and pennant bearing the insignia of the Prince of Wales and the Heritage Canada Foundation. The award was presented at a ceremony on September 10, 2004, in Saint John, and the plaque is now on permanent display at Town Hall.