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Home and Garden awards recognize Powell River residents’ restoration efforts

Event celebrates Townsite’s ongoing beautification
Townsite Heritage Home and Garden Awards
PROPERTY PRIDE: Townsite Heritage Home and Garden Award winners [front row from left] Carol Wyatt, Maria Sturam, Florence Berube and Chloe Smith. [Back row from left] Jim Wyatt, Mike Gauthier, Derek Lunn, Inge Norris and Renate Letts. Contributed photo

A venerable Townsite tradition was celebrated at the annual Home and Garden Awards tea held by Townsite Heritage Society at Henderson House Living Museum recently.

A Powell River Company institution started in the years just before World War 1, and revived by the society in 1992, this marked the 27th year of acknowledging and encouraging Townsite homeowners and gardeners in their pursuit of neighbourhood beautification.

The original Powell River Company awards focused on the gardens and boulevards created by their worker tenants and provided some pretty swank prizes, like a month of free rent, or the equivalent of gift certificates at the company store, or gardening equipment.

The homes were maintained in spanking order by the mill tradesmen and the old-timers talk about the first signs of spring each year would be seeing the skid shacks being towed up the hill to whichever block was going to receive the attentions of the plumbers, electricians, carpenters and painters that season.

Now, after years of being treated by many owners like “Dogpatch,” the remarkable efforts by the Townsite homeowners in restoration and maintenance are a cause for celebration every year.

To inspire even more homeowners to become part of the Townsite renaissance, the Townsite Heritage Society identifies an outstanding home in three categories each year: Grand Heritage, acknowledging a building that has retained (or has had restored) its original siding, windows, façade, et cetera; Grand General, acknowledging a building and grounds that may not be original but is exceptionally well maintained; and Most Improved, celebrating the rescue of a heritage building and grounds, which contributes to the beautification of the neighbourhood.

Some years it’s a tough call for the judges with so many excellent candidates, others, it’s a more obvious choice, but every year there are homes to celebrate. The garden awards are similar to the company’s traditional categories, with a nod to changing times and the inclusion of Best Commercial and Best Garden Structure along with Best Vegetable Garden, Best Containers, Best Mixed Border, and Best Garden Overall, et cetera.

Some years there may be no real contender in a category; other years there may be an embarrassment of riches or choices. Every year, however, the society feels that it is a rare privilege to encourage and acknowledge these hardworking neighbours with a plaque or certificate and gift certificates from its partners in Townsite revival: Rona, Springtime Nursery and Mother Nature.

The heritage society encourages residents to drive by and take a look at these remarkable homes and gardens: the best way is to plan to take time to follow a different route to and from town through Townsite throughout the spring and summer in order to keep an eye on all the improvements. This is how the judges keep up with all the remarkable changes taking place in our National Historic District, too.