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Statement
to the Ontario Legislature, December 7, 2011
BELLEVUE HOUSE
Mr. Taras
Natyshak: I rise today to commend the efforts and
the successful initiatives of the dedicated members
of the Amherstburg Heritage Committee.
The historic
Bellevue House, which dates back to 1816, was named
as one of this country's top 10 endangered places
by the Heritage Canada Foundation. It remains so to
this day; however, the Friends of Bellevue, a small
but passionate group of local residents, are determined
to help restore Bellevue House to its former glory.
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On Thursday,
December 1, a new plaque was installed by Parks Canada and
the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada on the Bellevue
property in Amherstburg. The plaque was a replacement for
one stolen from the site over two years ago. Public access
has been improved by placement of the new plaque in the public
right-of-way in front of the property near a public bench,
rather than at the previous site, at the top of the private
driveway.
The plaque emphasizes
the age of the building, the first significant estate built
immediately following the war of 1812; its rare architectural
features, unique to this region at the time of construction;
and the fact that so many of those features have survived
to our day.
With the bicentennial
upon us, I urge the government to join with the Friends of
Bellevue and work towards restoring this jewel in the crown
of the province's historically significant buildings. It is
a reminder of our debt to those who resettled here following
that devastating war and our obligation to preserve and revive
this outstanding property.
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TARAS NATYSHAK ADDRESSES THE ONTARIO LEGISLATURE RE: THE HISTORIC