Dundas historian Clare Crozier was an honoured guest at the heritage awards evening, hosted by Hamilton’s municipal heritage committee at the Ancaster Old Town Hall.

Crozier was presented a lifetime achievement award by the municipal committee on Feb. 17. Two days later he received the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement in a special ceremony at Queen’s Park.

Crozier’s heritage contributions include his service as a member of the Cross-Melville Heritage District committee, the Dundas Museum and Archives and the Dundas Valley Historical Society. He has written news articles, and contributed to the Dundas Museum's collection of memorabilia and photographs.

The heritage committee also presented a lifetime achievement award to Charles Doubrough for his contributions to Westfield Heritage Village.

Youth volunteer Olivia Newport received an individual award for her work with the Griffin House national historic site in Ancaster, the Glanbrook Heritage Society and a research project on Adelaide Hunter Hoodless. Olivia also represented the Hamilton region at the 2009 National Historica Fair in Ottawa.

Olivia has been recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Young Heritage Leaders program which celebrates youth achievements in preserving, protecting and promoting local heritage.

Two Ancaster properties were cited for Heritage Property Awards by demonstrating outstanding contributions to the conservation, restoration and preservation of Hamilton’s built heritage.

The Ancaster Old Mill, at 548 Old Dundas Road, was built in 1863 as a replacement grist mill for the original 1790 structure. It now includes the mill, the former miller’s house and stables. The property was historically designated in 1990 and now includes a restaurant and banquet centre.

The Shaver family homestead, at 1166 Garner Rd. W., includes a collection of farm buildings and the two-story, 1856 farmhouse of William Shaver, who purchased the land in 1811.

The property is still owned and maintained by the family’s sixth generation, Jack and Shirley Cranston.

Other property awards were presented for an 1862 Georgian style house at 429 7th Concession, Flamborough, the Mark Preece Family House in Hamilton, originally built in 1876, Hamilton’s Victoria Hall and the Nash-Jackson House, a two-storey Georgian-style frame house built circa 1818.

Heritage property plaques for 2010 were presented for seven properties. They include:

• The 1922 Waterdown Memorial Hall located at 317 Dundas Street East, Waterdown,

• 140 Erie Avenue, Hamilton, a two and one-half storey brick residential building,

• The 1892 commercial brick building, at 320 King Street East, Hamilton,

• Binbrook Memorial Hall, 2600 Highway 56, Binbrook,

• 281 Herkimer Street, containing the former Bank of Hamilton branch building and

•166 Charlton Avenue, Hamilton, an example of a vernacular interpretation of a Regency style stone home. It was built in 1856 for Judge Alexander Logie.