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News & How-To Formerly branded as GlobalGazette.ca Articles, press releases,and how-to information for everyone interested in genealogy and history News & How-To Home Page | Archived Articles | Sign up for our free newsletter Advertisement
The Banting Homestead is now protected! Article Updated 23 November, 2007 By Dr. Peter M. Banting, Chairman, Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee
[The original Global Gazette article, informing readers about the issue and seeking assistance was published 17 May 2007. RLR] In 1999, Edward Banting, the nephew of Sir Frederick Banting died, and bequeathed the more than 100-acre Alliston, Ontario farm and birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting to the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) in the expectation that they would preserve and maintain it for the benefit of future generations. Edward also had a dream that a camp for diabetic children some day would be located on the farm. Despite income from rental of the farmland and despite offers of help from the Banting family, the OHS did not maintain the property and allowed the farmhouse and outbuildings to deteriorate. Observing this deterioration, the Town of New Tecumseth (formerly Alliston) negotiated over several years with the OHS to preserve the property, finally offering to purchase it for one million dollars. The OHS then announced it had sold the farm to a developer for $2.2 million. To save the property from being buried in a housing development, the Town served notice of “designation” as an historic site under the Ontario Heritage Act. OHS objected. As a result, the Conservation Review Board of Ontario heard arguments from both sides in September, 2007. In October, 2007 the CRB recommended that there is sufficient cultural heritage value in the property to proceed with designation. On November 12, 2007 the Town passed the “Sir Frederick Banting Homestead Designation By-law. You can read about this at the off site: Currently, the OHS is the legal owner of the property. However, designation now obligates the owner to maintain it properly, and prevents its commercial development. Many months ago, you [Global Gazette readers] wrote letters supporting our efforts to protect Sir Frederick Banting’s birthplace from being destroyed. On behalf of the Banting family, and all those who believe that the wishes of Edward Banting (who made this generous gift to the OHS) should be respected, I wish to thank you for your help. The property is now protected. Maybe now the OHS will recognize the intrinsic value of Edward’s gift. To keep abreast of any further developments, check out our Web-site. Thanks again for your help. Yours sincerely, Dr. Peter M. Banting, Chairman, Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee
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