A Brief Note by Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper
When the late, great Peter Stokes died this summer, we at Niagara At Large were proud to pay tribute to him in an August 7th post here. And we were waiting and wondering, when is this man, who might justifiably be called the father of restoration architecture in Canada and one of this country’s most passionate advocates for preserving what is left of our manmade heritage, going to get his just due in the national media.
The lpassing of the ate, great restoration architect Peter Stokes finally gets national recognition.
Well it finally happened. This wonderful humble person and full-fledged citizen of our communities, who spent some three decades of his vital life living in Niagara, Ontario before moving to Port Hope, Ontario where he died this summer at age 87, has been honoured this past Saturday, November 9th with a full-page obituary and tribute to his life in what I still consider to be Canada’s truest national newspaper, The Globe and Mail.
One of the many truest passages in that article reads; Fuelled by his childhood experiences exploring historic abbeys, churches and museums in Britain, Mr. Stokes sought to save and restore this country’s built heritage at a time when more people were interested in progress and looking forward than preserving the past. He had no interest in building new structures that replicated 19th-century architectural styles, nor did he have patience for sloppy renovations and adaptations of old properties. Firm in his opinions, unafraid to walk away from a project that wasn’t going as he envisioned it should, he travelled the highways and byways of central and eastern Canada – often accompanied by his beloved wife, Ann – to visit and work on old buildings, consult with governments and educate the public.
We encourage you to visit the entire Globe article about this citizen who should inspire us all to become more engaged in the health and welfare of our communities by clicking on – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/architect-peter-john-stokes-brought-heritage-to-life/article15363043/
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
Peter Stokes was indeed the father of restorative architecture and he certainly should have been memorialized sooner. In fact I am hoping that his ethics and endeavors will be seen in the pages of history books so that students may become inspired and realize an interest or even a calling that will exist in perpetuity.
Another great man passed away recently and I have yet to see recognition of his great contributions in print. Perhaps I have missed this somewhere? I am speaking of Glenn Hutton who was an unforgettable man with so many talents and a rock solid social conscience. There is not enough space for me to list his accomplishments or the influences of his creative talents as well as his bottomless list of community leadership activities. It was an honour to be with his family and friends and sing at his funereal service and reception. What an incredible legacy this great “Canadian Poet” left for future generations. He truly was an inspiration!
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