Heritage Properties, Regulations, Permits

When is Permission Needed to Alter a Property?

Legislative requirements under the Ontario Heritage Act or policy requirements under the Planning Act with respect to altering a property may apply if the property contains or is adjacent to the following:

• designated property
• listed property, or
• within the Greenfield Heritage Conservation District.

A Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA) and other approvals from the Township may be required for:

• Building Permit applications

• Notice of Intent to Demolish - Section 27(3) of the Ontario Heritage Act

• Application to Demolish - Section 34(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act

• Official Plan Amendment

• Zoning By-law Amendment

• Plans of Subdivision/Condominium

• Site Plan Control

• Consent and/or Minor Variance Application

• Site Alteration

Local History

History of the Establishment of North Dumfries 

James Young wrote about the North Dumfries area in his book Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries. The land, historically known as North and South Dumfries included 94,305 acres and was given to Mr. Philip Stedman on February 5, 1798 from Colonel Joseph Brant of the Six Nations. A few years later, Mr. Stedman's sister received the property. His sister sold the property in 1811 to the Honourable Thomas Clarke. In 1816, the land was bought by the Honourable William Dickson who came to Canada from Dumfries Scotland in 1792. In July of that year, with the help of Mr. Shade from Pennsylvania, Mr. Dickson decided to start the town where the Grand River and Mill Creek intersect. Mr. Dickson had the land surveyed and named it Dumfries after his birthplace in Scotland. The first industry in the Township was Shade's Grist Mill.

In 1817 the Township had a population of 38 families, consisting of 163 people. The first houses were built of rough, unpolished logs and clay. In 1820, Mr. Dickson employed Mr. John Telfer to enlist people from Scotland to buy land in Dumfries. In an attempt to convince people to purchase his land, Mr. Dickson published articles in local newspapers in his homeland and wrote letters to important men from the old country. From 1825 to early 1832, every plot of the Dumfries land was full and dominated by Scottish residents.

History of the Establishment of Ayr

The Village of Ayr had its beginnings in 1824 when Abel Mudge built a saw mill at Smith and Cedar Creek. Originally there were two small settlements: Jedburgh and Nithvale. Nithvale is noted in Canadian history as the place where journalist and politician William Lyon Mackenzie's followers secretly met before the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. In 1840, Robert Wyllie established a post office at Mudge's Mill and renamed the settlements "Ayr."

Mr. James Somerville started the first newspaper in Ayr in 1854, while the Ayr library was built between 1849-50. The Watson Foundry was started by Mr. John Watson in 1847. Originally, the foundry produced iron pots but later expanded to manufacture stoves and agricultural equipment. Ayr businesses would transport goods by taking them to the Paris train station. This took place from 1854 to 1879, at which time the Credit Railway opened in Ayr.

The Village of Ayr was incorporated in 1884, with Mr. John Watson appointed as Reeve. On January 1, 1973, Ayr became part of the Township of North Dumfries within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

Historical Books

1. The following books can be purchased through the North Dumfries Historical Preservation Society by contacting the Ayr News:
   1. Greenfield Heritage Walking Tour
   2. Heritage Walking Tour of Roseville
   3. Heritage Walking Tour of Ayr
   4. Our Todays and Yesterdays
   5. Glimpses of the Past: History of the Current North Dumfries Township Office
2. Doors Open Waterloo Region - This free guide provides a history of the hamlet north of Ayr including the Greenfield Conservation District. Doors Open Waterloo Region is part of the Doors Open Ontario, a province-wide initiative of the Ontario Heritage Trust to celebrate community heritage and architecture.
3. Reminiscences of the Early Days of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries
4. Dickie Settlement History Book: This book can be purchased by contacting:
   1. Jeannine Babister 519-893-3544, or
   2. Ron Sage 519-623-2463

North Dumfries Historical Preservation Society 

The North Dumfries Historical Preservation Society is a volunteer organization that preserves the history and heritage of the Township of North Dumfries. This organization includes dedicated community members who collect municipal records, archives, and artifacts that are relevant to the Township's history. Their goal is to provide valuable cultural heritage information to the public.

Heritage Advisory Committee

The Township of North Dumfries Heritage Advisory Committee researches and makes recommendations to Council concerning properties and heritage conservation districts, which may be eligible for designation or listing under the Ontario Heritage Act. This committee plays an important role in the building permit and land use planning approval process. This helps ensure that cultural heritage areas of North Dumfries are protected and enhanced. Visit the Committees page to learn more.

Ontario Heritage Act, Required Approvals, and Guidelines 

Ontario Heritage Act and Your Property

The Ontario Heritage Act was established to protect and conserve significant cultural heritage properties and districts within the Province of Ontario. Part IV and Part V of the Act outline when permission may be needed to alter your property. If a property is a Designated or Listed Heritage Property, or if it is within a Conservation District, it may impact what you are allowed to do on your property.

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, Municipal Council has the authority to designate or list properties, and to create Conservation Districts that have historical and/or architectural significance.

1. Listed Properties - Ontario Heritage Act - Part IV, Section 27. Owners that have a listed property must obtain permission from the Township to demolish or remove a building or structure on the property.
2. Designated Properties - Ontario Heritage Act - Part IV, Section 33. Owners that have a designated property must obtain permission from the Township to alter the property if the alteration is likely to affect the property's heritage attributes, as set out in the description of the property's designated heritage attributes.
3. Conservation Districts  - Ontario Heritage Act - Part V, Section 42. Any owner of property situated in a conservation district must obtain a building permit issued by the Municipality for any of the following:
   1. Alter, or permit the alteration of, any part of the property, other than the interior of any structure or building on the property.
   2. Erect, demolish, or remove any building or structure on the property or permit the erection, demolition or removal of such a building or structure.

Tool Kits and Guidelines

The following Tool Kits and Guidelines are available from the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Culture:

• Heritage Property Evaluation: A guide on listing, researching and evaluating cultural heritage properties.
• Designating Heritage Properties: A guide to district designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.
• Heritage Conservation Districts: A guide to district designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.
• Heritage Resouces in Land Use Planning Process: A guide cultural heritage and the archaeological policies of the Provincial Policy Statement, issued under the Authority of the Planning Act.

Greenfield Heritage Conservation District Plan and Permit Process 

Section V of the Ontario Heritage Act allows a Municipality to designate Heritage Conservation Districts. Conservation Districts consist of a grouping of older buildings, streets, and/or landscaped open spaces of cultural heritage significance. On June 16, 2014, the Township of North Dumfries passed By-law 2633-14 under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act, to designate and protect the Greenfield Heritage Conservation District. The goal is to ensure the long-term conservation and management of cultural heritage resources including significant properties, landscapes, views and historical associations.

Greenfield is a small hamlet located northwest of the Village of Ayr, named by the early settler John Goldie. It is a historic 19^th century mill village founded by the Goldie family beside the Nith River. John Goldie came from Scotland in 1848 and had established the Greenfield Mill in 1865. 

A summary overview of the Heritage Permit process for Contributing and Non-Contributing Resources is available in the Homeowner Guide to Greenfield Heritage Conservation District brochure. 

Permit Process and Background Information 

• A Heritage Permit Application may be required to alter a property within the Greenfield Heritage Conservation District
• For more information on when a Permit is required please read, When a Permit is Required in the Greenfield Heritage Conservation District 
• The Greenfield Conservation District Plan (March 2014) is a compiled report that contains background information about the Ontario Heritage Act, Regional and Municipal Policies, and Conservation Guidelines.

Heritage Grants 

Contact Information

If you have further questions about cultural heritage and approvals, please contact the Township as follows:

• Heritage Advisory Committee

• For building permit approvals, please contact the Building Division.

• For planning approvals, please contact the Planning Division.