Bert Hunt Heritage Award – Richmond Hill Historical Society

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 375 Awarded 2025 Bert Hunt Heritage Award

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 375 representatives Sharon Farquharson, Poppy Chair, Ross Toms, Treasurer and Branch Historian, and Bernard de Paulsen, President with Historical Society President Jim Vollmershausen. Jim presented the Bert Hunt Heritage Award to Branch 375 at the Society's June 17, 2025 meeting. (photograph by Peter Wilson) — Royal Canadian Legion Branch 375 representatives Sharon Farquharson, Poppy Chair, Ross Toms, Treasurer and Branch Historian, and Bernard de Paulsen, President with Historical Society President Jim Vollmershausen. Jim presented the Bert Hunt Heritage Award to Branch 375 at the Society’s June 17, 2025 meeting. (photograph by Peter Wilson)

Each year the Richmond Hill Historical Society gives a community member or organization the Bert Hunt Award.

The Bert Hunt Heritage Certificate Award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the preservation of Richmond Hill’s past and efforts to raise awareness about the value of that past to the community and its citizens. Bert Hunt was recognized as a community volunteer and Citizen of the Year by both the City of Richmond Hill and the Province of Ontario as he tirelessly advocated for preserving Richmond Hill’s history. The award attempts to acknowledge the legacy Bert Hunt gifted to the City.

The Richmond Hill Historical Society wishes to honour Royal Canadian Legion Branch 375 Richmond Hill with the 2025 Bert Hunt Heritage Award. It is one of many legion branches throughout Canada that support our Veterans and current members of our Armed Forces and their families. Celebrating their 80 year anniversary, the Branch has provided the community with many services. As a self- sustaining non-profit organization, it has been an active member of the Richmond Hill community.

Since it is the World War Two, 80^th Anniversary of the Victory in Europe- May 8, 1945- it seemed poignant to remember the years of service the Legion has provided in the City of Richmond Hill. Celebrating concurrently with this historic world event it makes the value of the Legion more important as the number of veterans from that conflict are dwindling in numbers.

The Annual Poppy Drive in the Fall allows the Canadian legion to provide funds that are needed to Veterans in need. Members connect annually with local businesses to have the poppy boxes. It keeps the presence of honouring the military heritage. In addition, a Veterans Services Officer assists in helping veterans applying for benefits.

The Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph is a joint effort provided with the Legion taking an active role with the City of Richmond Hill. Remembering the contribution of local citizens who served in so many Canadian military endeavors, keeps the heritage of that commitment current. As it is well attended by people of all ages who honour that service.

The local Air Cadets for 58 years have been sponsored by the Legion. Air Cadet 778 Banshee troop parades with other members of Richmond Hill at the Remembrance Day service as well as other times during the year. Young people learning about military service providing a modern presence to the community.

Legion President Terri O’Connor embraced a program that honoured Veterans from all conflicts. No Stone Left Alone originating in Alberta is now a part of the Legion’s Annual endeavors. It means a poppy and flag are placed at the graves of such Veterans during November. Ross Toms is a Legion member who actively recruits young people who help with this important project. To date more than 2500 graves have been honoured in such a way in the Richmond Hill Area. Ross said they are always finding more graves each year that reflect the commitment of Richmond Hill residents in Canadian military service.

Coordinating with the City, the legion accepts applications for the Yonge Street Banner Program from family or community to provide a banner honouring the person’s war time service. The family provides the funds for the banner while the legion gets it made and the City puts them up during the month of November beyond November 11^th along Yonge Street in the centre of Richmond Hill.

Members of the Legion are often seen at many community events. They were active at the City of Richmond Hill’s 150^th Heritage Summit held September 10, 2024. They have made many donations to Richmond Hill’s groups and organizations over the years.

As a valued service organization in the City of Richmond Hill, the Richmond Hill Historical Society is very happy to present the Bert Hunt Heritage Certificate Award to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 375 Richmond Hill for all they have done and continue to do contributing to the conservation and preservation of Richmond Hill’s heritage by raising awareness about the value of the military heritage to the community and its citizens.

Congratulations Royal Canadian Legion Branch 375 Richmond Hill for 80 years of service to the Richmond Hill community.

2024 Bert Hunt Heritage Award Given

by Barbara Di Mambro

Image of RHHS President Jim Vollmershausen awarding the Bert Hunt Heritage Award to Vera Tachtaul at the Society's June 2024 meeting. (photograph by Chris Robart) — RHHS President Jim Vollmershausen awarding the Bert Hunt Heritage Award to Vera Tachtaul at the Society’s June 2024 meeting. (photograph by Chris Robart)

Each year the Richmond Hill Historical Society acknowledges the outstanding contributions of an individual or group in preserving and raising awareness of the value of Richmond Hill’s history, through the Bert Hunt Heritage Award.

During his lifetime, Bert Hunt made active contributions to heritage conservation efforts in Richmond Hill. As a leader in a project to preserve individual peoples’ Richmond Hill stories and his personal efforts to capture them in the hopes of creating a Richmond Hill Museum, he was an outstanding resident. He was recognized as a community volunteer and Citizen of the Year by the City of Richmond Hill and the Province of Ontario.

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is pleased to announce that the 2024 award has been bestowed on Vera Tachtaul, who began and continues to administer the highly successful and engaging Richmond Hill/GTA – Then and Now Facebook page.

In our modern world where social media has become the norm, Vera has reached out to Richmond Hill residents, past and present, for the last 12 years. With over 6,700 followers and climbing, the site has an array of historical
and nostalgic stories about people, places and events occurring in Richmond Hill over many decades. Initially Vera started with her own photos, but as interest grew, contributions are regularly received by community members.

Photos, ideas, brochures, class pictures, business memorabilia and many other items are provided by previous residents, as well as those living in the area. Stories are shared and the comments serve to enrich our history even further. The page is such an incredible opportunity to learn about the history, heritage, and the famous and not so famous people who have lived in Richmond Hill.

The Richmond Hill Historical Society posts on this page to promote all its endeavors such as monthly meetings, articles about heritage and other items of interest to the community. Meeting the criteria of tangible and intangible heritage it demonstrates all the reasons worthy of the Bert Hunt Heritage Award.

Vera Tachtaul, with her enthusiasm for history and heritage, as well as encouraging the nostalgia of family, friends and acquaintances, maintains a
vibrant, versatile place where Richmond Hill can be seen as a positive, fun and lifelong home, while providing information for so many people.

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is pleased and humbled by the work and effort by Vera. Giving her the Bert Hunt Heritage Award has been our pleasure and honour.

Previous winners: RH Presbyterian Church; RH Lawn Bowling Club; Burr House; and the Archives Committee at St. Mary’s Anglican Church.

Learn more about our Bert Hunt Heritage Award.

2023 Bert Hunt Heritage Award

The Bert Hunt Heritage Award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the preservation of Richmond Hill’s past and efforts to raise awareness about the value of that past to the community and its citizens.

The award also acknowledges the contributions made by the late Bert Hunt to heritage conservation efforts in Richmond Hill over many years. Bert Hunt was recognized as a community volunteer and Citizen of the Year by both the Town of Richmond Hill and the Province of Ontario. His advocacy for a new museum in Richmond Hill was instrumental in launching a Museum Feasibility Study that saw widespread consultations and a final report that was accepted by Town council and now forms the basis of ongoing efforts to move towards the reality of a new Richmond Hill museum. Bert was also a leader in a project to preserve individual peoples’ stories of Richmond Hill, and his personal efforts to capture this invaluable historic resource were fundamental to its success. Bert Hunt was a tireless advocate for preserving Richmond Hill’s heritage and his contributions have been recognized on many occasions. The Bert Hunt Heritage Award is an attempt to acknowledge the legacy that is Bert Hunt’s lasting gift to our City.

The 2023 annual Bert Hunt Heritage award has been presented to the Archive Committee at St. Mary’s Anglican Church. The award was presented to David Hunt of the Archives Committee during the Richmond Hill Heritage Summit at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts on September 10, 2023.

David Hunt of the Archives Committee displays the 2023 Bert Hunt Heritage Award during the presentation on September 10, 2023. (photograph by Chris Robart)

The Archives Committee was established in 2000 to organize, preserve, and maintain materials related to the history and heritage of the Parish. The Committee recognizes that the Archives collection may be of value to historians and genealogists and attempts to educate and enrich Parishioners and the community through tours, displays, talks and programs. Over the years, the Committee has participated in numerous activities within and beyond the parish, such as Doors Open, themed presentations for Sunday School children and in-depth tours and special events for community groups.

The Committee has become the “custodian” of the historic Arnold Plot and were active participants on their Chapel restoration Committee. In addition, the Committee has also published two works: Gladdening Light: A Walk Around Guide to Our Heritage In Stained Glass, as well as St. Mary’s Anglican Church: 50th Anniversary of the New Sanctuary – 1964-2014.

Burr House Awarded 2019 Bert Hunt Heritage Award

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2019 Bert Hunt Heritage Award is Burr House.

Burr House is being recognized for the remarkable achievement of 45 years of enrichment to the community, helping to shape the Cultural Heritage of the City of Richmond Hill. From the early preservation and subsequent restoration of Burr House, established in the Town of Richmond Hill in 1974 ~ through to 2019, Burr House along with The Richmond Hill Spinners & Weavers and Hill Potters Guilds, has made an ongoing contribution to the conservation and preservation of Richmond Hill’s heritage and an effort to raise awareness about the value of that heritage to the community and its citizens, making Richmond Hill a better place.

The Guild Hall at Burr House (photograph P. Wilson)

The Society offers this award as a Public Declaration to the citizens of the City of Richmond Hill, of Burr House’s continual and ongoing cultural service to the community.

This award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the preservation of Richmond Hill’s past and efforts to raise awareness about the value of that past to the community and its citizens. It also acknowledges the contributions made by the late Bert Hunt to heritage conservation efforts in Richmond Hill over many years. For complete details about the award and the outstanding contributions of Bert, please visit our awards page.

Burr House Spinners and Weavers (Photograph P. Wilson)

The award was presented to Burr House at the Society’s Strawberry Social held on the evening of June 17th, 2019. Learn more about Burr House and all of their events and activities by visiting their website.