ELORA – Centre Wellington council is taking steps to designate Pierpoint Fly Fishing Nature Reserve a significant cultural heritage landscape under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The site, located at 255 Lamond St., Fergus, was one of the first Black settlements in Ontario. It once belonged to Richard Pierpoint, who was born in 1744 in the Bundu region of what is now Senegal.
When Pierpoint was 16 years old he was captured, enslaved, brought to North America, and bought by a British officer.
He fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War in 1780 and again in the war of 1812.
As a reward, he was granted 100 acres of land on the outskirts of Fergus – the land that is now the Pierpoint Fly Fishing Nature Reserve.
The site belongs to Centre Wellington Township and is open to all with no entrance fees.
In April, Pierpoint Fly Fishing Nature Reserve was added to Centre Wellington’s Cultural Heritage Landscape inventory and the township’s Cultural Heritage Landscapes official plan amendment project.
The provincial designation will go a step further to recognize the nature reserve’s importance to the local community, protect its cultural heritage value, encourage stewardship and conservation, promote knowledge and understanding, and protect the site in perpetuity.
The township retained ASI Heritage Consultants to research and evaluate the property, and the consultants recommended provincial designation.
On Sept. 25 council voted to serve a notice of intention to designate the site as a significant cultural heritage landscape pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act.
Following a 30-day appeal period, township staff will prepare a designation by-law, the final step before listing the reserve on the provincial registrar of heritage properties.
Centre Wellington council is also establishing a Pierpoint Community Working Group that will advise the township on stewardship of the nature reserve and how to commemorate and tell Pierpoint’s story. It will also manage communications such as social media, signage and public events.
The group will include at least one person from the Centre Wellington Black Committee, the Pierpoint Neighbourhood Group, and the Wellington County Museum and Archives, in addition to up to two other interested parties.
The township is encouraging people of all ages to join the working group, including high school students.
To apply, complete a self-nomination form on the township’s website.
