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Notice of intention to designate under the Ontario Heritage Act

Location of subject lands: 291 Broadway

Take notice that The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Orangeville intends to designate the above noted property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18., as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

Description of property

291 Broadway is located on the north side of Broadway between Clara Street and Ada Street within the Town of Orangeville, Ontario. The property contains a two and one-half storey residence and a rear outbuilding.

Statement of cultural heritage value or interest

The property has design and physical value as it is a representative example of an Ontario vernacular residence with Gothic Revival detailing built in 1876. The Gothic Revival design elements of 291 Broadway include its gables with decorative bargeboard, pendant, and a central arch window, and bay windows. The property at 291 Broadway also contains a representative late 19th carriage house structure.

The property has direct historical associations with Thomas Bowles, a significant local politician. Thomas Bowles was, at various points, a member of the Council of the Township of Chinguacousy, Reeve of the Township of Chinguacousy, and Warden of the County of Peel. In 1881, after the creation of the County of Dufferin, Bowles was appointed Sheriff by Premier Sir Oliver Mowat. Bowles was also the grandfather of the 14th Prime Minister of Canada, Lester Bowles Pearson. Pearson’s memoirs partially attribute his interest in politics to the work of his grandfather.

Property’s heritage attributes

The property at 291 Broadway is a representative examples of an Ontario vernacular residence with Gothic Revival detailing, which contains the following heritage attributes that exhibit this value:

  • two and one-half storey structure with a cross-gable roof
  • red brick exterior
  • stone foundation
  • segmental arch window openings with brick voussoirs and stone sills
  • elements of the south and east façades, comprising:
  • projecting two and one-half storey gable bays with decorative bargeboard and downward facing pendant
  • arched window with a brick arch and stone sill in the gable peaks
  • bay windows
  • partial width front porch with red brick piers with wooden doric columns, wooden spindles, wooden dentils and brackets, and gabled entry peak
  • representative example of a late 19th century stable structure:
  • one- and one-half storey structure with a side facing gable roof
  • red brick exterior

Submitting an objection to this notice

Any person who objects to this proposed designation may, no later than 4 p.m. on September 24, 2026, give the Town Clerk, a Notice of Objection, setting out their reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. Objections can be submitted to [email protected] or delivered in-person to the clerk’s office at Town Hall, 87 Broadway, Orangeville.

If no objection is received within the designated period, Council may consider and pass a bylaw designating this property under Part IV of the Act.

If a Notice of Objection is received, the Council of the Town of Orangeville will consider the objection on or before December 23, 2026 and make a decision to withdraw this intention to designate the property, or pass a bylaw to designate the property.

For more information

For more information about this matter, including information about the property’s heritage attributes and cultural heritage value or interest, contact the Planning division in person at Town Hall, by phone at 519-941-0440 ext. 2228 or electronically at [email protected] during regular office hours.