The Ontario Senior Achievement Awards recognize people who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. For 2024, Rideau Lakes resident and author Diane Haskins of Freeland was one of 22 people selected to receive this prestigious provincial award. Ms. Haskins was recognized as a dedicated heritage preservationist and community leader, having devoted over 50 years to the documentation and celebration of local history. 

Diane Haskins is a true community champion. As an individual, Diane is incredibly passionate about preserving and sharing knowledge for the expressed purpose of community building. Over these last 5 decades, Ms. Haskins has made significant contributions to the community of Rideau Lakes. From her early work to establish library services and the documentation of heritage buildings, to her dedication as a founding member of multiple heritage organizations including the Rideau Lakes Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, heritage societies in Elgin, Portland and Newboro.

Through these community-led volunteer groups established between 2003 and 2023 (20 years) Diane Haskins rallied support for the common goal to save heritage buildings in small villages and hamlets which has effectively brought communities together in preserving the history that is near and dear to the hearts of residents.

In Elgin, Diane has been instrumental in the notable restoration of the Red Brick School at 3 Halladay Street. As a result of successful fundraising efforts, this designated heritage building now functions as the Elgin and Area Heritage Society's (EAHS) headquarters, a place of education for hundreds of school children in a replica turn-of-the-century classroom, an exhibit space, a location for commemorative benches, a historic landmark and a cultural centre for the community.

One of Diane’s major accomplishments in partnership with the Portland on the Rideau Heritage Society (PRHS) was the acquisition of the Emmanuel Church Building on Highway 15 to create the Emmanuel Heritage Centre; a heritage building that welcomes visitors and new residents to the area with events, outdoor markets, exhibits and acts as a gathering place. Diane has personally led the charge of maintaining a sense of place in Portland, a thriving tourist village on the Big Rideau. As the village core changes from general stores, banks, and boat building shops to private residences, the PRHS focuses on documenting, collecting, and preserving the history of the village of Portland and the Big Rideau Lake area.

Further, Diane’s expertise and intent to preserve built and social heritage drove the establishment of the Newboro and Area Heritage Society (NAHS), and as one of their first orders of business, Ms. Haskins was able to realize her vision as NAHS entered into a partnership with Parks Canada to reopen the Newboro Block House after 25 years.

Diane’s hands-on research and writing efforts include publishing, “My Own Four Walls”, a book (1985) detailing heritage buildings in the former Bastard and South Burgess Township and a second book entitled, “Do You Mind the Time When…” (1994) for the 200th anniversary of the same township, home to the villages of Delta and Portland. In addition, Diane has successfully developed and written content for Heritage Walking and Driving Tours, and at least 5 heritage storyboards now installed in the historic villages of Elgin and Newboro, and the hamlet of Morton.

Having created multiple historical publications and displays, organized major heritage events and a remarkable multi-faceted 40-foot exhibit in the “Heritage Tent” at both the 2006 and 2022 International Plowing Match, Diane continues to unify communities through her tireless efforts to preserve and share local history.

In recent years, a project to identify a series of Historic Settlements was spearheaded by Diane through the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, now featured on the Rideau Lakes website, identified on the Rideau Lakes Heritage Road Map, and in 2025, all 17 Signs will have been installed throughout the Township completing this multi-year project.

Returning this year with “Doors Open Rideau Lakes” taking place on August 16 and 17, 2025, Diane coordinated the Doors Open event 5 times between 2006 and 2017 to highlight the area as a tourist destination and showcase the outstanding heritage properties in Rideau Lakes.

And there’s more…. Diane’s participation in a millennium project marked the beginnings of daffodil planting in 1999, which later became the Township’s claim to fame as the “Daffodil Capital of Ontario” celebrated to this day with Daffodil Days; an annual event held during blooming season from mid-April to mid-May. This interest in beautification led her entry into the Communities in Bloom program (2004-2005).

A highlight of her impressive career might be the year of 1984 when she received the Bicentennial Medal from the province of Ontario.

“The timing of this special occasion is serendipitous, as just last year Keith and I decided that we would establish a volunteer award to be conferred upon a student graduating from Rideau District High School (RDHS). That initial presentation will take place at the RDHS commencement event on Thursday, June 26, the day after I will have experienced similar acknowledgement.” remarks Ms. Haskins.

Diane’s contributions show longevity and a positive impact that continues to grow. Ms. Haskins has demonstrated tremendous leadership and her vision to build communities has resulted in community revitalization through built heritage preservation, experience development through exhibits and events, as well as product development through programs that highlight elements of our historically significant region.

https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1006104/2024-ontario-senior-achievement-award-recipients.

Background

1970s - Establishment of coordinated regional Library Services

It all started in the early 70’s when Diane was called to join as a key member of an organizing committee for a campaign to establish a county-wide library in Leeds County. By travelling throughout the county and speaking to various groups and political leaders, she successfully sought and obtained the support of the Bastard and South Burgess Township Council to offer library services in the Township. The committee then worked to establish a successful union library system in lieu of a county-based library. One of few existing union libraries in the province, this collaboration represented an amalgamation of resources from 5 municipalities to provide coordinated library services – a forerunner to the 1998 amalgamation of what is now the Township of Rideau Lakes.
In 1975, a remarkable feat for the Rideau Lakes Union Library Board was the simultaneous opening of 5 new libraries. Ms. Haskins served as one of 2 representatives from the former township of Bastard and South Burgess on the Rideau Lakes Union Library Board for a period of 10 years and acted as chairperson for 5 of those years.

1980s – Created inventories of Heritage Buildings in three Townships

In 1979-1980, Diane successfully approached the South Crosby Township Council with the offer to supervise an inventory of heritage buildings as the provincial government at the time was offering grants for this purpose. A 2-year project, whereby Ms. Haskins identified buildings of significance, assisted in the hiring of the students, and supervised the project on a regular basis to create the inventory of heritage buildings.

In 1981, Diane continued, offering to supervise the development of an inventory of heritage buildings for the Village of Newboro and completed the task in just one year. Following that project, Ms. Haskins kept the success of these programs rolling by making the offer to Bastard and South Burgess Township and completing a 2-year project in 1982-1983.

It was in 1983 that Ms. Haskins approached Bastard and South Burgess Township Council to establish a Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC), that operates today as the Rideau Lakes Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC). In the same year, Diane obtained the financial support of the Bastard and South Burgess Township Council to publish a book on the heritage buildings of Bastard and South Burgess entitled, “My Own Four Walls” published in 1985. On LACAC, Diane served as chairperson for 10 years, during which time the first heritage designations were made. As chair, Ms. Haskins supervised the development of two driving tour booklets and several village walking tours that are the basis for the current Heritage Walking and Driving Tours that we enjoy today.

In 1984, Diane Haskins was awarded the Bicentennial Medal from the Province of Ontario. She had been nominated by the Council of Bastard and South Burgess Township for her outstanding contributions in the preservation of local heritage.

1990s – Genesis of the Daffodil Capital of Ontario

Further to her book published in 1985, Diane wrote 'Do You Mind the Time When...' in 1993-1994 for the 200th anniversary of the Township of Bastard and South Burgess.

In 1999 Diane was a founding member of the Bastard and South Burgess Heritage Society (B & SB).

As a millennium project that began in 1999 with the planting of daffodils beside Freeland Road, ongoing annual plantings have given rise to the Township’s claim to fame as the Daffodil Capital of Ontario, with thousands of blooms each spring. Daffodil Days is celebrated during the blooming season from Mid-April to Mid-May.

2000s – Emergence of Heritage Societies
In 2003, Diane was an active member of the successful ad hoc group that was formed to seek an improved design for the Elgin Community Hall, which resulted in the present configuration that was based upon features of the historic Red Brick School.
In the same year, Ms. Haskins participated in the creation of the Elgin and Area Heritage Society (EAHS), one of its key roles being the restoration of the Red Brick School in the village of Elgin.
From 2004 to present, Diane created and continues to work on the Rural School project to document those who attended or taught in the approximately 70 one-room and two-room schools which once existed in Rideau Lakes Township, including the compilation of hundreds of pre-1965 photographs and documents.
In 2004, 2005, Ms. Haskins was a member of the Rideau Lakes Communities in Bloom program and completed two community profile books for the initiative.
In 2006, Diane assisted in the organization of the initial meetings of the North Leeds Heritage group representing heritage organizations in North Leeds, now the Leeds County Heritage Network (LCHN).
In 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, Ms. Haskins initiated and chaired the Doors Open program in Rideau Lakes Township, which is making a comeback this year on August 16 and 17, 2025. Diane’s home is a site on the tour, the historic Samuel Poole House in Freeland.
In 2006, 2007 and 2022, Diane chaired and organized the highly successful Heritage Tent exhibits for the International Plowing Match in partnership with LCHN.
In 2008, Ms. Haskins was a founding member of the Portland on the Rideau Historical Society (PRHS).