Notice of Passing – Ontario Heritage Act: St. Johns Common School and Historic Mill

Take notice that at its meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Council of the Thorold has passed By-law No. 37-2026 to designate the St. Johns Common School and the Street/Haney/Miller Mill, municipally known as 3054 Orchard Hill Drive, as properties of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Located within the historic St. Johns Centre area adjacent to Short Hills Provincial Park, the structures are recognized for their cultural heritage value and their contribution to Thorold’s rural, educational, and industrial history.

Together, the St. Johns Common School and the Street/Haney/Miller Mill reflect the evolution of the area from an early settlement into a mid-19th century Centre of Education and small-scale industry. Both structures retain important heritage attributes and continue to contribute to the cultural landscape and history of the Short Hills area.

The designation recognizes the property’s significance under Ontario Regulation 9/06 in the areas of design and physical value, historical and associative value, and contextual value.

The City retained a qualified cultural heritage professional to complete a Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report for the property, which was reviewed by Heritage Thorold. Following issuance of a Notice of Intention to Designate in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, no objections were received during the statutory notice period.

Designation helps ensure the long-term conservation and protection of the property’s identified heritage attributes.

Appeal Information

Any person who objects to By-law No. 37-2026 may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal by giving written notice of appeal, setting out the reasons for the objection, and all relevant facts, to the City Clerk within thirty (30) days after the publication of this Notice of Passage.

As per Section 29 (Subsection 5) of Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, a person who objects to the bylaw may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal by giving the Tribunal and the City Clerk (within 30 days after the date the notice of the bylaw passing is published) a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the bylaw and the reasons in support of the objection accompanied by the fee charged by the Tribunal.

A notice of appeal may be filed with the City Clerk either via the Ontario Land Tribunal e-file service (first-time users will need to register for a My Ontario Account), by selecting City of Thorold as the Approval Authority, or by mail to: P.O. Box 1044, 3540 Schmon Parkway, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026. The filing of an appeal after 4:00 p.m., in person or electronically, will be deemed to have been received the next business day. The appeal fee can be paid online through e-file or by credit card/certified cheque/money order to the Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario. If you wish to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) or request a fee reduction for an appeal, forms are available from the OLT website at www.olt.gov.on.ca. If the e-file portal is down, you can submit your appeal to clerk@thorold.ca. 

Appeals must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026.

For more information, contact:

Nicholas Debono, City Clerk
City of Thorold

Phone: 905-227-6613 ext. 270
Email: clerk@thorold.ca

If no appeals are received within the prescribed appeal period, By-law No. 37-2026 will come into force and effect and will be registered on title to the property in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.