Guelph, Ontario - The iconic Petrie Building in downtown Guelph is one of the winners of the National Trust for Canada's "This Place Matters" crowdfunding competition.  The "Top Off the Petrie!" campaign has been awarded 1st Place Regional Prize (central region) in the Small Projects category.  The prize comes with a cash award of $15,000 in addition to the $23,000 raised through the National Trust's crowdfunding platform. The contest featured 17 large projects and 9 small projects from communities across Canada raising money to save, transform or upgrade beloved historic buildings and sites. All of the winners were announced on Monday, July 24 on thisplacematters.ca/.

The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) campaign to date combined with the This Place Matters prize money and crowd funding has achieved over 80% of its target.  Donations can still be made at petriebuilding.ca.  The ACO and local volunteers are planning a campaign wrap up fundraising event for the early Fall which will include a “sneak peak” tour of the restored interior of this iconic building.

The 1882 Petrie Building is a unique national treasure, Canada’s last remaining example of a pre-1890 machine stamped metal clad building. It was designed by architect John Day for businessman A.B. Petrie, who ran a pharmacy on the ground floor. The restoration of its ornately decorated metal facade is well underway, but the upper section of the façade, the iconic mortar and pestle with its elegant shell frame guarded by lovely lions, requires extensive and expensive restoration work to bring it back to life.

Once featured on Heritage Canada’s Ten Most Endangered Places list, this former eyesore is now being carefully restored by Tyrcathlen Partners. The revitalized Petrie Building will soon be an exciting hub of commercial activity serving the residents of Guelph and standing as a shining example of what a community can accomplish when it shares a commitment to keep its history alive.