Significant Acton Landmark Receives Heritage Designation

HALTON HILLS, ON – Built in 1879, the manor known as Sunderland Villa at the corner of Mill Street East and John Street in the community of Acton has been a landmark since its construction. Following a thorough research and evaluation process, review with the Town’s Heritage Committee, and staff reports recommending designation, Town Council passed a by-law at its meeting of February 12, 2024 to designate the property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Along with ensuring this heritage resource is conserved for future generations, designation entitles the property owner to the benefits and programs that the Town has available to support owners of cultural heritage resources. This includes the Heritage Property Grant Program and the Heritage Property Tax Refund Program, both of which provide financial assistance for the Town’s designated properties.

Sunderland Villa, now known as Mackinnon Family Funeral Home, was the first residence in Acton to be heated by steam as owner and entrepreneur William Heslop Storey had steam piped from his glove factory, Canada Glove Works, to heat his home. The home is an excellent example of the Queen Anne Style, popular amongst the wealthy upper middle classes due to its impressive features, and is unique within the community. Since its early residential use, the home has also served as a boarding house and hotel for veterans following WWI through the Great War Veterans Association. The house has also served as a funeral home since 1937, with several notable funeral home directors associated with the property including Victor and Alice Rumley, Bruce and Rhoda Shoemaker, and Bob and Margaret Mackinnon.

The current owner Dignity Memorials’ Managing Director for Ontario South, Jay Branton, is supportive of the designation which allows the continued conservation of the property. “The Sunderland Villa at 55 Mill Street East, now our MacKinnon Family Funeral Home, is a unique and prominent place for the community of Acton to come together to honour their loved ones. We are committed to be respectful of the building's architecture, so the funeral home can continue to serve today's families while reflecting the cherished backstory of days gone by.”

“The walls of Sunderland Villa could tell many a story," said Mayor Ann Lawlor. “By designating this fabulous heritage site, we ensure that Acton’s historic chronicles will continue to be told.”

The Town continues its work to research and evaluate the properties on its Heritage Register in hopes of designating the most significant cultural heritage resources in the community for their long-term conservation.

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto. The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

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