Bell Homestead NHS receives OPWA Project of the Year Award

BRANTFORD, ON – The City of Brantford is pleased to share that the Bell Homestead National Historic Site was awarded the 2026 Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) Project of the Year Award in the Historical Restoration/Preservation category. The award was presented at the OPWA Awards Luncheon held Wednesday, May 13 in Mississauga. City of Brantford staff were recognized adding a historically accurate faux chimney to the Henderson House located on the Bell Homestead NHS property at 94 Tutela Heights Road.

“It has been an incredible privilege to accept the OPWA Project of the Year Award,” said Robert Stanczyk, Curator at the Bell Homestead NHS. “A lot of logistics and planning occurred over the past year to bring the Bell Homestead NHS’s Henderson Home back to historical accuracy.”

In 2025, the Bell Homestead NHS’s past curator Brian Wood and City of Brantford’s Project Management Specialist, Amanda Anderson, managed the construction and logistics to restore a section of the 19th-century appearance of Henderson House located on the property. The primary goal was to add a chimney that had been lost or removed at some point in the home's history. To ensure historical accuracy, the team researched archival photographs to identify the exact style, height, and placement of the original structure on the Henderson House roofline. In addition, to match the historical fabric of the region, the chimney was crafted using recycled Ontario-size buff bricks sourced from within the region. These local materials were used to create a custom faux chimney that serves as a lightweight, non-functional feature. This restoration mimics the original look while protecting the structural components of the roof.

By returning the Henderson House to its authentic historical profile, this restoration honours the building’s significant legacy as Canada’s first telephone office.

The OPWA Project of the Year Awards promotes excellence in Public Works management by recognizing the teamwork required to bring a difficult project to completion. To qualify for the award in the Historical Restoration/Preservation category, buildings or structures must be at least 75 years old and within this award, a specific section recognizes the restoration and preservation of historical sites. The Historical Restoration/Preservation category encompasses a wide range of preservation efforts, including projects that restore original architectural features or creatively adapt existing facilities for modern uses.

Photo caption (below left to right): The Bell Homestead National Historic Site’s Henderson Home pictured in 2026 featuring a newly restored faux chimney and the Henderson Home pictured in 1969 featuring the original chimney.

 

Photo caption (top of page): City of Brantford staff accepting their 2026 Project of the Year Award in the Historical Restoration/Preservation category at the 2026 Ontario Public Works Association Awards Luncheon. (Left to right: Lori-Dawn Cavin, Manager of Community Recreation and Events, City of Brantford, Brian Wood, Bell Homestead NHS retired Curator, Kimberley Wyskiel, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Brantford, Amanda Anderson, Project Management Specialist, City of Brantford, Robert Stanczyk, Bell Homestead NHS Curator.)

About the Bell Homestead National Historic Site

The Bell Homestead is a National Historic Site and the family home of Alexander Graham Bell. Located in Brantford, the Bell Homestead NHS is where Bell invented the telephone in 1874. The site preserves nationally significant buildings, artefacts and stories, celebrating Brantford’s role in one of history’s most important technological breakthroughs.