Arts and Culture

Throughout history, North Perth, especially Listowel, has been prone to flooding due to the Maitland River travelling through Listowel's downtown core. Many early records of the Town of Listowel were destroyed in the flood of 1948.

The original Listowel conduit was built following the 1948 flood. The purpose of the conduit is for water to flow from the north end of Listowel to the south end as quickly as possible, while minimizing flooding.

The conduit was rebuilt between 1986 and 1990 in partnership with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. This was a major infrastructure project that required buildings to be moved in Listowel's downtown core to make way for construction. In recent years, the conduit has been rehabilitated through various projects to ensure its effectiveness.

The Listowel Memorial Arena collapse was a tragic event that demonstrated the North Perth community's ability to come together and support one another in times of need.

The roof of the Listowel Memorial Arena collapsed on the morning of Saturday, February 28, 1959 during a PeeWee hockey practice. Seven players (Jack Rheubottom, Bryan Seehaver, Ricky Kaufman, Barry Smith, Keith Wight, Kenneth Hymers and James Hastings) and their recreation director, Ken McLeod, lost their lives. The lobby, and those watching from within, was left untouched.

On the previous evening, the town had held its annual ice carnival in the arena and the ice was packed. Had the disaster occurred that evening, no home in the community would have escaped unharmed.

One of the heroes of the tragedy was Coach Norm Stirling. In the split second that the rood was falling, he grabbed and carried two players to the ice and took cover at the north sideboards. All three survived.

To honour and remember those lost, a memorial display case was hung in the lobby of the rebuilt Listowel Memorial Arena. The display has now been transferred to the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex following the closure of Listowel Memorial Arena. A memorial stone, engraved with the names and faces of those losts, stands outside the North Perth Public Library Listowel branch.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragedy in 2009, a crest was designed by a former resident. The crest, which is used today to educate our youth on the tragedy and ensure the memory lives on, has been sewn to the jersey of every Listowel minor hockey and Jr. B player. The crest is painted on the ice surface and displayed on rink boards at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex.

As part of provincial initiatives in the late 1990s, the Government of Ontario pursued a policy of municipal amalgamations to rationalize municipal levels of government service. The Province believed amalgamations would eliminate waste and duplication between overlapping or neighbouring local governments.

On June 26, 1997, an order from the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs for the amalgamation of Wallace Township, Elma Township and the Town of Listowel into the Municipality of North Perth received Royal Assent. The amalgamation came into effect on January 1, 1998 and the Municipality of North Perth was formed.

The creation of the Municipality of North Perth crest aimed to include the history of Elma, Listowel and Wallace, as well as their future as one. The three flames of the North Perth torch represent the Townships of Elma and Wallace and Town of Listowel joining in unity as North Perth. The torch is symbolic of building upon our past for the prosperity of our future.

Many heroes in Elma, Listowel and Wallace served and sacrificed their lives during the wars of the 20th century. The Listowel and Atwood Cenotaphs honour and remember soldiers lost in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. An Afghanistan War Memorial was placed at the Listowel Cenotaph in 2017.

Andrew McKeever became one of the greatest two-seater pilots in the history of aviation. He was born and raised in Elma Township. McKeever survived the war, but after coming home passed away from complications resulting from a car accident. His funeral was conducted with every honour accorded to the highest military official in the British Army.

Fred “Cyclone” Taylor is North Perth’s very own hockey all-star.

Arriving in Listowel in 1891, 5-year old Taylor refined his hockey skills on the frozen Maitland River. Taylor would skate to school every day during winter.

Taylor went on to play for junior, intermediate, and professional teams across Canada and in the USA.

As a defenseman for the Ottawa Hockey Club, Taylor earned the nickname “Cyclone” through his ability to use his speed to jump into offensive rushes. Taylor was a top scorer, won two Stanley Cups, and continuously selected for the All-Star Team.

Throughout his hockey career, Taylor worked for the Government of Canada. He eventually became the Commissioner of Immigration for British Columbia and the Yukon.

In 1945, “Cyclone” Taylor was elected as a charter member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also given the honour of turning the sod for the construction of the Hockey Hall of Fame building that opened in 1961. In 1966, Taylor was inducted into Canada’s Hockey Hall of Fame.

In tribute to his impressive hockey career and childhood roots, all Listowel hockey teams have carried the name “Cyclones” since 1974.

Horatio Walker was a self-taught, widely respected and commercially successful Canadian painter. He worked with oils and watercolours, often depicting scenes of rural life in Canada.

Horatio was born in May 1858 in Listowel. His father, Thomas Walker, built his home on the site of John Binning’s original log cabin. Walker’s home is now known as the Hardwood Haven, located on Main Street West. Walker built the original part of the house.

At the age of 15, Horatio moved to Toronto to apprentice in the art field.

Binning was born in 1812 in England. He made his way to Canada after serving in the army for many years. He first settled in Hamilton, and then in 1852 made his way to the Queen’s bush with his first wife and young son. The family eventually came upon a deserted shack.

Even though the shack was deserted, Binning felt the need to try to find the original owner. After many weeks of searching, he learned a man surnamed Henry had occupied the shack and claimed the land. After some continued searching, Binning was able to locate Henry and made a deal with Henry for 200 acres of land, stretching from the corner of Main St. W. and Wallace Ave. N. to the property of what is now Hardwood Haven (555 Main St. W.). Binning offered Henry a gun as payment and the agreement was written by the point of a burnt stick on a piece of birch bark.

W.H. Hacking was the first postmaster and general storekeeper in Listowel. The Post Office opened in 1856. There was a desire to have the Post Office and settlement called Mapleton. However, the name was already taken by our neighbours. Therefore, the name Listowel was chosen as the new name for the settlement and office. Listowel was chosen after a town in Ireland, as the majority of early settlers were of Protestant Irish origin.

John Binning was married three times. His first wife was Amy Dodds. She was Binning’s wife when he first travelled to the Queen’s bush. They had four sons and one daughter. Binning’s second wife was Jane Reynolds. She died at the age of 22 and gave birth to one son with Binning. Binning’s third wife was Sarah Cowan. They had no children.

John Binning died in 1899 at the age of 87 years. In his long life in Listowel, he was a prominent figure at Council. He had steadfast opinions and was a tower of strength to the Town’s best interests. He was one of the oldest members of Knox Presbyterian Church and deeply respected by all. He was laid to rest in the Listowel Fairview Cemetery.

John Livingstone Sr. was one of the original North Perth pioneers and a very successful businessman. He was the brother of Dr. David Livingstone, a famous African explorer.

Born in Scotland, Livingstone travelled to Canada in 1840, settling in Lanark County, where he operated a successful mercantile business for 20 years. In 1860, Livingstone moved to Listowel, where he built up a large and prosperous trade until his retirement in 1873.

Livingstone built what is now known as Livingstone Manor. The grand home was enjoyed by his family members until his son sold it to Ross Harrison in 1951. Harrison ran a funeral home there for 15 years. The Manor was then bought by David Kilberg, former Listowel Mayor, and his wife in 1966. The Kilberg’s revived the historical beauty of the Manor. In 1988, Livingstone Manor was sold to become a retirement residence with certain stipulations in order to preserve its architecture and interior elements.