19th edition of the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign - A Westmount
gem chosen as the Maison coup de coeur for 2009

MONTREAL , Nov. 13 /CNW Telbec/ - The house that won the public's heart and received the most votes as part of the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign 2009 is located at 12, avenue Aberdeen. The Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay, congratulated the owners of the property, Anna-Maria Griffin and Richard Pinchuk, for their exemplary contribution to preserving architectural heritage in Montréal.

"Architectural heritage is one of the distinctive elements of our city and it highlights the authenticity of neighbourhoods throughout the island. This is why the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign is such an important annual awareness campaign. It is an opportunity for homeowners to enhance the architectural value of their properties through regular maintenance and built heritage preservation, giving them a sense of pride in their neighbourhoods and adding to our collective wealth," said Mayor Tremblay .

The results of the vote were revealed today as part of a ceremony held at the Youville Pumping Station of the Pointe-à-Callière Museum attended by Pierre Bernardin , associate director general and director of the city's Service de la mise en valeur du territoire et du patrimoine, and Dinu Bumbaru, policy director, Héritage Montréal Foundation. The public was asked to vote for one of the five finalist homes pre-selected from among 22 winning properties of a 2009 Heritage Emeritus Award given by a jury of experts in the field of architecture. Some 10,000 votes were received this year.

This year's superb gem

The superb home has been exceptionally well maintained by its owners Anna-Maria Griffin and Richard Pinchuk. The Tudor-style residence was built in 1895 according to the plans of architect Robert Findlay . It features half-timbering, pinnacle-roof tower and double entry doors with transom window. The handicraft work is evident where the dormers and roof meet.

The other four finalist properties are located at 27-29, avenue Hudson (Town of Mount Royal); 58-60, rue Guilbault Ouest (Plateau-Mont-Royal borough); 19, avenue Lakebreeze (City of Pointe-Claire), and 6220, rue Chatelain (Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough).

The La maison coup de coeur contest of the 19th Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign is organized by the Ville de Montréal and Héritage Montréal Foundation, with the valuable support of Québec's ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine, La Presse and Historia.

For more information on the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign, please visit: www.operationpatrimoine.com.

Photo available on request, November 13 , starting at 2 p.m. Please contact Jean-Jacques Bédard, Ville de Montréal, 514 872-3393, [email protected].

For further information: Andrée Peltier, Relationniste, [phone]; Source: Martin Tremblay, Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif, [phone]