BYLAW - Heritage Designation 14314to14378 Yonge St (Happy Woodlawn Pet Cemetery) - 20230523 - 6520-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6520-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (14314-14378 Yonge Street l'The Happy Woodfawn Pet
Cemetery").
Whereas under subsection 29(1 ) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18, as
amended, the council of a municipality may, by by-law, designate a property within the
municipality to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas on June 28, 2022, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
(the l'Town") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042, to
designate the property municipally known as 14314-1 4378 Yonge Street, as described
on the attached Schedule '14" (the IlPropertyl') to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas the Town Clerk caused notice of the intention to designate the Property to
be served on the owner of the Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and published in
a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality;
And whereas there were no objections to the proposed designation of the Property
served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn
the objection;
And whereas the Council of the Town deems it necessary and expedient to enact a by-
law to designate the Property to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts
as follows:
1.The Property, as described on the attached Schedule "A", be and is hereby
designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
2.A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the Property and
a description of the heritage attributes of the Property are set out on the attached
Schedule "B".
3.The Town Clerk shall serve a copy of this by-law on the owner of the Property and
the Ontario Heritage Trust and publish notice of this by-law in a newspaper
having general circulation in the municipality.
4.A copy of this by-law shall be registered against the Property in the appropriate
land registry office.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this 23rd day of May, 2023.
%ar/om' Mrakas,Mayor
4M
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
By-law Number 6520-23 Page 2 of 3
Schedule “A”
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as
14318-14378 Yonge Street, and being composed of:
(a) Part of Lot 74, Con 1, Part 13, 65R35315, being all of PIN 03670-0968 (LT),
including the property and structures thereon;
(b) Part of Lot 74, Con 1 King PT 17, 65R35315, being all of PIN 03670-0972 (LT),
including the property and structures thereon; and
(c) PT LT 75 Con 1 King PTS 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 36, 37, 38 and 39 65R-35315,
subject to an easement in gross over PT LT 75 Con 1 King PTS 26, 27, 29 and 30
65R35315 as in YR2215937, subject to an easement in gross over PT LT 75 Con
1 King PTS 23 and 24 65R35315 as in YR2215940, being all of 03670-0976 (LT),
including the property and structures thereon.
By-law Number 6520-23 Page 3 of 3
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
14314-14378 Yonge Street is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest based on its design
and physical value, historical and associative value, and contextual value.
Design and Physical Value:
The property is highly unique as a pet cemetery that features original grave stones and
markers, ornamentation and commemorative features.
Historical and Associative Value:
The property is known locally as the Happy Woodlawn Pet Cemetery, which began in
1933 under the ownership of the Blochin family. The property was formerly owned by
Victor P. Blochin and his wife Anne. Victor was a major in the Russian Red Army, and
was captured as a prisoner of war in Germany. During his capture, he became friends
with another captive, Angus Campbell, the Lord of Dunstaffnage Castle in Scotland.
After the war ended, Blochin moved with Campbell to Scotland to work as a gardener at
the castle. Campbell was a breeder of West Highland White Terriers and gifted one to
Blochin. By the 1920s, Blochin left Scotland for Canada, taking a number of Westie dogs
with him. Blochin settled on the property and opened Bencruachan Kennels in 1927.
Anne Blochin was also successful in her own right as the founding editor of Chatelaine
magazine. Victor and Anne began burying their beloved pets on the property that is now
the cemetery, and over time others began to as well. The burials are marked by a
number of various gravestones of all different sizes and materials. The couple would
sell caskets, and the burial grounds holds cats, dogs, rabbits, at least one horse, and
even a monkey. The Blochins produced many award winning dogs and became
internationally known, even inspiring the Canadian West Highland White Terrier Club’s
Victor Blochin Memorial Trophy. The subject property is known as the first pet cemetery
in Canada.
Contextual Value:
The property defines, maintains and supports the character of the area. As a cemetery
surrounded by natural area and forest, it is significantly linked to the stories and
emotions of the community. The property maintains a legacy as the first pet cemetery in
Canada that is functionally and historically linked to the early residents of Aurora.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The following provides a description of heritage attributes for the property which
contribute to the reasons for which the property is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
Important to the preservation of the property are the original key attributes of the
building that express its value, which include:
Exterior Elements
• All grave stones and markers, including ornamentation and commemorative
features
• All burials and interred remains in their existing location in-situ
• Location set within a forested area including naturalized vegetation and mature
trees
• The spatial distances between graves and their relationship to each other