Submitted Media Release
The County of Brant received a $25,000 donation from The Cowan Foundation for The Bawcutt Centre, on December 19, 2018.
“This is such a gift,” said Mayor David Bailey.
The donation was made in honour of Bob Cowan who was a previous member of The Cowan Foundation Board.
“My father was a strong supporter and resident of the Paris community,” said Christine Cowan, member of The Cowan Foundation Board of Directors.
“When my sisters and I learned about this restoration project, we knew, in supporting The Bawcutt Centre, we had found the perfect way to honour our father’s legacy.”
The Cowan Foundation was started in 1995 in honour of Frank Cowan, the founder of Frank Cowan Company and Cowan Insurance Group.
“On behalf of The Cowan Foundation and its Board of Directors, we are happy to support the selection made by Bob Cowan’s family,” said Terry Reidel, Executive Director of The Cowan Foundation. “The vision of the Centre and the impact it will have in Paris is one that we know Bob Cowan, one of our past Foundation Directors, would have fully supported. Bob was a huge proponent of business, innovation and collaboration and tying all these elements into the Paris Old Town Hall, with its heritage and charm, is certainly a project the community can get excited about.”
The Bawcutt Centre (formerly, the Paris Old Town Hall) is located at 13 Burwell Street, Paris, Ontario. It is one of the oldest civic Gothic buildings in Canada. The original structure was built in 1854. In recent years, community initiatives to save, preserve, and repurpose The Bawcutt Centre have evolved.
“We are so grateful for this donation,” said Kathryn Carter, the Chair of The Bawcutt Centre Advisory Committee. “We look forward to recognizing Bob Cowan, this generous donation and his contribution to the community as The Bawcutt Centre project progresses.”
About The Cowan Foundation
The Cowan Foundation was started in 1995 in honour of Frank Cowan, the founder of Frank Cowan Company and Cowan Insurance Group. The Foundation is sustained by the ongoing success of the Princeton Holdings group of companies including Cowan Insurance Group, Frank Cowan Company, The Guarantee Company of North America, Cowan Asset Management and Fountain Street Finance. Together they provide insurance and risk management products and services for individuals, businesses, organizations and public entities, as well as assisting employers with their group benefits, retirement and health and disability management plans. The goal of The Cowan Foundation is to make a positive difference in the lives of Canadians and the broader well-being of our communities. For more information, please visit www.cowanfoundation.ca.
