The historic seaside village of Victoria-by-the-Sea is widely appreciated for its heritage character and spatial charm.
The Gilbert family—Linda, Eric, and Emma—have made a significant contribution to the character of that community through their longstanding commitment to their property on Main Street, which houses the Island Chocolate Company, a producer of delicious gourmet chocolates.
The building, erected in 1883 together with an adjacent barn, is a tangible reminder of the importance of Victoria as a coastal trading port in 19th-century P.E.I. The Gilberts have taken great care to preserve the character of their building because, in the words of Eric Gilbert, the building deserves it.
Linda Gilbert, Eric's mother, says they were motivated to preserve the building by their sense of community, not by economics. Ron Gilbert, Linda’s late husband, had great respect for the heritage architecture and the streetscapes of the village, and the Gilbert family wants to continue what he started.
The work began in 1997 when the Gilberts, assisted by local carpenter Billy MacQuarrie, made the first changes to the building’s exterior by removing modern windows and doors installed by a previous owner in the 1960s, replacing them with something more in keeping with the original character.
They removed old gas pumps that had been in front of the building, repaired rotting posts and beams, upgraded all utilities to code, repaired and refinished original wood floors and ceilings, rebuilt wood shelving and storage drawers, expanded the production/sales area, and returned the sales area to the original section of store.They shingled, repaired, and painted the exterior, enlarged the deck, and reinstalled the original door, which they later had to replace due to deterioration.
For their commitment to maintaining the heritage nature of their property in Victoria, Linda, Eric, and Emma Gilbert have been chosen to receive a Heritage Recognition Award.