DON MIKEL grew up in old houses in Cobourg, and as a teenager gained an interest in heritage architecture through Port Hope Architectural Conservancy meetings. He was later the founding chair of two Local Architectural Community Advisory Committees (LACACs), and the founding Chair of the Provincial LACAC Association Steering Committee, which evolved into the Ontario Community Heritage Fund. He was the founding Chair of the Guelph Architectural Conservancy Branch, has restored five heritage houses and consulted on other restorations. He has written a number of publications. Don lived overseas for 16 years and collected architectural photographs from 58 countries, as well as those he’s taken in Canada. He holds 5 graduate degrees, was a career civil servant and received a medal from the Governor General’s Office for career contributions. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.