Heritage: On Location

FALL 2015
Heritage: On Location
Heritage
Legacy Fund
Projects
Heritage BC
Conference
Highlights
Heritage
Week
2016
Fall 2015
Heritage: On Location
3–6
HLF 2014–2015 Project Updates
7
2015 Conference Highlights
8–9
Training and Skills
Development
10
Heritage BC’s New Board
11
Heritage Week 2016
12
Get On the Map
13
Corporate Members
14
Student Member Profile
15
Heritage BC is a not-for-profit, charitable
organization supporting heritage conservation
across British Columbia through advocacy,
training and skills development, capacity building
in heritage planning, and funding through the
Heritage Legacy Endowment Fund.
We are passionate about building links between
heritage conservation and tourism, economic and
environmental sustainability, community pride,
and an appreciation of our common history.
That was fun! I’m referring, of course, to our conference in
Rossland this past October. The weather was perfect, the
venues were divine, the community warm and welcoming,
and the conference delegates were fun-filled, energetic, and so
knowledgeable!
Thank you to the dedicated conference planning committee:
KATHRYN MOLLOY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bjorn Simonsen, Committee Chair
Jackie Drysdale, Rossland Heritage Commission
Joelle Hodgins, Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre
Judith Cook, Province of B.C., Heritage Branch
Andre Lessard, B.C. Association of Heritage Professionals
The conference would not have been possible without the big-hearted support of volunteers,
billets, and of course our generous sponsors. Please see page 9 for a full list of conference
sponsors. A special shout out to Anisa Musmary—conference coordinator extraordinaire,
Karen Dearlove—conference content manager, as well as Shirin Shad and Maxine Schleger
for behind-the-scenes support.
Save the date! We are already planning our next conference—we’ll be celebrating Heritage
BC’s 35th birthday by moving our conference back to Spring, and back to Vancouver. The 2016
conference—“Place Making: Where Art and Heritage Collide”—will be held on Granville
Island in Vancouver from May 5 to 8, in collaboration with our colleagues at ArtsBC. Watch
for great learning opportunities and some serious fun, and the content will still qualify for
professional credits (AIBC and PIBC).
Programs include workshops, annual conferences,
publications, and grants for the conservation
of historic buildings and special places. We are
funded through membership fees, program and
service revenues, charitable gifts and donations,
as well as sponsorships.
We have a lot more planned for 2016—see pages 12-13 for a glimpse at upcoming programs.
And we’ve got other ideas brewing from our Strategic Planning session in September—we
are developing new member benefits, a fresh website is in the works, and we are evaluating
our traditional communications materials, including the Heritage BC Quarterly magazine. If
you have an opinion about these and other ideas, please take the time to fill out our Member
Survey on our website.
Today we have a growing membership of
individuals, groups, and business members who
share a common interest in heritage conservation,
historic places, and promoting the value of British
Columbia’s heritage for all.
This issue of Heritage BC Quarterly—Heritage: On Location—celebrates heritage sites across
the province that have been transformed into venues for a variety of public uses—film and
TV shoots, weddings, public meetings, tourist attractions, and more. Have a look, and be
inspired by the innovative work of these committed heritage societies and organizations.
604.428.7243
1.855.349.7243
www.heritagebc.ca
2
Message from the Executive
Director
Thanks to all who contributed financially to the success of Heritage BC in 2015. For the first
time, we have individual donors, we have increased corporate sponsorship, and we received
new grants. As a charitable nonprofit, we count on your generosity. Please consider us in
your year-end giving—it’s easy to donate online at our website or you can fill in the attached
donation form and mail it to our office with your cheque.
Season’s Greetings,
Kathryn Molloy
Executive Director
Heritage: On Location
Cole Island—Esquimalt: Education on Location
Historic Cole Island, located in Esquimalt Harbour on Vancouver Island,
is home to B.C.’s oldest military buildings. The site was used to store munitions for the Royal Navy from 1856 to 1928. When the Navy left in
1905, ownership of the island shifted several times; it was transferred to
the Province in the 1980s. From 2010 onwards, a systematic conservation program has been undertaken to stabilize the architecture, mitigate
invasive plant species, and provide safety features for visitors.
Most recently, Cole Island and its former gunpowder magazines have
become an outdoor classroom for a series of field courses in Heritage
Building Conservation offered through the Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria. Developed with support
from B.C. Heritage Minister Steve Thomson, these on-location, practicebased courses provide students with hands-on opportunities to learn
state of the art building conservation skills.
In April 2015, instructors Gord Macdonald and Ben Gourley transformed the site into a classroom where they shared their knowledge and
experience with a group of twelve students. Gourley, a practicing building conservator and archaeologist, has worked on projects in Europe,
Canada, Asia, and Africa, and has a particular interest in the conservation of vernacular building traditions. Macdonald, a Master Carpenter
and Building Conservator with more than thirty years experience with
historic timber buildings, has led carpentry teams through a range of
award-winning projects from the restoration of medieval houses and
castles to the re-creation of a thirty-ton Roman war machine for BBC
Television. The instructors will return to Cole Island in March 2016 to
offer the second course in the series.
More info on Cole Island: www.coleisland.ca
More info on courses offered: [email protected]
Looking for a way to
influence your profession?
Grow your potential.
Graduate Professional Certificate
in Cultural Heritage Studies
Apply now—start in September 2016
This five-course, fully online program is designed for working professionals,
and is delivered one course per term.
• Museum or Heritage specialization
• Internships available
• Tuition fees: $1085.34 CAD per course, as of 2015
(2% increase is expected for 2016).
• Application Deadline March 15, 2016
Need just one course?
• Condition Assessment,
Recording and Measured
Survey: March 14–19, 2016
• Cultural Landscapes:
May 9–14, 2016
www.uvcs.uvic.ca/cultural/graduate/programs/certificate/ | [email protected]
3
Mackie Lake House—Coldstream:
Bringing History to Life!
Potato House Project—Williams
Lake: Compost and Zombies!
Laurel Packinghouse—Kelowna:
Industry and Agriculture
The 1910 historic Mackie Lake House is nestled on the shores of Kalamalka Lake. The
Mackie Lake House Foundation opens this
1910 heritage house and grounds for meetings, seminars, weddings, receptions, memorials, birthday parties, reunions, thesis presentations, filming, fundraising events, and as
a podcast location. The house and grounds
are available for rent when it is not being used
for in-house events.
For nearly fifty years, a small lot with a blue
and white bungalow in downtown Williams
Lake yielded corn, squash, tomatoes, grapes,
apples, and a ton of potatoes every season.
When one of the two dedicated gardeners
passed away, the old house was put up for sale.
The soil became hard and unloved. Plants
died and weeds flourished.
Located in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural
District, the Laurel Packinghouse is a unique
heritage landmark connecting visitors with
Okanagan history. Built in 1917, the Laurel
supported the worldwide market for Okanagan apples for more than five decades. In
1982, this landmark was threatened by urban
revitalization plans and scheduled for demolition. Thankfully, the Laurel was saved and restored, primarily through community effort.
From June to September visitors travel back
in time through extensive house tours, learning about the architecture, history, and characteristics of this unique home and the families who lived here. Last summer we offered a
weekly “Tea with Grace”—tea and sandwiches
served on fine-bone china, enjoyed on the verandah overlooking the serene gardens and
lake. Mackie Lake House is also the perfect
place to kick back and enjoy our “Music at
Mackie” Summer Concert Series held on the
spacious grounds.
Wedding ceremonies are held on the expansive lawn overlooking the lake, framed by
two impressive old Linden trees. The grounds
easily accommodate up to 200 people for an
outdoor wedding or other event. This venue
was recognized by Okanagan Life magazine as
one of the best places in the North Okanagan
to get married.
Our active School Program involves spring
visits by up 500 students, while 800 students
visit Fylton Forest throughout the year.
The Mackie Lake House and Grounds are
governed by the Mackie Lake House Foundation which was formed in 1993 by Paddy
Mackie. It has an active Board of Directors
and many dedicated volunteers. Mackie Lake
House brings history to life!
More info: www.mackiehouse.ca or contact: Christine
Kashuba at 250-545-1019 or [email protected]
4
Mary Forbes, a local youth, saw an opportunity. She dared to ask: What did this old home
have left for the community?
The Potato House survives today as a heritage house in a town known for tearing them
down thanks to funding for a Drive-Up Community Composting Project from the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (CCBAC). The annual Zombie Walk and Haunted
Potato House events bring visitors to the site
where composting is so easy even brain-dead
zombies can do it. The Pumpkins and Bubbles Family Halloween Photoshoot is a yearly
funds generator, as is the Historic Holiday
Photos and Santa Claus Parade.
Thanks to Heritage BC, Northern Development Initiative Trust, and CCBAC, Potato
House is about to become a 1200-square-foot
Micro Community Hall where weddings, potlucks, and meetings can be held. You might
book the Hall just to use the bathroom, designed for the natural light filtering through
vintage pane glass windows over the original
claw-foot tub.
The Potato House was once categorized as “dilapidated.” Love and landscaping have made
it nostalgic instead of neglected, a site which
provides the community a greater appreciation for where we live. The Potato House is a
home from the past with a plan for the future.
More info: www.potatohouseproject.com
The Laurel Packinghouse, now part of the
Kelowna Museums Society, has taken on a
new life. Within the Laurel is the B.C. Orchard Industry Museum and the B.C. VQA
Wine Shop and Wine Museum, as well as a
charming rental venue. The Orchard Industry Museum displays the region’s agricultural
roots, and visitors enjoy recounting their personal experiences in the orchard industry.
For wine sampling or shopping, and learning
about the Okanagan’s wine-making industry,
the B.C. Wine Museum and VQA Wine Shop
is a perfect stop, offering an extraordinary selection of wines representative of more than
150 estates. One of Canada’s few heritage industrial sites, the Laurel promotes the Okanagan Valley’s agricultural heritage as well as its
current wine-based economy, while also making innovative use of the event space.
The Laurel hosts a wide range of events, including the annual Regional Heritage Fair.
The open design lends itself to conferences,
weddings, trade shows, art shows, corporate
meetings, and parties. Original features such
as Knox Mountain bricks, hanging lamps,
lofty beams, and repurposed plank flooring
create warmth and atmosphere. The building
regularly attracts photographers; the curiosity
of its five-sided shape and crenellated roofing
are particularly noteworthy.
The Laurel Packinghouse continues to forge
connections between the history of the Okanagan Valley and people seeking contemporary
use of this sought-after landmark.
More info: www.kelownamuseums.ca/museums/
the-laurel-packinghouse
Ward Tea House—Yale:
Elegance Reborn
S.S. Sicamous—Penticton:
Iredale Historic House—Victoria:
Intimate Performance Venue
The original home of William “Johnny” Ward
in Yale was a three-room building built in
or around 1863. In July 1880, during one of
several fires that swept through Yale in the
1800s, the home and barn were burnt to the
ground. A week later, the August 5th edition of The Inland Sentinel reported that “Mr.
J. Ward has rebuilt at the corner of Douglas
and Albert streets, where he again resides as
for many years past.” Over the years, a kitchen
and bathroom were added, as well as a cold
storage area.
The S.S. Sicamous is the largest surviving stern
wheeler in B.C., and was once an important
part of Okanagan Valley life, transporting
passengers and cargo to remote communities along the shores of Okanagan Lake. Many
of its sister ships were burned, torn apart, or
left to rot. Thanks to generations of dedicated
volunteers, the ship was preserved and has recently passed its 101st anniversary.
My house is not a designated heritage house,
although we chose our simple Edwardian
craftsman home for its heritage values, and
we love to share its beauty.
Used as a private residence for many years,
the home and grounds eventually came under
the care of the Province of B.C., and are now
part of the Yale Historic Site properties. Two
years ago the home underwent an extensive
conservation process, and in Spring 2015 was
reopened as the Ward Tea House.
The interior of the home has been recreated
as it would have looked in the 1800s, and the
cold storage area has been converted into a
modern, galley-style kitchen. A variety of hot
and cold food is available and a special blend
of House Tea was developed. The tea house
is staffed by dedicated volunteers, and food
and beverages are served on the covered front
porch and at picnic tables in the garden. The
Ward Tea House is open from May to September, and is an added heritage attraction to
the Fraser Canyon and the Yale Historic Site.
Response from visitors has been extremely
positive with many returning throughout the
summer, and local residents stopping in for a
bite to eat and a chat.
More info: www.historicyale.ca/features/theward-house
Weddings on a Heritage Steam Ship
Looking after a heritage site requires significant funding. The roof leaks, wood needs to
be replaced, exteriors painted, rusting on the
hull prevented, leaking pipes fixed, displays
updated. Over the years the S.S. Sicamous
Society has worked hard to raise funds, but
admissions only just cover costs
Hosting weddings on board the heritage vessel has proved both popular with guests and
beneficial for the society. Many groups have
been able to come on board and enjoy the vessel, helping to promote both the ship and the
society that maintains it, allowing the society
to reach a much wider demographic, and not
merely traditional museum-goers.
Funds from wedding rentals are directed back
to the restoration project, allowing upgrades
to the museum and displays. The visitor experience is improved as a direct result. The
upgraded appearance of the ship drives more
enquiries and bookings, creating a cycle that
reinforces the preservation and enjoyment of
the ship. Wedding rentals have proven to be
well aligned with our mission to protect the
heritage of the Okanagan, and represent a new
chapter in the restoration and preservation of
the S.S. Sicamous for future generations.
More info: www.sssicamous.ca or contact Jessie
Dunlop at 250-492-0403 or [email protected]
Our house is on Cambridge Street in Fairfield, close to the Dallas Road waterfront and
a block from Beacon Hill Park. The house
1
2
dates to 1912 or 1903 , depending on if you
ask my husband or me. In the early 1990s we
restored many of its character-defining elements and earned a Hallmark Society Award
for this work.
Every few months we host a musical house
concert in the wood-paneled dining room.
Our house is transformed into an intimate
performance space as our wood-paneled
entryway—with its restored stairway overlooked by a large stained-glass window—
makes for a welcoming entry for our patrons.
The dining room with its wonderful acoustics hosts the stage, and we extend the living
room by opening panelled pocket doors to
join two rooms, providing seating for up to
forty. Our kitchen and den become a green
room where musicians store instruments,
practice, and relax before the show.
We receive many compliments on the lovely
ambiance of our historic rooms. People mention the warmth of the wood paneling; the
character of the beamed ceiling; the beauty
of the arts and crafts light fixtures; the colour
and fineness of our two fireplaces. Others
mention how wonderful it is to hear live music in such an intimate and beautiful setting.
1 This date came from a penciled notation “Lowe Bros 1912”
written on one of the boards in a downstairs cupboard. We
discovered this during the 1992 restoration.
2 This date came from a penciled notation “July 11, 1903 Geo.
Calder” discovered on a board taken from the roof during the
course of adding a dormer.
55
Huble Homestead
—Prince George
Gulf of Georgia Cannery
—Steveston
The Royal Hotel
—Chilliwack
The common misconception that historic sites
are for old people and school field trips has
been challenged at Huble Homestead, where
they work hard to demonstrate that local history can be fun, meaningful, and engaging.
Forty kilometres north of Prince George, this
1912 homestead and trading post offers a busy
public schedule that keeps local visitors returning for hands-on demonstrations, games,
lunch, and local shopping. Some events, such
as Seniors Day and Kids Carnival, appeal to
specific age groups, while others, like Dominion Day and Homestead Days, focus on
Prince George’s pioneer history. Fun-loving
adults are eager to sign up for the Edwardian
murder mystery. Kids and kids-at-heart love
the annual Hallowe’en Spooktacular when the
historic Huble house is converted to a house
of horrors, the barns become a venue for magic shows and children’s crafts, and the garden
is reimagined as a graveyard.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery, built in 1894,
is the last remaining cannery of fifteen that
once lined the banks of the Fraser River in the
historic fishing village of Steveston, south of
Vancouver. It is now a national historic site,
operated by the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society on behalf of Parks Canada.
The Royal Bank in Chilliwack opened in 1906,
two years before construction of the Royal
Hotel would begin next door at the corner
of Wellington and Main Street, a prominent
downtown hub. The two-storey building
housed offices and suites on the upper floor,
and provided financial services until 1950
when a larger bank was erected several blocks
away.
The site opened as a museum in 1994, presenting the history of Canada’s west coast fishing
industry. With its distinct architectural design
built on 600 wooden pilings above the Fraser,
this massive 55,000-square-foot building has
become valued as a unique venue for community and private events, and as a filming
location.
The Society operates a community winter
indoor market featuring local food products
and artisan merchants. Last season, the market drew over 18,000 visitors to the site from
October to April (when tourist traffic is usually low), reaching out to an audience who may
not have been familiar with the site.
The Society has partnered on events such as
a popular Craft Beer Festival and Wine Festival, drawing crowds of 500. Weddings, memorials, film screenings, and corporate parties have also been held at the Cannery, often
drawing a clientele with connections to the
local community and its fishing heritage. The
Cannery has also appeared as a TV and film
location for productions such as Once Upon
A Time, Supernatural and the movie Twilight.
During the six months that Huble Homestead
is open, the site is a go-to day trip for locals
hosting out of town visitors; lately they have
been bringing more family and friends than
ever, including as wedding guests. Site rentals have long been offered, and plans to attract
more bookings were in the works when, in a
2014 article on Huffington Post website, Huble Homestead was nominated as one of the
best wedding venues in B.C. Huble Homestead is now a highly sought-after venue for
rustic, picturesque weddings. Bookings have
tripled in two years, and staff are now working to re-evaluate the rental fee structure in
order to accommodate this welcome addition
to the site’s earning potential.
More info: www.hublehomestead.ca
6
It can be challenging to facilitate rental events
while protecting exhibits and the building,
which is itself an artefact. But the benefits of
reaching a wider audience, and the addition
of new revenue, make the effort worthwhile.
More info: www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.org
Buck Berry, the colourful proprietor of the
Royal Hotel, purchased the adjacent former
bank. He built an addition with the intent of
opening a licensed establishment, and in August 1950, the 350-seat Royal Hotel Beer Parlour debuted with separate entrances for men
and women, along with a removable partition
to keep the genders apart, as required by the
liquor laws of the day. Buck was not thinking
about the benefits of heritage preservation
when he re-purposed the bank building; his
goal was to establish a business that catered to
working class clientele, commercial travellers,
and veterans—a place to catch up with friends
while enjoying a beer amongst mainly male
company.
The Royal Hotel changed ownership in 1995,
when a relaxing of liquor laws encouraged the
introduction of neighbourhood pubs and saw
the decline of beer parlours. This was the end
of an era and the beginning of a second renewal—the beer parlour was re-purposed into
the Wellington Pub and the Wellington 64
meeting space. Today, two separate function
rooms accommodate private parties, weddings, and meetings for up to 95 guests as well
as offering a unique location for television and
movie productions. Filled with historical ambiance, the heritage setting of the Royal Hotel
provides intimate event space where beautiful
memories continue to be made.
More info: www.royalhotelchilliwack.com
5
Heritage Legacy Fund 2014—Project Updates
Nikkei National Museum and Cultural
Centre—Vancouver
Japanese Canadian War Memorial
Restoration Project
The Japanese Canadian War Memorial located
in Stanley Park in Vancouver was erected in
1920 in memory of Japanese Canadians that
served in the First World War. It also recognizes
veterans from the Second World War and the
Korean War. The project included the assessment, cleaning, and repair of the monument, as
well as the base and surrounding area. Bronze
plaques were updated, and repairs were made
to the top of the lantern. Restoration work was
completed in March 2015. The project received
a Vancouver Heritage Award in May 2015.
Lytton First Nation—Lytton
St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s Church Roof
Repair
Constructed in 1885, St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s
Anglican Church has long served as an impor-
tant community resource and gathering place
for the Lytton First Nation. With the assistance
of the Heritage Legacy Fund, the roof was replaced and the steeple repaired. Reverend Danny Whitehead, current minister at St. Mary’s
and St. Paul’s, described the community’s reaction to the project: “The renewed ringing of the
church bell at St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s brings
the attention of our community to the new roof
and restored cross above the beautiful historic
structure where First Nations parishioners have
gathered to worship since 1885.” The project
was completed in September 2015.
Hope Mountain Centre—Hope
Hudson’s Bay Company (1849) Heritage
Trail Interpretative Signs
In summer 2015, the 74 kilometres of Hudson’s
Bay Company (1849) Heritage Trail was reopened with two new kiosks featuring interpretative signage. The signage describes the history
of the Hudson’s Bay Company trail and the relationship between the Hudson’s Bay Company
and the local First Nations.
Heritage Legacy Fund 2015 Project
Restoring West Vancouver’s Point
Atkinson Lighthouse
In 2015, the Point Atkinson Lighthouse in West
Vancouver received a grant of $8,000 from the
Heritage Legacy Fund for painting and repairs
necessary for ongoing preservation work. Situated
within Lighthouse Park, a 75-hectare parcel of
old-growth rainforest, the Point Atkinson Lighthouse is a West Coast icon. A lighthouse was first
erected in this location in 1874. Promised to B.C.
upon entrance into Confederation, the lighthouse
supported early economic growth in the Vancouver area as it improved the safety of the voyage
into Burrard Inlet, expanding trade possibilities.
The original wood frame lighthouse was replaced
in 1912 with the concrete tower that stands today.
The current lighthouse features an innovative hexagonal design that allows it to sway during high
winds while ensuring the stability of the lantern. It
became a model for later lighthouses constructed
throughout Canada.
Keepers operated the Point Atkinson Lighthouse
from 1874 until 1996 when it was automated and
declared surplus by the Department of Fisheries
and Oceans (DFO). While DFO still owns the
lighthouse and periodically services the lantern,
there has been insufficient maintenance of the
structure in recent years. This has led to both aesthetic deterioration and increased risk of structural damage, threatening its long-term conservation.
The West Vancouver Historical Society sought a
grant from the Heritage Legacy Fund for muchneeded maintenance of the lighthouse, a federally
and municipally-recognized heritage resource.
The lighthouse is valued for its association with
maritime trade, early non-Aboriginal settlement
on Vancouver’s North Shore, and for its role as a
coastal defense station.
Today, it is cherished by hikers from throughout
the region, who are drawn to Lighthouse Park for
its natural beauty as well as its historical associations. A trip to the park is not complete without
catching a view of the lighthouse amid the backdrop of Burrard Inlet, UBC, and the Gulf Islands.
Indeed, the lighthouse is a symbol of West Vancouver, featured in the school board’s logo and in
numerous municipal publications. Generations
of children from the North Shore have attended
summer camps in the park, learning about ecology and history. Through ongoing conservation of
the lighthouse, its role in connecting the public to
heritage can be preserved and enhanced.
67
Conference Highlights
We were delighted to host our 2015 Annual Conference in historic Rossland, B.C. from
October 1 to 3. More than eighty delegates from every corner of British Columbia and
even further afield joined us in the Kootenay Rockies.
Thought leaders and heritage enthusiasts including architects, planners, heritage commission members, heritage society representatives, museum professionals, students,
tourism organisation representatives, and more came to the conference to network,
learn, and teach with like-minded individuals.
www.pattisonarchitecture.ca
604.525.3232
The conference opened at the Rossland Museum with renowned CBC broadcaster Mark
Forsythe speaking about his experiences with heritage. The 2015 conference keynote and
workshops took place in three of Rossland’s great heritage venues—Rossland Miners’
Hall, The Old Fire Hall, and Rossland Art Gallery. The two days of conference workshops
began with a welcome from Rossland’s Mayor Kathy Moore. Our keynote speaker, Jim
Mountain, Director of Regeneration at Heritage Canada The National Trust, then took to
the Rossland Miners’ Hall stage to give his address.
The member reports this year included speakers from the Alliance for Arts and Culture,
the B.C. Museums Association, and the Rossland Heritage Commission. This was followed by the Heritage BC Annual General Meeting at which new Heritage BC Board
Members were elected.
Attendees then took part in their chosen workshops, which included topics such as Heritage and Cultural Tourism, Main Street Revitalization Projects, and Heritage Conservation and Climate Change.
The conference’s social event —the Prospector’s Dinner at the Miners’ Hall—was held on
Friday night. The Gold Rush-themed evening included a delicious dinner, the Heritage
Speed Meet, and performances from the Golden City Fiddlers and the Boomtown Garter
Girls Can-Can Troupe.
w w w. i r e d a l e . c a
REVIVE... THRIVE
Attendees returned on Saturday morning for two more sessions of workshops including
our hands-on outdoor workshops presented by Macdonald & Lawrence and Traditional
Timber Framing Co. After lunch, conference delegates had the opportunity to participate
in a number of expertly guided walking and bus tours in Rossland and the surrounding
area. Tours included a guided tour of Nelson and the Nelson Canadian Pacific Railway
Station, a walking tour of downtown Rossland, a tour of Trail’s famous rock walls, and a
guided tour of Columbia Cemetery.
We would like to thank all attendees, speakers, local committee members, volunteers,
and sponsors who helped to make the Heritage BC Annual Conference 2015—The Main
Thing such a great success.
Opposite page: 1. The Boomtown Garter Girls performing with an extra special guest at the Prospector’s Dinner. 2. Gord Macdonald of Macdonald and Lawrence Timber Framing takes delegates outside for his hands-on Traditional Building Methods workshop. 3. Rossland Gallery,
formerly the Bank of Montreal Building played host to conference workshops. 4. Keynote speaker Jim Mountain, Director of Regeneration at
Heritage Canada The National Trust. 5. Eric Pattison of Pattison Architecture and Heritage BC Board member with Kathryn Molloy, Executive
Director of Heritage BC at the Prospector’s Dinner. 6. Conference host venue and Heritage Legacy Fund project: the Rossland Miners’ Hall.
Vancouver 604.736.5581
Victoria 250.381.5582
The Exchange Project in collaboration with Harry Gugger Studio
8
2
1
3
5
4
6
Conference Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor—$5,000
Silver Sponsors—$1,500
Bronze Sponsors—$1,000
Workshop Sponsors—$500
Bursary Sponsors
Robert Lemon X4
604.428.7243
1.855.349.7243
102-657 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V7T 1A4
www.heritagebc.ca
X2
9
Training and Skills Development Update
Identifying Intangible Heritage Values for Vancouver’s Chinatown
In August 2015, Heritage BC gathered public
input on behalf of the Province’s Ministry of International Trade and the Legacy Initiatives Advisory Council (LIAC) to identify the intangible
heritage values of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Despite the local and national recognition of Chinatown as a historic site, there has been fear that
the intangible heritage and cultural values—those
values difficult to define in terms of architecture
and physical features alone—have not been clearly
captured by prior studies of the neighbourhood.
Heritage BC staff, along with an enthusiastic
team of volunteers, conducted a workshop for
key stakeholders and a public open house to
gather information on intangible heritage values. At both events, six thematic stations were set
up to encourage participants to reflect on what
makes Vancouver’s Chinatown special to them.
Adapted from Parks Canada’s broad themes for
identifying heritage values, the themes used to
guide discussion were: Arriving in B.C. and Settling in Vancouver; Establishing Community—
Building Social and Community Life; Working
in a New World and Developing Economies; Facing Racism, Establishing Rights; Developing and
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life Honouring Achievements. An online form was avail-
City of Nanaimo Heritage
Conservation Program Review and
Update
The City of Nanaimo’s Heritage Strategy was
completed in 1994, followed by a Heritage Action Plan in 1998. The Heritage Action Plan
led to a series of initiatives including the establishment of a Community Heritage Register and Community Heritage Commission.
Since the creation of a combined Culture and
Heritage Department in 2014, the City has
started to review the status, objectives, and
scope of the Heritage Conservation Program.
As part of this review, the City of Nanaimo invited Heritage BC to provide a public “Heritage Basics” presentation and an “Identifying
Heritage Values” workshop for community
stakeholders in October 2015. At the Heritage
Basics presentation participants learned about
heritage conservation, including which tools are
available to local governments and to the City
of Nanaimo’s heritage conservation programs.
At the Heritage Values workshop, stakeholders provided valuable input into the discussion
about what makes Nanaimo a unique place,
and identified those places that make Nanaimo
10
able to allow those unable to attend in person
to provide input, and also to give those who did
attend an opportunity to further articulate the
heritage values they associate with Chinatown.
all re
eS a
hOM
e in
MOvDY!
rea
Held at the Chinese Cultural Centre on Pender
Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown, both events
were well attended by enthusiastic participants.
As people visited the thematic stations, the room
was humming with conversation. Volunteers set
up a Mah-jong table in the centre of the room,
and welcomed participants to stay and play while
discussing Chinatown’s heritage values. The relaxed, social atmosphere contributed to the richness of the information uncovered in the process.
Recurring topics included the positive contributions of small, independent businesses to the
vibrancy and uniqueness of the neighbourhood,
and the powerful role of food in fostering community connectedness. Many identified a need
for more places and spaces for people of all generations to connect and socialize, in particular
places that are safe and accessible for Chinese
seniors, who are regarded as the glue of the community. The information collected through the
workshops and online form is being drafted into
a report for the Ministry of International Trade.
special. Heritage BC is drafting a summary report of the comments collected at the Heritage
Values workshop to aid in the city’s review of
Nanaimo’s Heritage Conservation Program.
Heritage BC staff spent a wonderful fall day in
Nanaimo, including a personal tour of Nanaimo’s historic downtown, learning about Nanaimo’s heritage conservation success stories from
city planner Chris Sholberg.
Learn more about Heritage BC workshops for
your community.
More info: http://heritagebc.ca/education/hbcworkshops
Heritage BC Webinars
As part of the Training and Skills Development
Program, Heritage BC offers a series of educational webinars that demonstrate best practices
in heritage conservation and planning. Accessible virtually from anywhere in British Columbia or across Canada, Heritage BC webinars are
a great resource for municipal planners, organizations, and individuals interested in learning
more about heritage conservation and planning.
Webinar topics include:
OceanFrOnt living
in the heart OF Sechelt
luxurious single level oceanfront
homes located in downtown Sechelt.
all of our homes are accessible and
adaptable for the comfort and
security of aging in place.
2 BeDrOOM hOMeS from $339,900
For more details call 604 885 5432
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Writing Statements of Significance
How to Write an Effective Grant Proposal
How to Use the Standards and Guidelines for
the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada
Heritage Legislation in British Columbia
Heritage Conservation Areas in British
Columbia
Heritage Basics
Heritage Conservation, Sustainability, and
Climate Change
Members of the Planning Institute of BC and
Architectural Institute of BC are eligible for
Continuous Professional Learning Units for select webinars.
For more information about Heritage BC webinars, including topics, schedule, and how to sign
up, visit Heritage BC’s website. Can’t attend a
specific webinar? Now you can purchase a webinar “in a can”—this includes a pdf of the presentation PowerPoint, and a video recording of
the webinar. Contact Heritage BC staff for more
information.
More info: www.heritagebc.ca/education/webinars or [email protected]
New Board at Heritage BC
With gratitude and sadness we say good-bye to departing board members Eric Pattison,
Bjorn Simonsen, and James Ma. These directors lead Heritage BC through a difficult
transition to a successful and vibrant organization. They have all been a driving force
in the development of the Sustainable Business Model and Three-Year Strategic Plan.
Their steadfast commitment has set the tone for incoming board members.
Eric, Bjorn, and James—you will be missed!
Welcome to the
2015-2016 board of
Heritage BC!
For more information about the
board and individual directors,
please visit our website at
www.heritagebc.ca
Helen Cain, Chair
Gord Macdonald, Vice Chair
Janice Henry, Past Chair
Lynda Lafleur, Secretary
Jason Trefanenko, Treasurer
Tim Ankenman, Director at large
Denise Cook, Director at large
Kendall Jessiman, Director at large
Patrick Stewart, Director at large
Jon Weller, Director at large
11
11
Heritage Week 2016
Distinctive Destinations: Experience Historic Places Show
us your Distinctive Destination and you could win!
Heritage Week 2016 takes place from February 15 to 21 across Canada. This year’s national
theme is “Distinctive Destinations: Experience
Historic Places.” Heritage BC commemorates
Heritage Week by sending out hundreds of colourful posters to our members, community organizations, and schools. This year, we are holding a photo contest to find the images for our
Heritage Week poster.
Do you know of a Distinctive Destination in
British Columbia—some place that attracts lo-
cals and tourists alike for an experience of B.C.’s
heritage? Send a photo of your favourite B.C.
historic place that represents a Distinctive Destination.
Anyone can enter! Go to Heritage BC’s website
for more information and to complete the entry
form. Entries will be accepted until the end of
the day on Friday, December 11, 2015.
More info: heritagebc.ca/heritage-week-2016
Heritage BC Seeks Public Input to Locate and
Assess B.C.’s Stop of Interest Signs
Heritage BC wants your help to locate and visually assess the condition of the Stop of Interest signs found throughout British Columbia.
Starting in 1958, Stop of Interest signs were
erected across British Columba to commemorate significant people, places, and events. Over
one hundred signs were erected from the 1950s
through the 1990s. Since that time some signs
have gone missing and some have been moved.
In partnership with the Heritage Branch of the
Province of British Columbia, Heritage BC is
12
seeking public input to gauge the public location, condition, and content of the Stop of
Interest signs. This is the first step in creating a contemporary inventory to start planning for the future of the Stop of Interest signs.
You can participate by taking pictures of
the signs and the stops of interest they refer to, noting the location, then completing Heritage BC’s online form. Forms can
be submitted until December 18, 2015.
You can also follow Heritage BC and this proj-
ect on Facebook and @HeritageBCanada on
Instagram and Twitter. Upload your Stop of
Interest photos using the hashtag #bcstopsofinterest. Online and social media submissions will be entered into a prize draw.
Online submission form:
www.heritagebc.ca/stops-of-interest-signs-condition-assessment-survey
Get on the Map: War Monuments and
Memorials in British Columbia
Heritage BC is excited to announce a new mapping project: Get on the Map: War Monuments
and Memorials in British Columbia. More than
6,000 monuments and memorials dedicated to
Canada’s war dead can be found across Canada—the First and Second World Wars touched
nearly every community in Canada, big and
small. Heritage BC is seeking the public’s help
to collect information about war monuments
and memorials in communities across British
Columbia. This information will be used to create an interactive online map.
As an online resource, this project will be accessible to people across British Columbia, as well
as Canada, and throughout the world. It will
serve as a valuable educational resource about
Canada’s war effort and the effects on local communities.
It will also provide opportunities for local communities to share their stories, heritage, and history.
community cenotaphs to commemorative
plaques. In some communities, memorials take
the form of park gates or even whole buildings.
Where are the war monuments and memorials
in your community? They can range from
More info:
www.heritagebc.ca/war-memorials-in-bc
For more information and to provide information about war memorials and monuments, go
to Heritage BC’s website. Entries will be accepted until March 1, 2016.
Heritage BC Annual Awards
Heritage BC is accepting nominations for our 2016 Annual Awards. Our awards gala will be held
in Vancouver during Heritage Week in February 2016. Nominations will be accepted on Heritage
BC’s website until the end of day on Friday, December 18, 2015. Nominations are accepted in four
categories:
•
•
•
•
Heritage Conservation
Heritage Education and Awareness
Heritage Planning and Management
Ruby Nobbs Volunteer Award
For more information about award categories, evaluation criteria, levels of recognition, eligibility, and
how to submit a nomination, go to Heritage BC’s website.
More info:
www.heritagebc.ca/awards/awards-program
13
Heritage BC Corporate Members
Iredale Group Architecture
Judy Oberlander and Associates Inc.
Kick Start Technologies Ltd.
LDR Engineering Group
Macdonald & Lawrence Timber Framing
McLaren Trefanenko Inc. Chartered Professional Accountants
McLeod Masonry International Corp.
Pattison Architecture
Quoin Project and Cost Management Ltd.
RATIO Architecture
Ravenstone Masonry and Conservation Inc.
RDH Building Science Consulting Inc.
Read Jones Christofferson Ltd.
Robert Lemon Architect Inc.
Sasen Renovations Ltd.
Vintage Woodworks
Doell Photography
Ankenman Marchand Architects
Barry McGinn Architect
Bastion Group
Black & McDonald Limited
Brian Childs & Company Construction Ltd.
Brian G. Hart & Company
Bull Housser & Tupper LLP
Conex Projects Inc.
Craven | Huston | Powers Architects
Denise Cook Design
Donald Luxton & Associates Inc.
Edwards Consulting
Glenburn Soda Fountain & Confectionery
Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers
Golder Associates
Heritage Restorations Inc.
Rossland Miners Union Hall, City of Rossland
Working together to strengthen the places we love
We proudly support arts, culture and heritage in the Basin.
cbt.org/heritage
14
Student Member Profile: Carmut Me
mother and sister, and she has spent much of
her life moving back and forth between the two
places, having to adapt quickly to the different
cultures each time. This experience shaped her
understanding of the importance of heritage
and cultural connections, and how they shape
a community.
Carmut Me is pursuing a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning and Asia Pacific
Policy Studies at University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She has been a student member of Heritage BC since May 2015. Carmut’s
interest in heritage is deeply rooted in her
experiences growing up in two very different
parts of the world. At the age of five, she emigrated from Hong Kong to Vancouver with her
Carmut’s primary research is focussed on
“place-based memories” and how the urban
landscape contributes to the construction of
collective identity by acting as a resource for
storing collective memory. She believes that
heritage conservation is important because
collective memories are manifested in built
heritage and cultural landscapes. Her favourite part of her research is exploring the links
between the tangible and intangible aspects of
heritage—she believes that the intangible sto-
ries, traditions, memories, and practices of a
community are what give the tangible things
meaning. She sees heritage as a dynamic legacy
that helps build communities and identities—
as societal values change over time, so do the
perspectives of heritage conservation to reflect
those values. This challenging aspect of heritage conservation is what interests her most.
Carmut has been involved with various projects
related to Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood,
the Downtown Eastside. She has connected
with various arts and cultural organizations
and communities in the neighbourhood, and
recently she has been involved with Chinatown
and the revitalization of this marginalized
community. On some days, you can find her
leading groups of students on heritage tours
around Chinatown as a volunteer tour guide.
Message from the Chair
Helen Cain
Board Chair
committee members, presenters, staff, local
businesses, and volunteers. We could not have
achieved this successful event without you.
Congratulations to the community of Rossland
for hosting the well-attended and enjoyable
Heritage BC 2015 conference. It was my first
visit to this beautiful mountain city, and I was
thrilled to experience the vibrancy and physical integrity of the historic downtown. Rossland is a model of excellence for Main Street
revitalization in British Columbia and Canada.
Sincere thanks to all conference sponsors,
This issue of Heritage BC Quarterly is dedicated to historic places such as Rossland Miners’
Hall which have been re-imagined from their
original purpose into local venues. These historic buildings, sites, and districts bring social,
cultural, and economic value to communities,
and many are used as unique spaces for private
and public gatherings, arts, culture and recreation events and festivals, and film locations.
We invite you to experience and learn from
these heritage destinations across B.C.
Helen Cain
Chair, Heritage BC
M&L Heritage
Building Conservation Specialists
www.macdonaldandlawrence.ca
repairs • condition assessment • non destructive
testing • structural analysis • roped access •
repair specification • survey
15
Share Your Ideas
New ideas are brewing as a result of our Strategic Planning session
in September—we are developing new member benefits, a fresh
website is in the works, and we are evaluating our traditional communications materials, including the BC Heritage Quarterly magazine.
If you have an opinion about these and other membership ideas,
please take the time to fill out our Member Survey available at
www.heritagebc.ca
102-657 Marine Drive
West Vancouver
BC Canada V7T 1A4
604.428.7243
www.heritagebc.ca
1.855.349.7243