Encouraging the study and understanding of heritage preservation with a local and regional perspective. [more]

 


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About Heritage Vancouver Society

About | Board of Directors | Membership | Contact Us

 

Our Vision
"A culture that values and protects our built heritage."

Our Mission Statement
"To act as the voice of built heritage in Vancouver through education and advocacy."

Our Motto
"Creating a Future for Heritage"

 

History
Heritage Vancouver's origins date back to the establishment of the Heritage Committee of the Community Arts Council. The Heritage Committee separated from the Arts Council in 1991 to become Heritage Vancouver, the first independent heritage advocacy group in Vancouver, a move born from a desire for more autonomy to pursue a wider range of goals and objectives.

In 1992, Heritage Vancouver was incorporated as a non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of Vancouver's built, cultural and natural heritage, and has now achieved charitable status.

The Society's Board of Directors has fourteen members who meet monthly, and several subcommittees that deal with specific issues. Many of the society's members sit on various other boards, commissions, and committees including the Vancouver Heritage Commission, the Chinatown Heritage Area Planning Committee and the Heritage Society of British Columbia.


What We Do

  • advocate for heritage conservation
  • facilitate monthly lectures, special historical events and tours to promote heritage education and awareness
  • publishing our newsletters
  • act as a forum for heritage concerns for a broader audience
  • undertake special research on heritage buildings and heritage areas
  • cooperate with local and provincial authorities in their heritage policy and programme development
  • work with national and international groups to advance our mutual mandates for heritage conservation

What You Can Do

  • become a member of Heritage Vancouver
  • attend our public programs and meetings
  • make a donation to Heritage Vancouver (tax-deductible)
  • volunteer to work on the Advocacy or Programming committees
  • write an article for our newsletter
  • help organize an architectural or historical tour
  • research the history of a building, including your own home
  • take photographs of historical buildings in Vancouver
  • join our Board of Directors
  • promote heritage awareness among your friends

Heritage Advocacy
Heritage Vancouver fights to preserve our city's heritage buildings and historic landscapes. Through advocacy we speak on behalf of the conservation of significant historic sites threatened by demolition or neglect. Our past efforts include public campaigns to preserve the Stanley Theatre (in 1992), Victory Square (in 1994), Lions Gate Bridge (in 1998), Woodwards, and ongoing efforts to preserve the Burrard Bridge.

Heritage Vancouver's advocacy work is both reactive and proactive. We act as the "Voice of Heritage", including letter-writing, media campaigns, participating in public consultation sessions, meeting with Heritage Planning staff and making presentations to City Council.

Our current goals are to

  • Play a meaningful role in the proposed update of the City’s Heritage Register
  • Advocate for heritage conservation throughout the City on a neighbourhood level
  • Act as a resource for heritage advocacy

Heritage Vancouver has initiated several exciting new programs that will engage a broader audience in heritage conservation and improve our city-wide capacity to advocate on behalf of heritage. Our programs will support Vancouver’s heritage planning initiatives and also provide assistance to community-based conservation initiatives.

 

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