Just days after the new federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (HLPA) came into effect on May 29, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans declared surplus all of its active and inactive lighthouses – almost 1,000 in total.  According to the Heritage Canada Foundation, the move leaves the door open to the abandonment 
of these lighthouses and demolition by neglect, precisely what the HLPA was intended to prevent.After a decade of...
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HOMEOWNER PROTECTION ACT After four years of advocacy, the provincial Homeowner Protection Act (HPA) has been amended to exempt officially recognized heritage property. The 1998 HPA was brought in following the leaky condo scandal.  The purpose of the Act is to provide protection to buyers of new homes.  Under the Act each new home in B.C. is covered by warranty insurance again defects. Heritage got caught up with the HPA when it turned...
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On Friday, July 29th, 1910, an expedition, led by British Columbia’s Chief Commissioner of Lands, the Honourable Price Ellison, reached the summit of Crown Mountain in central Vancouver Island. Their objective was to explore the surrounding region for the purposes of establishing a park. On the advice of Ellison, legislation was enacted in March, 1911, to create British Columbia’s first Provincial Park, Strathcona.This summer the Strathcona...
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Heritage BC presented awards to the best projects from the past year at a ceremony in Victoria on June 4.  The Heritage BC awards program recognizes efforts in advocacy and heritage conservation, and this year honoured 10 projects for exceptional achievement.   Several recipients were from Vancouver and represented large scale commercial projects, but a number of smaller, community based efforts were also recognized, including the historic...
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The recent announcement that Canada has received Approved Designation Status (ADS) from the People’s Republic of China is welcome news for heritage tourism in B.C.Previously, marketing organizations like the Canadian Tourism Commission were unable to promote directly to Chinese consumers.  Now with ADS, the CTC will implement a robust action plan to leverage the growing interest of Chinese travelers to Canada, many of whom are eager to...
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