Conference 2023 – Program

Thursday, May 25th

8:30 – 16:00

Registration Desk Open in Coast Chilliwack Hotel Lobby

 

Field Trips and Workshops

Registration is required for all May 25th events due to limited spots.

*EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED AS SESSION ON FRIDAY MAY 26th 10:30-12:00*

10:00 – 11:30 13:00 – 17:00 Chilliwack Museum and Tashme Museum

Suitcase Project Exhibit Talk & Tour of the Tashme Museum, Japanese Canadian Internment Site

$25.00

This two part workshop and field trip explores how museum exhibits and historic sites play a role in connecting place, story and history. In the morning, join fourth generation Japanese Canadian artist Kayla Isomura for a conversation about their introspective exhibit “The Suitcase Project,” which asks yonsei and gosei (fourth and fifth generation) Japanese Canadians and Americans what they would pack if uprooted from their homes in a moment’s notice.
Following lunch on your own in downtown Chilliwack, regroup for a visit to the Tashme Museum, a former Japanese Canadian Internment site. Kayla and Ryan Ellan, Tashme Museum’s Founder, will introduce you and lead your visit around this important site in Canada’s history.
Registration: 30 places available

View Presenters

Kayla Isomura, creator “The Suitcase Project”
Ryan Ellan, Founder/Curator, Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum

 

10:00 – 11:30 Royal Hotel Chilliwack – Whiskey Richards’ Room

Cultural Planning for Inclusive Communities Workshop

$0.00

Nordicity has been researching heritage, arts, culture, and community development for over 3 decades. In their work locally and globally, they are committed to pursuing meaningful community engagement and including new voices to inform planning and strategy development. Sarah and Louisa have developed best practices for designing inclusive engagement strategies, and will share them with delegates registered for this 1.5 hour workshop. The workshop will start with a presentation on their past experiences, followed by small group discussions, and concluding with a plenary to share back findings.
Registration: 25 places available

View Presenters

Louisa Plant, MA, Manager, Nordicity
Louisa has a strong focus on strategic planning, community engagement, and cultural planning. Recently, she has worked with the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Regional District of Fraser Fort-George, and Nanaimo Art Gallery. Louisa has also led research into newcomer integration.
Sarah Panjvani, MA, Senior Analyst, Nordicity
Sarah has expertise in international cultural relations, public engagement, and policy analysis. Her recent research and strategic planning work includes clients such as the City of Surrey, Mackenzie Museum, and the Racial Equity Media Collective.

  1.5 CPL Units

14:00 – 15:30 Downtown Chilliwack

Walking Tour : Facilitating Connection & Vibrancy Through Street Art

$0.00

Chilliwack Mural Festival is a historic downtown public art festival that combines the live creation of large-scale murals with some of Canada’s and the World’s emerging and established artists.  We are privileged to host our festival on the unceded territory of the Stó:lō people. CMF started in 2019 and currently has more than 40 murals big and small.
Registration: 25 places available

View Presenters

Amber Price, co-founder, Chilliwack Mural Festival, is a passionate community member who believes in the power of social change, literacy, and creativity.  She is the owner of The Book Man, a chain of two independent bookstores in the Fraser Valley.  Amber is a co-founder and curator of the Chilliwack Mural Festival.  She serves on the boards of the Chilliwack Community Arts Council, the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation, and the Chilliwack Creative Commission.

 

9:00 – 16:00 Departing from Coast Hotel Chilliwack

“Bad Rock” Place Names Bus Tour with Stó:lō Tourism

$59.00

Enjoy the majestic mountains and waterways of the Upper Fraser Valley on a tour departing from Chilliwack destined for the scenic Fraser Canyon above historic Yale B.C. Listen and learn about the unique relationship between the Stó:lō, “the River People”, their land and their environment.
Special stops of interests may include the fishing rock known as Kw’ik-w’iyá:la (Coquihalla); the pool of origin for the sacred sxwó:yxwey mask; hear about the s’ó:lmexw or “waterbabies” and the mimestíyexw or the “little people” of the forest; see the remains of a sqémél (pithouse: or in Chinook “keekwillie”) last used in the 1880’s; and see where Xexá:ls the transformers left scratch marks at a place where he did battle with Xéylxe-lamós, an Indian Doctor; hear about the stl’áleqem or spiritual beings. Learn up to 120 Halq’méylem place names including the original names of Lhílheqey for Mt. Cheam, Ts’qó:ls for Hope, Xwoxwelá:lhp for Yale, and Xéylxelamós for Lady Franklin Rock, and many other Halq’eméylem Place Names.
Lunch will be provided.
Registration: 40 places available

13:00 – 17:00 Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem  (Healing House)

Repatriation with Kilby Historic Site and Sts’ailes First Nation

$25.00

Repatriation from museums has become key to the heritage and museum sector moving towards decolonization and reconciliation. Join team members from Kilby Historic Site, the Provincial Heritage Branch and Sts’ailes First Nation, at the Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem (Sts’ailes Healing House) to learn about the collaborative efforts to repatriate 29 sá:letel (baskets) previously held at the Kilby Historic Site to the Sts’ailes. This historic repatriation was celebrated on March 3, 2023, bringing home the sá:letel created by the late Ada Peters, Alice Point, Che Che Williams, Frenchie Chapman, Emma Leon, Mary Joseph, and others whose names were not recorded.
Registration: 50 places available

View Presenters

Chelsea Brown, Curator, Kilby Historic Site
Theresa McFarland, Acting/Manager-Stewardship and Historic Places, Heritage Branch
Ryan Charlie, Shuspah, Cultural Tourism Host, Sts’ailes
Stephanie Leon Riedl, Environmental Strategist, Xwiléxmet, Sts’ailes

 

Thank you to the Provincial Heritage Branch for sponsoring this session.

 

19:00 – 20:30 Chilliwack Museum, Chambers Gallery

Opening Reception & Heritage SLAM!

Join us at the Chilliwack Museum to watch your colleagues from around the province present on their recent successes in heritage. Doors open at 19:00pm. Appetizers will be provided, and there will be a cash bar.
Did you know? Heritage SLAM presenters receive a special discount for conference registration! Submit a 5-minute presentation starting March 15th, and if you are chosen to present, you will receive a discount code to use when registering.

Learn More and Submit a Heritage SLAM! Presentation

Friday, May 26th

8:00 – 8:30	Breakfast, Registration Desk Open in Coast Chilliwack Hotel Lobby
8:30 – 10:00 Rosedale Ballroom	Keynote Speech : Becoming Change Makers Through Bridge Building with Chief David Jimmie

As Heritage advocates, we recognize that heritage has the potential to transform environmental sustainability, community identity and more. To make this transformation a reality, we must become change makers that initiate the impact that we want to see in our communities.
What does it take to become a leader that shifts the conversations in your community? A change maker in our host community of Chilliwack, Chief David Jimmie, opens up our conference with a first-hand tale of what it takes to initiate change in your community. With a career built on forging relationships, bridge building, and service to community, Chief Jimmie shares his takeaways on how to make change in your community by weaving a network of support to achieve your goals together.

About Chief David Jimmie:

Chief David Jimmie, Squiala First Nation, President – Stó:lō Nation Chief’s Council, President – Ts’elxweyéqw Tribe, Chair of Western Indigenous Pipeline Group, Owner / Operator of DJimmie Construction.
A collaborative leader, Chief David Jimmie lends his expertise to establish growth opportunities while serving his community and the organizations which sustain it. He is Chief and CEO of Squiala First Nation, President of the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council and President of Ts’elxweyéqw Tribe Management Limited. He also serves as Chair and Vice President of Finance for the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group and is the owner / operator of DJC (DJimmie Construction). Chief Jimmie’s ability to forge relationships and bridge the gap between groups has created economic spinoffs and partnerships that have been valuable for each of the organizations he works with to diversify revenue streams. With a Master’s in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, Chief Jimmie’s efforts focus on creating partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups. His traditional name, Lenéx wí :ót, meaning “One who works for the people”, embodies his leadership philosophy as he believes strong relationships are key to creating capacity for his people. Chief Jimmie is a board member of the Chilliwack Hospital Foundation, the Sts’ailes Development Corporation and Tourism Chilliwack. He has served as co-chair of the AFN National Committee on Fiscal Relations with the Government of Canada, the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce and the board of New Relationship Trust. Chief Jimmie’s commitment to inclusivity reflects his intent to unite the Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds.

 

10:30 – 12:00
Hemlock Room	Non-Profit Sustainability and Stability : Finding Solutions Together
	This session offers delegates a chance to discuss the struggles of building sustainable and stable non-for-profit organizations in heritage and culture. Zahra Esmail, CEO from Vantage Point, offers perspective on the steps that small organizations can take to build capacity in their communities, and is joined by Donald Knox, who brings over 30 years of board experience in societies in the Okanagan region. Together, they will begin the conversation of sustainable stability through the lenses of funding, board succession and strategic planning, asking delegates to share their experiences and brainstorming the best strategies for building capacity in your organizations.
	View Presenters Zahra Esmail, CEO, Vantage Point Donald Knox, President, Central Okanagan Heritage Society
Fraser Room	Taking a Decolonial Lens to Heritage Planning : Learnings from the City of Burnaby’s Heritage Plan Review
	Join Angie Bain and Maria Stanborough for presentations that reflect on learnings from their work reviewing the City of Burnaby’s heritage policy and programs. Hear about the goals, outcomes and their reflections on the process of the review. Following the presentations, delegates will participate in an activity to help you identify ways to support greater inclusiveness, foster relationship building with First Nations, and expand the role of cultural heritage in your community planning process.   1.5 CPL Units
	View Presenters Maria Stanborough, RPP, MCIP, C + S Planning Group Angie Bain, Researcher, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
Rosedale Ballroom	Emergency Preparedness for Historic Sites with BC HERN
	Changes in climate and emergency weather events have become more and more frequent in recent years, making emergency preparedness plans more important than ever for stewards of heritage buildings and historic sites. Learn about how the Kilby team and Provincial Heritage Branch are strategically approaching the protection of their heritage resources. Learn from BCHERN about the network they are building across BC in response to this growing threat.   1.5 CPL Units
	View Presenters Theresa McFarland, Acting/Manager-Stewardship and Historic Places, Heritage Branch Chelsea Brown, Curator, Kilby Historic Site BC HERN Representatives Thank you to Ecclesiastical Insurance for sponsoring this session.
12:00 – 13:00	Catered Lunch We are also offering a lunchtime networking activity with prizes for those who want to participate
13:00 – 14:30
Rosedale Ballroom	The Real Challenges We Face in Preserving Heritage Structures in a Growing Metropolis, Part 1: Heritage Conservation Areas : From NIMBY to YIMBY
	In recent years, Heritage Conservation Areas have come under fire for being perceived as NIMBY tools to keep density and affordable housing options out of their neighbourhoods, rather than heritage tools per se. Join our panelists for a discussion on the truths and misconceptions behind these claims, and to learn how Heritage Conservation Areas can be configured and customized to not only achieve meaningful heritage conservation but to also cultivate sustainable community growth and thriving and diverse neighbourhoods.   1.5 CPL Units
	View Presenters Moderator: Donald Luxton, Principal, Donald Luxton & Associates Elana Zysblat, CAHP, Heritage Consultant, Ance Building Services Britney Dack, Senior Heritage Planner, City of New Westminster Laura Saretsky, Heritage Planner, City of Victoria
Hemlock Room	Sites of Conscience
	In recent years, Indigenous-led research and the stories of survivors have revealed truths about residential schools, their abuse, and the systemic stripping of language, tradition, and cultural heritage that they perpetrated. Now, Indigenous communities are exploring new and culturally significant ways to take back power from these historic buildings. This session will explore how truth-telling and the revitalization of Indigenous cultural heritage can open new paths to decision-making around these buildings and sites, whose conservation holds a much different meaning than for buildings without this same history. Join this session to see examples of different Nation-led approaches to truth-telling, education and healing at former residential school buildings or sites.
	View Presenters Diena Jules, Manager, Language and Culture Department, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Kenneth Favrholdt, BA, MA. Archivist, Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park, Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Leanna Gravelle, Director of Operations at the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre for the Ⱡkamnin̓tik Children’s Truth and Reconciliation Society located in the St. Eugene’s Golf Resort and Casino
15:00 – 16:30
Fraser Room	The Real Challenges We Face in Preserving Heritage Structures in a Growing Metropolis, Part 2: How Do We Pay For this?
	In recent years, communities across BC are growing and making room for new residents and businesses. Bringing together 3 examples of communities that developed with heritage in mind, this session tackles the questions that heritage advocates across the province struggle to answer: How do we pay for heritage conservation? The panel features a variety of experiences, from non-for-profit to developer, to talk about strategies for preserving heritage buildings in our communities, and how they can play a role in ensuring historic character continues to have a role in our changing communities.   1.5 CPL Units
	View Presenters Moderator: Donald Luxton, Principal, Donald Luxton & Asssciates Jenny Robinson,  Project Manager, Annable Block Heritage Restoration Project Dave Algra, Founder, Algra Bros., responsible for Chilliwack’s District 1881 development James Emery AIBC, MRAIC, P.Eng., CAHP, LEED APd, Principal Architect, Iredale Architecture
Hemlock Room	Re-Imagining Archives : Exploring Ways to Document and Share Stories That Honour Identity and Community
	Archives are a part of nearly every community in BC, helping us tell the story of our past. They play a part in documenting our personal and shared identities, but this does not mean that they tell the truth about us. This session pulls together three presentations that dig into the archive as tools for understanding identity, of both self and community. The panelists explore how archives have failed them, how their projects respond to this, and how re-imagining archives through innovative documentation and projects can help us engage our communities with the past in new, meaningful ways.
	View Presenters Analee Weinberger, Filmmaker, Blood Relations Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains, Director of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley Dr. Wanosts’a7 Lorna Williams, Professor Emeritus at University of Victoria, Chair of the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation Lucas Roque, First Peoples’ Cultural Council
Rosedale Ballroom	How do we walk alongside Indigenous Heritage Stewardship?
	Karen Aird and Gordon Larin of the First People’s Cultural Council (FPCC) share the FPCC and the First People’s Cultural Foundation’s goals and efforts to support Indigenous Peoples’ stewardship of their culture and heritage. Delegates will learn about the initiatives, resources and projects that their teams and programs have supported for revitalizing BC First Nations’ culture and heritage. Then, Holly Janzen and Jackie Drummond share the work that they have been doing at UFV’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre in collaboration with local community organizations through the centre’s Collaboratorium.   1.5 CPL Units
	View Presenters Karen Aird, Manager of Culture and Heritage, First Peoples’ Cultural Council Gordon Larin, Executive Director, First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation Holly Janzen, BC, Program Coordinator, University of the Fraser Valley, Peace and Reconciliation Centre (UFV PARC) Jackie Drummond, BA, Research Coordinator for Dr. Keith Thor Carlson, University of the Fraser Valley, Peace and Reconciliation Centre (UFV PARC)
16:30 – 17:30
Fraser Room	2SLGBTQIA+ Meeting A supportive, safe space for 2SLGBTQIA+ delegates to meet. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss Heritage related topics and share their experiences in an informal setting. Discussions may include brainstorming ideas for building inclusive spaces within the heritage sector, making space for emerging 2SLGBTQIA+ heritage professionals, increasing the representation of queer heritage in our community narratives, and more.
Hemlock Room	Experience : Try a VR archive-based documentary – Blood Relations Director Analee Weinberger, Blood Relations, will have VR headsets available for delegates to use to experience her new interactive NFB documentary. Learn about the project from Analee by attending the “Activating the Archive” session at 3:00pm.
Rosedale Ballroom	BCAHP Happy Hour! Whether you are already a BC Association of Heritage Professionals (BCAHP) member, a student in the heritage field, a working heritage professional or someone who aspires to become one – come join the BCAHP Board and members for Happy Hour! Everyone is welcome to socialize, talk heritage, network, make new connections and schmooze with old friends!
18:00 – 19:30	Digital Technology for Heritage stewardship: Reflecting on Digital Sq’éwlets and its Impact on Community
Chilliwack Museum, Chambers Gallery	Digital Sq’éwlets is a 2017 multimedia collaborative project led by the Stó:lō Research and Resource Centre. The project shares the journey of the Sq’éwlets people from ancient times to the present and incorporates interactive images, audio, videos, and more.  This evening, join some of the project’s key collaborators for a screening of some of the project videos followed by a panel discussion. During the panel, they will share reflections on the role digital technology can play in the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage, the impact of this innovative project for the Sq’éwlets community, and further work being done in association with this site to promote Indigenous cultural heritage preservation.
	View Presenters Dr. Dave Schaepe, Director of the Stó:lō Research and Resource Centre Grand Chief Clarence Pennier, Stó:lō Nation Dr. Kate Hennessy, professor at SFU’s School of Interactive Arts & Technology

 

Saturday, May 27th

8:00 – 8:30	Catered Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 Rosedale Ballroom	Keynote Panel: Same Goal, Different Role – Coming Together to Use the Power of Heritage for Community Growth
	This plenary panel brings together heritage professionals and advocates from a variety of backgrounds all working in the same community to discuss how they can work together to make heritage a tool for community support and growth.   1.5 CPL Units
	View Presenters Moderator: Berdine Jonker, CAHP, Director, Heritage BC Stephen Mikicich, Manager, Heritage Planning, Township of Langley Fred Pepin, President, Langley Heritage Society Lindsay Foreman, Ph.D, Curator of Indigenous Arts and Culture, Township of Langley
10:30 – 12:00	Networking Event (Roundtables)
	Join your colleagues for a networking event that will help break-silos and remind us the strength in diverse perspectives and experiences for making a heritage sector that can bring positive change to our communities.
12:00 – 13:00	Catered Lunch
13:00 – 14:30
Rosedale Ballroom	Securing Heritage for our Future : Bridging Heritage Buildings and Modern Expectations
	Heritage buildings are a valuable part of the fabric of our built communities. They offer historic character, community spaces, and are an environmentally sustainable option for building a greener future. In choosing to conserve and steward the heritage buildings in our communities, heritage practitioners are expected to account for modern standards established for building safety and sustainability. Join this session as our panelists discuss some of these standards, and how they can be applied to our heritage resources without compromising their heritage value. 1.5 CPL Units Thank you to Equitable Real Estate Investment Corp. for sponsoring this session.
	View Presenters Moderator: John Dam, B.A.Sc., M.Sc., P.Eng., CAHP, Principal, John Dam & Associates Katie Cummer, PhD, CAHP, Cummer Consulting Brandon Paxton, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., Project Engineer, RJC Engineers Meghan Lenz, Grants Programs Manager, Vancouver Heritage Foundation Murray Johnson, M.Sc., FEC, P.Eng.(Retired)
Fraser Room	WORKSHOP : Diversifying Heritage Walking Tours Through a Decolonial Methodology
	Heritage walking tours help historical societies, museums and more engage locals and visitors with the built and intangible environments that make up our communities. As the heritage sector embraces the principles of diversity and reconciliation in the narratives that we share, our walking tours are an important place to diversify the stories we tell about place and community. Join our facilitators for a workshop built to help you start this process, and begin taking actionable steps to incorporate diverse stories in your tours through a decolonized lens.
	Meet the Facilitators Alasdair Butcher, Founder/Tour Director, Vancouver DeTours Carmel Tanaka, Program Coordinator, Cross Cultural Walking Tours
Hemlock Room	Path-making: Educating and Guiding Future Heritage Change makers
	In the face of both climate and social change, heritage practitioners have the opportunity to forge new paths that reflect our sector’s evolving priorities. This panel-workshop introduces different perspectives on what these pathways can look like. From conscious mentorship that engages emerging professionals, to storytelling that catalyzes changes in our dominant narratives, to re-defining the desired outcomes of our public education programs – this session asks you to think critically about the paths you are forging for the future of heritage. Following presentations on mentorship and storytelling, take part in a workshop that engages you with a new process for building programs that foster change makers in your community.
	View Presenters Monica Lambton, Education Programs Coordinator, Gulf of Georgia Cannery Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra , Historian, Parks Canada Christina Reid, Executive Director, Heritage Abbotsford Society Anna Irwin, Collections Manager, Human History, Royal BC Museum
15:00 – 16:30
Rosedale Ballroom	Make the Argument : Demolition should be a last resort – Understanding the environmental value of our existing buildings
	Heritage Advocates know that the Greenest Building is the one that has already been built. This panel brings together presenters who live this motto in their work to share data and examples that prove this case. From Life Cycle Assessments to Embodied Carbon, learn the data behind why this argument just makes sense. Then see examples from moving heritage Buildings to adaptive re-use cases that show the key role that heritage conservation can play in a sustainable society.
	View Presenters Moderator: Elana Zysblat, CAHP, Heritage Consultant, Ance Building Services Jeffrey McCord, Marketing Representative/House Rescuer, Nickel Bros. Stephanie Mah, Creative Director, Giaimo Brenda Martens, O.B.C., B.Sc., CSBA, LEED AP BD+C, TRUE (Zero Waste) Advisor, LEED Fellow, Principal, ædify consulting 1.5 CPL Credits Thank you to BCAHP for sponsoring this session.
Hemlock Room	Making Historic Buildings Accessible
	While we often argue that “Heritage is for Everyone”, the reality is that historical buildings were not built with every person in mind. This panel focuses on the physical accessibility in historic buildings by approaching barriers from three perspectives – planning policy, building upgrades, and accessibility audits. Following the presentations, participants will take part in an activity that asks them to consider what actions they can take to make meaningful accessibility improvements to heritage buildings in their communities. 1.5 CPL Credits
	View Presenters Laura Saretsky, Heritage Planner, City of Victoria Amy Amantea, Accessibility Strategist Robert Stacey, Architect, AIBC, Principal, Cover Architecture Kelsy Whitten, Intern Architect, Rick Hansen Foundation Certified, Cover Architecture
Fraser Room	The Power of Culture Mapping: Recording the Past, Sharing the Present, Informing the Future
	This session brings together organizations that are working on different cultural maps across the province to provide case studies that reveal the power of mapping to record the past, share the present, and inform the future. Showcasing the First Peoples’ Map, the Vancouver-based Heritage Site Finder and Places That Matter maps, and the North Shore Culture Compass, learn how cultural maps of different scopes and themes can help community members and visitors connect with the history, heritage, and culture of a place.
	View Presenters Gretchen Fox, Fox Cultural Research and First Peoples’ Map Harriet Goodwin, Marketing Manager, North Van Arts | North Shore Culture Compass Michelle Richard, Cultural Compass Manager, North Van Arts | North Shore Culture Compass Jessica Quan, Projects Manager, Vancouver Heritage Foundation
16:30 – 17:30	Reserved Meeting Spaces
Fraser Room	IBPOC Professionals Space A supportive, safe space for Indigenous, Black and POC delegates to meet. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss Heritage related topics and share their experiences and aspirations for representation in an informal setting. Discussions may include brainstorming ideas for building inclusive spaces within the heritage sector, how to increase interest amongst IBPOC professionals to enter into the heritage sector, increasing representation of diverse heritage narratives in our communities, and more.
19:00 – 20:30	Closing Reception & Awards Ceremony in the Coast Hotel’s Rosedale Ballroom
Rosedale Ballroom	Gather with your fellow conference delegates and awards winners from the 2023 BC Heritage Awards to celebrate the impressive accomplishments that our peers have achieved in Heritage in the last year. Desserts will be served and drinks will be available for purchase. Learn about the 2023 nominees here. If you want attend the awards ceremony, but not the rest of the conference, you can buy tickets here. Thank you to Equitable Real Estate Investment Corp. for sponsoring this event.

 

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