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.

8:30 – 13:00

Kilby Historic Site : Emergency Preparation Workshop

$25.00

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. Travel to the Kilby Historic Site to learn about how the Kilby team and Provincial Heritage Branch are strategically approaching the protection of their heritage resources, and learn about the network being built across BC in response to this growing threat.
Snacks will be provided.
Registration: 35 places available

View Presenters

Theresa McFarland, Acting/Manager-Stewardship and Historic Places, Heritage Branch
Chelsea Brown, Curator, Kilby Historic Site
BC HERN Representative

 

10:00 – 11:30 13:00 – 17:00

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

Cultural Heritage 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.

 

14:00 – 15:30

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

“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

Repatriation with Kilby Historic Site and Sts’ailes First Nation

$25.00

This event is sponsored by the Provincial Heritage Branch.
Repatriation from museums has become key to the heritage and museum sector moving towards decolonization and reconciliation. Join Chelsea Brown (Curator, Kilby Historic Site), Theresa McFarland (Manager of Stewardship and Historic Places, Heritage Branch) and Morgan Ritchie (Heritage Research Archaeologist, Sts’ailes), 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

Morgan Ritchie, Archaeologist, Sts’ailes First Nation
Chelsea Brown, Curator, Kilby Historic Site
Theresa McFarland, Acting/Manager-Stewardship and Historic Places, Heritage Branch

 

19:00 – 20:30

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	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:

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
Session 1A	Small Organizations: Organizational Stability and Capacity Building Practices
	This panel brings together two examples of small organizations in BC who have sustainably found the capacity to consistently serve their community through their heritage work. Zahra Esmail, CEO from Vantage Point, offers perspective on the steps that small organizations can take to build capacity in their communities, and leads a discussion lessons learned and best practices with the presenters.
	View Presenters Zahra Esmail, CEO, Vantage Point Further panelists to be confirmed
Session 1B	Heritage Planning in Decolonization
	View Presenters Maria Stanborough, RPP, MCIP, C + S Planning Group Angie Bain, Researcher, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs Further presenters to be confirmed
Session 1C	Using UNESCO Frameworks to Champion Heritage at Home
	UNESCO sites around the world are recognized for their significant biological and cultural heritage. Whether a biosphere region, geopark or heritage site, the UNESCO designation has the opportunity to benefit the local community, environment and economy. This talk, moderated by SFU professor and UNESCO Chair in BioCultural Diversity and Education Dr. David Zandvliet, offers case studies of two recognized UNESCO sites in British Columbia and one applicant site to explore the reasons for applying, and benefits from receiving this prominent designation.
	View Presenters Moderator: David Zandvliet, Professor SFU and UNESCO Chair in BioCultural Diversity and Education Manda Maggs, Executive Director, Tumbler Ridge Geopark Martin Segger, Coordinator, Victoria UNESCO Application
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
Session 2A	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.
	View Presenters Moderator: Donald Luxton, Principal, Donald Luxton & Associates Elana Zysblat, President BCAHP Britney Dack, Senior Heritage Planner, City of New Westminster Laura Saretsky, Heritage Planner, City of Victoria
Session 2B	Turning places of hurt into places of power : Former Residential Schools as sites for education, truth-telling and healing
	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 learn of examples of different Nation-led approaches to truth-telling, education and healing at former residential school buildings or sites.
	View Presenters Diena Jules, Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park Kenneth Favrholdt, Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park Leanna Gravelle, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Ktunaxa Nation
Session 2C	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. With examples from the First People’s Cultural Council, the Columbia River Treaty Heritage Project, 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
15:00 – 16:30
Session 3A	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.
	View Presenters Moderator: Donald Luxton, Principal, Donald Luxton & Asssciates Jenny Robinson,  Executive Director, Nelson Cares Society (at Annable Block) 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
Session 3B	Activating the Archive
	Archives are a part of nearly every community in BC, helping us tell the story of our past. They play a part in our search for identity and community, 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 archives can become a tool to engage our communities with the past in new, meaningful ways.
	View Presenters Analeee Weinberger, Filmmaker, Blood Relations Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains, Director of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley Further presenters to be confirmed
Session 3C	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.
	View Presenters Karen Aird, Manager of Culture and Heritage, First People’s Cultural Council Gordon Larin, Executive Director, First People’s Cultural Foundation
16:30 – 17:30
	Repatriation Group Meeting (private meeting)
	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.
18:00 – 19:30	Digital Technology for Heritage stewardship: Reflecting on Digital Sq’éwlets and its Impact on Community
	Digital Sq’éwlets is a 2016 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 incorportates 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	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.
	View Presenters To be confirmed
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
Session 4A	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.
	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)
Session 4B	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
Session 4C	Path-making: Educating and Guiding Future Heritage Changemakers
	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 changemakers 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
Session 5A	Passing down the knowledge of cultural practices featuring show & tell
	Tangible heritage resources wouldn’t exist without the traditional and skilled intangible knowledge holders who create those buildings, crafts, and more. Without the mentorship, apprenticeships and other formal or informal programs, future generations will be deprived of our  heritage resources due to loss of cultural knowledge, and skills. Join this panel to hear from cultural and heritage practitioners are passing down their knowledge and skills to future generations. How they are doing it, and what they imagine for the future of their craft.
	View Presenters To be confirmed
Session 5B	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 Jeffrey McCord, Marketing Representative/House Rescuer, Nickel Bros. Stephanie Mah, Creative Director, Giaimo Further panelists to be confirmed
Session 5C	TOPIC OPEN
16:30 – 17:30	Special Interest Groups
	IBPOC Professionals Space
	LGBTQ2S Professionals Space
19:00 – 20:30	Closing Reception & Awards Gala

 

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