2022 Heritage Award Recipients

Jim Wolf is both an exceptional heritage sector volunteer and a professional planner. He has been the leader, mentor, and support for countless community projects in both New Westminster and Burnaby, as well as around the Metro Vancouver region. A lifetime achievement award is certainly fitting for Jim, who works so hard to make local histories and community voices heard.

Winners:
Sandra & Mike Larocque, The Friends of the Morden Mine Society (FOMM)
Heritageworks Ltd.
Heritage Masonry
Thujacraft
Provincial Heritage Branch
BC Parks
RJC Engineers

Impressive collaboration and tremendous innovation on a tricky industrial conservation project characterizes the Morden Colliery stabilization and restoration. The extensive conservation research on materials such as concrete and steel, which ensured the 100-year-old aesthetics while meeting modern safety concerns, was impressive. This is truly a remarkable project that links community accessibility to heritage with story.

Winners:
Ryan Bahris, Owner / Operator for Extraordinary League Contracting ltd.
Drew Ratcliffe, Director , And-Co Ltd
Donald Luxton, Heritage Consultant - Donald Luxton and Associates
A.K. Mathisen, In Memoriam
Matthew Bell, The Arpeg Group

This heritage conservation project is a feat of architectural archeology with beautifully executed heritage conservation best practices. The art deco boardroom rehabilitation in a modern downtown Vancouver tower is an intentional conservation effort that brings about a shining example of historic adaptive reuse combined with cutting edge technological workspaces.

Winners:
Jenny Robinson, Executive Director for Nelson CARES Society
Bill Lynch, Project Manager
Leisa Talbot, Property Manager, Nelson CARES Society
Steffan Haake, Ward Street Place Staff
Elana Zysblat, Heritage Consultant, CAHP at Ance Building Services

Some heritage buildings have a livelier street level community profile than others. The Annable Block in Nelson is such a building with recognizable Edwardian character and features. The heritage conservation project that brought this building back into functional purpose blended best practices with economic sustainability.

Winners:
Stuart Rothnie, HCMA
Carolyn Levesque, Royal Roads University

Often creative conservation approaches are required to achieve adaptive reuse. New technologies and materials can be key in retaining features that would otherwise be lost when meeting current building code standards. The Royal Roads University Sherman Jen Building is an example of high standard in heritage conservation practice.

Winners:
Kevin Hanvey, Principal / Director Omicron Architecture
Russell Horswill, Secretary Treasurer, School District 41 (Burnaby)
Chelsea Dunk, Senior Conservation Specialist & Project Manager, Donald Luxton and Associates Inc.

Heritage conservation is most impactful in communities when it secures the preservation of a cherished historic building or resource and also allows new functions to be possible. The Burnaby School Board Office project reflects best practices for heritage in both its structural restoration and revitalization- bringing together past and future.

Winner:
Lorisa Williams, Curator, Heritage Abbotsford Society

This project showcases how partnerships can result in excellent research, and impactful and enduring alliances. The impact of this exhibit is seen in its contribution to decolonization in a community context. Sto:lo community members are seeing themselves in this exhibit which portrays history contextually with contemporary issues.

Winner:
Nelson and District Museum, Archives, Art Gallery and Historical Society (formally Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art and History)

Arin Fay, Curator

Astrid Heyedahl, Executive Director

The Grow Show exhibition showcases how art and history can converge to discuss the importance of contemporary issues using citical and collaborative methodology. The cannabis culture in the Kootenays can be seen through different lenses (for example agriculture, or economy and culture, and importantly heritage) and reflects the past, present, and future of a complex hidden history and evolving contemporary story.

Winners:
Gina Armstrong, Co-Founder, Haunted History BC
Victoria Vancek, Co-Founder, Haunted History BC

Excellent storytelling captivates. It is also an important aspect of what makes heritage relevant and personal. Gina Armstrong and Victoria Vancek, with their BC Legends and Folklore project brought a creative and unique approach to storytelling that is helping retain BC’s historic information.

The writings of John Mackie for the Vancouver Sun and other Post Media publications invited people to discover lesser known aspects of lower mainland history. The entry points for heritage appreciation and awareness are personal, and John Mackie provided accessibility to many.

Ruckle Farm is a well known heritage asset on Salt Spring Island. The success of the farm is certainly in large measure because of the exceptional dedication and contributions of Mike and Marjorie Lane. Regenerative agriculture, family history, and historic livestock practices, are only a few of the achievements resulting from their special kind of commitment that never seems to be limited by their contract scope.

Steve had an infectious energy when it came to heritage. He immersed himself into many community projects in New Westminster, and was no stranger to advocacy; he believed in making heritage accessible, and worked effectively through public collaboration and consultation. It is appropriate that he is being recognized for his many contributions.

Any organization that has a volunteer like Julie Schmidt should acknowledge how lucky they are. Julie Schimdt is no ordinary volunteer; she gives many hours weekly and successfully takes on diverse responsibilities from public programming and research to administrative and committee work. We know that success of heritage is always because of people, and Julie is an example for us to celebrate.

In a short time, Brenda Guiled has put heritage engagement and leadership into action as a volunteer at BC Parks. She seems to have creative capacity for taking on important initiatives as a volunteer for the farm, which supports both visitors and Salt Spring Islanders in gaining access to BC’s cultural heritage.

Winner:
Keith Thor Carlson, Chair, UFV Peace and Reconciliation Centre

The Collaboratorium brings together opportunities for students to grow critical research skills as well as experience applying them. The results have been transformative for many organizations aligned with the Centre and the Project, because a deeper understanding of historic processes are resulting; shifting ideas and practical action towards reconciliation, awareness, and redress.

Winner:
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Resiliency is fundamental to how heritage organizations remain connected to their communities. Pivoting Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s popular heritage house tour to an online format ensured continued focus of both heritage awareness and public health, while still providing stability of employment and revenue for the organization.