2024 Heritage BC Award Recipients

Travis Thuro, Ian Boese - Thuro Construction & Design

The restoration of the South Poplar School House was an opportunity to educate secondary Skills Development students, and the general public on applied heritage preservation. Their aim was to restore the derelict schoolhouse for public access while adhering to preservation standards. Urgently conserving the building's heritage values was a key immediate outcome. Now completed, the building will function as heritage programming space with an integrated interpretive center.

Gillian Froese, Past President, Kootenay Lake Historical Society
Kit Ashenhurst, Director, Kootenay Lake Historical Society
Elizabeth Scarlett, Secretary, Kootenay Lake Historical Society
Sarah Sinclair, President, Kootenay Lake Historical Society

The SS Moyie Outer Deck and Weather Envelope Rehabilitation project breathed new life into the world's oldest intact passenger sternwheeler, securing it for future generations. Ongoing from 2021-2023, the project coincided with the vessel’s 125th anniversary celebrations. Focused initially on addressing water intrusion issues in the saloon compartments, the project underwent meticulous planning and expert consultation to balance heritage preservation with modern protective measures. The endeavor involved removing and replacing the rotted canvas weather covering, installing waterproof membranes, and repainting the exterior surfaces. Extensive scaffolding was employed due to the ship's size. Supported by various funding sources, the dedicated volunteers of the Kootenay Lake Historical Society successfully executed the project, ensuring that Kaslo’s renowned tourist attraction will continue to enchant over 20,000 visitors annually.

Jesse Saniuk, Owner, The Binning Residence
Cheryle A. Harrison, Conservator, Conserv-Arte

The project aimed to create tailored restoration plans for three murals at The Binning Residence through close collaboration between owner Jesse Saniuk and conservator Cheryle Harrison. For the exterior mural, painstaking effort was made to uncover Binning's original color palette beneath layers of paint, restoring it to its authentic hues. The entrance gallery's iconic mural, damaged by foundational issues, underwent restoration after stabilization with steel-pipe push piers, revealing and preserving Binning's original patterns. Similarly, the upstairs mural, hidden under layers of wallpaper and paint, was meticulously restored after uncovering evidence of its existence. An impressive 300 hours of conservation work was invested to revive these murals, highlighting the fusion of art and architecture at The Binning Residence.

Ryan Martin, General Manager, Hume Hotel
Elana Zysblat, Principal, Ance Building Services Inc.
Mark Paulson, Founder & Co-Owner, Valor Painting
Lana Donaldson, Owner, K.W.C Block

This project involves restoring the Hume Hotel ghost sign on Baker Street in Nelson, a vital element of a registered heritage building. With the hotel operating for 125 years, the goal was to ensure the historic advertising was not lost to weathering, aging and time. Using the building's Statement of Significance, a visual chronology for the sign was developed. Under the guidance of heritage professionals and skilled tradespeople, the sign was restored to its original appearance. This restoration reinstates the sign as a significant historic landmark in the community, preserving its iconic status.

Catherine Clement, Creator and Curator
Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chinese Canadian Museum

The inaugural exhibition at the Chinese Canadian Museum, "The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act," marks a century since the enactment of the Chinese Immigration Act. This landmark legislation, in force until 1947, barred many Chinese immigrants from Canada for nearly 25 years. Featuring over 500 certificates of identity documents, the exhibit sheds light on the surveillance and control of Chinese Canadians during this era. It unveils previously untold stories, crucially highlighting the struggles of British Columbia's Chinese population, which constituted 60% of the province's total in 1921. Importantly, the exhibition offers details of how Chinese Canadians were forced into second-class status in Canada and the fight to regain those civil rights. Partnering with the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, this community-driven initiative explores Canada's racist past through family narratives, emphasizing the fight for inclusion and reconciliation.

Jane Lemke, Curator, Burnaby Village Museum
Denise Fong, Lead Researcher, Burnaby Village Museum
Lisa Codd, Heritage Planner, City of Burnaby

The culmination of six years of community-engaged research, this coffee-table book promotes Chinese Canadian history and heritage in Burnaby. Through oral histories, interviews, and archival research, it sheds light on the contributions and perseverance of Burnaby's Chinese Canadian community. The project aims to combat racism by educating the public about their significant role in the city's history. Featuring stories of multigenerational family farms, businesses, and community activism, it highlights resilience in the face of discrimination. Available in English and Simplified Chinese, and English and Traditional Chinese, the book was guided by the Museum's Chinese Canadian History Advisory Committee. It coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, emphasizing Burnaby's commitment to recognizing and addressing the impact of discriminatory legislation on its Chinese Canadian community.

Kris Foulds, Curator of Historical Collections, The Reach Gallery Museum
Kelley Tialiou, Curator of Art & Visual Culture, The Reach Gallery Museum
Andrea Orlosky, Curator of Learning & Community Engagement, The Reach Gallery Museum
Gureena Saran, Curatorial Assistant, The Reach Gallery Museum

Des Pardes is a community-engaged research project culminating in a major exhibition, educational programs, and enhanced digital access to heritage. Informed by contributions from hundreds of community members, it celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of South Asian communities in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. The exhibition employs historical photographs, oral histories, and contemporary interviews to explore themes like migration, faith, and contemporary culture. Presented in four languages, including English, Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi, the exhibition offers a multi-sensory experience. Over 100 oral histories and digitized archival resources enrich The Reach’s collections and are accessible through touchscreen kiosks. The research outputs of the projet enrich representation of South Asian community history by making the resources digitally accessible, ensuring broader public access to this history.

J’SINTEN / John Elliott, Saanich Native Heritage Society
Sarah Jim, Artist & Stewardship Coordinator, PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
Adrienne Brown, President, Mayne Island Conservancy
Tina Hudson, President, Mayne Island Agricultural Society
Richard DeArmond, President, Campbell Bay Music Festival Society

"ŚTEṈIST ȻENTOL EȻSIÁ TĆÁNȻE / Walking Forward with The Past is a reconciliation initiative honoring W̱SÁNEĆ knowledge and culture on SḴŦAḴ / Mayne Island. It features a wetland ethnobotanical garden and W̱SÁNEĆ art, including Welcome Poles by TEMOSEṈ Chazz Elliott and murals by W̱SÁNEĆ artist Sarah Jim, around the Museum and Agricultural Hall. The aim is to address historical erasure of marginalized communities and foster relationships between W̱SÁNEĆ people and island residents. Celebrations of project milestones included ceremonies, Elder wisdom, Salish dances by the HELI,SET Youth Drummers, and communal feasting. Through this initiative, indigenous species are returning to their homelands, symbolizing the enduring presence of the W̱SÁNEĆ community on SḴŦAḴ.

Stanley C Hunt, Kwakiutl Artist

Stanley C Hunt, a Kwakiutl Master Carver from Fort Rupert, BC, and Ray Bergen, a Vancouver businessman, initiated the 2023 Memorial Monument for Children of IRS Project out of a shared desire to raise awareness of Indian Residential School (IRS) impacts. The 18-foot sacred monument aims to honor the spirits of children who never returned home from these schools. Participants express love and gratitude to the families and survivors, emphasizing reconciliation and healing. The project, led by Kwakwabalas Stan Hunt and his team, engaged communities from Port Hardy to Ottawa, inviting all Canadians to participate virtually or in person. At every stop, the monument offered the chance to celebrate what had NOT been lost through the IRS. Communities are stronger, and children hold space in the way their ancestors taught them, learning language, participating in ceremony and practicing traditional and cultural values. The monument's journey from Port Hardy to Ottawa was supported by various organizations, including the Canadian Coast Guard, RCMP, and Canadian Navy, symbolizing a collective effort to acknowledge and commemorate the resilience of Indigenous communities despite the hardships of IRS.

Ilona Spaar, President & Founding Director, Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation
Johann Roduit, Co-President & Founding Director, Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation

The Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation was instrumental in safeguarding the historic Swiss Edelweiss Village in Golden, BC. Their advocacy prevented its demolition and now they collaborate with the new owner to preserve and promote it. The village, comprising six Swiss-style chalets, was home to CPR-employed Swiss mountain guides who introduced European mountaineering to the Canadian Rockies in the early 20th century. Threatened by development pressure and potential buyers seeking demolition, Drs. Ilona Spaar and Johann Roduit spearheaded efforts to raise awareness and secure protection. Their advocacy led to the village's inclusion in the 2022 Endangered Places List by the National Trust for Canada. Despite falling short in crowdfunding, they successfully facilitated Montayne, a heritage-conscious real estate group, to acquire the site. Under their presidency, the foundation advises the owner, aiming to establish a museum and community space for educational programs.

Hornby Island Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (HIRRA) Community Hall Committee

In 2023, the Hornby Island Residents' and Ratepayers' Association (HIRRA) established a Hornby Island Community Heritage Register under the direction of Margaret Birch. Supported by the Comox Valley Regional District, HIRRA worked with a local heritage consultant to prepare Statements of Significance for four buildings in their community - the Old Schoolhouse, the Community Hall, Room to Grow, and the Tribune Bay Lodge. The register, adopted by the Island Trust in 2024, recognizes and protects these historic places of special value to the community. This project highlights Hornby Island’s rich tradition of vernacular public architecture and is a significant step towards preserving its heritage.

Susan Diane Campbell, Chair of the Cemetery Recording Committee at the Kelowna and District Genealogical Society, led a 15-year mission to document and honor Central Okanagan residents through their burials. With a team of volunteers, she covered local cemeteries from Peachland to Oyama, including overlooked and unrecorded sites. Recording transcriptions and taking photographs of headstones, the committee preserved information dating back to the area's earliest pioneers. Campbell collaborated with descendants to collect names, information, and photos, researching and writing their stories. The results were published in 16 books with over 9,000 names, biographies, and maps, distributed to archives across North America. Additionally, a digital version with 6,000 photographs was created, ensuring widespread access. Campbell's extensive volunteer work forms a lasting legacy for historians, researchers, and genealogists, preserving the memory of the deceased and the region's undocumented heritage.

John Campbell is the driving force behind the Friends of the Richmond Archives Social Media Program. Utilizing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, History Pin, YouTube, and the blog "Outside the Box," the program celebrates Richmond's cultural heritage. Campbell, a retired engineer and historian, volunteered 300-500 hours annually since 2010, spearheading the program's success. He is also an active Director on the Board. Since 2012, the Social Media program has been educating and intriguing residents about Richmond's heritage, often referencing current community topics. Its posts are widely shared and regularly featured in local newspapers, contributing to the preservation and appreciation of Richmond's history.

Ann-Marie Metten has served as the Executive Director for the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society since its inception in 2007. The house, once the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa, faced demolition until Metten spearheaded a grassroots effort to preserve it. Under her guidance, the house evolved into a nationally recognized writer-in-residence program and a hub for community engagement. Metten's dedication revitalized the site, attracting writers, artists, and schoolchildren alike. Her efforts ensured the house's longevity as a cultural and literary landmark, contributing significantly to heritage conservation and community growth. Thanks to her vision, visitors to Vancouver can continue to enjoy this historic gem for years to come.