Future Planning for Heritage Neighbourhoods: Webinar Series
New Webinar Series: Future Planning for Heritage Neighbourhoods
Join Heritage BC to explore how historic neighbourhoods can adapt to BC’s Bill-44 density changes while preserving their unique character. This series dives into the role these areas can play in meeting housing demands, featuring expert insights on sustainable growth and preservation.
Future Planning for Heritage Neighbourhoods: Desired Future Character as a Planning Tool Webinar
When: Wednesday, December 11 at 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT
Where: Zoom/Online
Cost: $15 per webinar for non-members; free for Heritage BC members.
Description:
Desired Future Character Statements are a tool that local governments can use to work with their communities to envision and direct the ways in which their neighbourhoods will grow and change. As the concept of Desired Future Character statements were first developed in Australia, we have invited Marco Geretto who is based in Sydney, to give us a short history around their intent and purpose and how they have been applied in the Australian context. Then, we will be joined by Lauren Sanbrooks and Elana Zysblat to learn how they incorporated Desired Future Character statements into Kelowna’s updated Heritage Conservation Area documents, and how other BC communities could employ the tool.
View Speaker Information:
Marco Geretto, Principal Design Advisor, The Government Architect NSW
Marco Geretto is an urban designer and town planner. He currently works as a Principal Design Advisor at the Government Architect NSW and has over 20 years of experience in architecture, urban design and city planning. He has authored housing and planning policy, produced master plans at various scales and has had his feet on the ground with housing delivery. His experience ranges from informal settlement upgrading in Cape Town, to social housing estate renewal in the UK, to heritage precincts and brown and greenfield development across diverse contexts. He has had experience in the civil society sector, being a founding member Open Streets Cape Town in 2012 – a citizen-led movement looking at the potential of streets to bring people together and transform the fragmented nature of South African cities.
Lauren Sanbrooks, MCIP, RPP, CAHP, Grant Funding Specialist, District of Lake Country
Lauren Sanbrooks is the Grant Funding Specialist at the District of Lake Country, where she draws on her background in urban planning, policy, and heritage conservation to secure funding for community projects. Before joining Lake Country, Lauren spent over a decade as a city planner with the City of Kelowna, focusing on heritage from 2011 to 2024. In that role, she worked on policies and programs that aimed to balance new growth with preserving the city’s historic character, including updates to Kelowna’s Heritage Conservation Area Development Guidelines. Lauren is a Registered Professional Planner with a Master of Arts in Planning from UBC-Okanagan, and she’s an active member of the BC Association of Heritage Professionals (BCAHP).
Elana Zysblat, CAHP – Heritage Consultant, Ance Building Services
Elana Zysblat is an accomplished heritage consultant and educational program developer with expertise in heritage conservation, cultural tourism, and community engagement. Her firm’s motto “Meaningfully Connecting People and Places” stems from her professional focus and interest first and foremost in people, and our connection to place. Although technically a building specialist, Elana believes that robust, relevant and sustainable use are as important in heritage conservation planning as preserving brick and mortar. Formerly the Programming Director for the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, Elana’s practice as an independent consultant since 2011 has reached all areas of British Columbia. Her firm, Ance Building Services, provides heritage conservation planning services as well as support, education, training and workshops for local governments, Indigenous communities and Heritage Commissions. Elana is the past President of the BC Association of Heritage Professionals, and is the current Vice President on the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals national board.