2025 Heritage Legacy Fund Projects

St. Joseph's Mission Cemetery Fence Restoration

Williams Lake First Nation | Williams Lake, BC

Restoration of the existing fence surrounding the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School cemetery, located outside Williams Lake, BC. This work will also inform a detailed restoration plan to preserve and restore grave markers, identify unmarked graves where possible, and support ongoing efforts to properly commemorate the individuals interred at the cemetery. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

The Island Mountain Dry Rehabilitation Project

Wells Historical Society | Wells, BC

Rehabilitation of the Island Mountain Dry, one of three remaining buildings from the Island Mountain Mine complex. In Phase 1, the building was stabilized and engineered drawings were completed. Phase 2, the current phase, will involve placing the building on a new screw pile foundation. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Chinese Burial Site Markers and Heritage Pool Plaque

Rossland Heritage Commission | Rossland, BC

Creation and installation of markers to recognize the Chinese individuals who were buried in the Columbia Cemetery and later disinterred. The project also includes creating a plaque for installation at the Heritage Community Pool to commemorate its 93-year history. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Historic Carpenter Shop Roof Restoration

Sullivan Mine & Railway Historical Society | Kimberley, BC

Restoration of the roof of one of the two remaining original buildings at the Sullivan Mine in Kimberley, BC. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Plumbing for the Players

Rossland Light Opera Players Society | Rossland, BC

Emergency restoration of plumbing in the 1897 ‘Bodega’ building. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

A Repatriation Programme with the Kamloops Museum and Archives (KMA) and the Secwe̓pemc Museum and Heritage Park (SMHP)

Kamloops Museum and Archives | Kamloops, BC

Development of a repatriation program that includes policies and procedures for the return of First Nations artifacts from the KMA to the SMHP. Funded through the Indigenous Partnerships stream.

Artifact and Exhibit Descriptions

Snecwips Heritage Society | Kelowna, BC

Development and installation of accurate and appropriate signage for existing exhibits and artifacts. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Penticton & District Community Arts Council

Leir House Heritage Awareness | Penticton, BC

Design and installation outdoor interpretive signs to clearly identify Leir House as a public cultural site and share its history year-round. An initial run of 1,000 informational brochures will also be produced and distributed to local cultural hubs and visitor centres to enhance public awareness and engagement. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park Pithouse Restoration

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc | Kamloops, BC

Restoration of one winter pithouse (c7ístkten̓) in the Secwépemc Museum’s Heritage Park to full working condition. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Protecting the Past: Structural Conservation of The Langham

Langham Cultural Society | Kaslo, BC

Addressing critical structural and weatherproofing concerns at the Langham Cultural Centre to preserve the building’s form and function, safeguarding one of the region’s oldest cultural landmarks for continued public use and historical interpretation. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

S.S. Naramata Lift and Preservation Project

S.S. Sicamous Marine Heritage Society | Penticton, BC

Raising of the S.S. Naramata above the water table in a custom-designed concrete cradle to prevent further corrosion to reduce long-term conservation costs and protect character-defining features, including the steel hull and original steam engine. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

The Little Church at St. Anne's, Chuchuwayha

Upper Similkameen Indian Band | Hedley, BC

Engagement of a consultant to conduct a study and condition assessment of the Little Church (Chuchuwayha) in Hedley. Funded through the Heritage Planning stream.

Banquet of Stories

Pacific Canada Heritage Centre Museum of Migration | Vancouver, BC

Support for Banquet of Stories, an intercultural, intergenerational workshop that uses food sharing as a tool for exploring histories of migration to Canada across communities. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Cedar Voices: Woven Stories of Nlaka’pamux Basketry Tradition in the Fraser Canyon

Forager Foundation | Yale, BC

Research into the Nlaka’pamux Basket Collection held at the Yale Historic Site and sharing of the findings through four on-site interpretive panels and a dedicated microsite on the Yale Historic Site webpage. These resources will highlight the baskets, their creators, and the Fraser Canyon context, celebrating the art and symbolism of Nlaka’pamux culture in consultation with the Lytton, Chawathil, Spuzzum, and Yale First Nations. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Keeping our History Alive

Sumas First Nation | Abbotsford, BC

Improvements to accessibility of the existing geo-spatial database, along with the addition of new content, including photographs, maps, and illustrations that have yet to be identified and catalogued. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Queer Histories, Queer Stories

Museum & Archives of North Vancouver | North Vancouver, BC

Permanent addition of Queer Histories, Queer Stories to the Museum and Archives of North Vancouver, a project aiming to center 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and experiences that have been lost throughout North Vancouver’s history. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Railway Museum of BC Historic Railcar Maintenance Shop Conservation Project

West Coast Railway Association | Squamish, BC

Restoration of the five large barn-type entrance doors of the Car Shop building, originally built in 1914 by the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE). The building is the oldest of only five remaining structures from the PGE era and is now the oldest industrial building in Squamish. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Restoration of Fishing Vessel "Persian Fisher"

Delta Fishing Heritage Society | Delta, BC

Completion of the restoration of the “Persian Fisher,” a rare 1936 Fraser River gillnetter with deep ties to Japanese Canadian fishing history and the BC coast, returning the vessel to its original 1940s-era appearance for permanent outdoor display as a community heritage feature. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge Accessibility Planning

Sts’ailes Development Corporation | Agassiz, BC

Engagement of a consultant to conduct an Access Audit and assess how this heritage resource and its surrounding area can be made more accessible. Moytelexw will use the findings to develop a comprehensive Access Plan for the Lodge. Funded through the Heritage Planning stream.

Songs of the Land: The Council of Spider, Ant & Fly

Savage Production Society | New Westminster, BC

Support for a community-driven theatre project that brings N’laka’pamux stories to life. Through workshops, rehearsals, and public performances within the Lytton First Nation, the project fosters intergenerational knowledge transfer, cultural pride, and strengthened community connections. Funded through the Indigenous Partnerships stream.

Tidelines and Riptides: A Shared Journey

Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society | Richmond, BC

Research and development of a 20-minute documentary film exploring the intersection of Japanese Canadian and Indigenous communities who shared the waters of the Fraser River during the peak of BC’s fishing and canning industries. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Addressing critical structural and weatherproofing concerns at the Langham Cultural Centre to preserve the building’s form and function, safeguarding one of the region’s oldest cultural landmarks for continued public use and historical interpretation. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Protecting the Past: Structural Conservation of The Langham
Langham Cultural Society | Kaslo, BC

Ahousaht Cranberry Bog Walkway and Traditional Food Trail

Ahousaht First Nation | Ahousaht, BC

Repairs and improvements to the Ahousaht Cranberry Bog Walkway and Traditional Food Trail cedar walkway. This route remains vital for Elders, youth, and families to continue engaging in traditional harvesting and cultural teachings. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Community Heritage Register Additions Project

Corporation of the Village of Cumberland | Cumberland, BC

Support for the creation of Statements of Significance for select heritage properties to be added to the community heritage register, along with an update to the register itself. Funded through the Heritage Planning stream.

Feed the People (FTP) Workshop: Traditional Indigenous Deer Harvesting, Butchering, and Food Preservation Practices

Galiano Conservancy Association | Galiano Island, BC

Presentation of an Indigenous-led workshop that revitalizes traditional deer harvesting, butchering, and food preservation practices of the Coast Salish Peoples. The two-day workshop, co-led by Penelakut Elders and supported by regional partners, will be expanded to include Mayne Island’s SENĆOŦEN First Nation as well as Indigenous families and youth from across the Salish Sea, with a focus on mentoring the next generation of knowledge-holders. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.

Indigenous Art in the Campbell River Region Project

Campbell River & District Museum & Archives Society | Campbell River, BC

Development and presentation of a temporary exhibition, ‘Indigenous Art in the Campbell River Region,’ running from April to September 2026. Funded through the Indigenous Partnerships stream.

Interpretive Plan for Sooke Region Museum

Sooke Region Historical Society | Sooke, BC

Engagement of a consultant to develop a comprehensive interpretive plan for the Sooke Region Museum. Funded through the Heritage Planning stream.

ṮEṮÁĆES Restoration Initiative: SENĆOŦEN Plant Names at S,DÁYES Community Hall

Pender Islands Conservancy Association | Pender Island, BC

Development of educational signage for the Native Plant Garden at the Community Hall. The signs will incorporate SENĆOŦEN plant names and W̱SÁNEĆ cultural knowledge, highlighting Indigenous stewardship principles, the historical and contemporary uses of food and medicinal plants, and the importance of restoring native plants for a healthier ecosystem. Funded through the Heritage Awareness and Indigenous Partnerships streams.

The Rehabilitation of St. Andrews Lodge

St. Andrews Historical and Cultural Society | Qualicum Beach, BC

Installation of storm windows over the existing single-glazed, multi-pane windows to improve building performance while preserving heritage features. Funded through the Heritage Conservation stream.

Unburied Histories: Investigating the Jesup Expedition and Its Impact on Indigenous Communities in BC

IndigiNews (tâpwêwin media)

Conduct community-driven investigative journalism exploring the history and legacy of the expedition, repatriation efforts, and the lived experiences of descendants advocating for the return of their relatives. Funded through the Heritage Awareness stream.