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2017 Heritage Legacy Fund Projects

Heritage Awareness

Bralorne Historical Interpretive Signage

Bridge River Valley Community Association

The community of Bralorne, located in the Bridge River Valley, is rich in history with 100 intact structures of Heritage Significance. The Bridge River Valley Community Association wishes to create a self-guided walking tour by adding interpretive signage to four of these buildings including: Bralorne Mines Office Museum: Built in 1938 and completed in 1939 by Bralorne Mines Ltd. Located on Lot 440 Lillooet District Plan 25012 on #18 Bralorne Road near the centre of town. Bralorne Community Church: Built in 1936 by Bralorne Mines. Originally called the Boultbee Memorial Church, serving the community as a non-denominational church until it closed in 1967.Bralorne Community Hall: Built in 1936 by Bralorne Mines Ltd and the Bralorne Community Club. Located in the centre of town on Lot 35, Lillooet District Plan 25012 on Bralorne Road. Bralorne Bank of Toronto Building: Built in the 1930s. One of the first heritage buildings visitors see as they enter Bralorne.

The City Coroner’s Services Uncovered

Vancouver Police Historical Society

The City Coroner’s Services Uncovered will be a permanent exhibit in the autopsy suite at the Vancouver Police Museum. The Police Museum is housed in the historic Coroner’s Court, Morgue and Autopsy facilities. This application is to support an awareness project examining the historic use of the facility still open to the public at the Police Museum. It will define the role of the municipal coroner’s services from 1932-1980 through the development and display of interpretive panels and the explanation of objects in the room that were once used as part of the working morgue and autopsy facility. Through these interpretive panels we will explore the people who worked at the facility, what their roles were and the role the coroner plays as an agent of public safety helping the public understand the history of death investigation.

Exterior Sign & brochure Old Marysville Schoolhouse

Kimberley District Heritage Society

Our Project is to place an exterior sign on the Old Marysville Schoolhouse to raise awareness of the heritage building C.1910. This will involve selecting an appropriate sign, which will be visible from the adjacent Highway 95A; the preparation of the area where the sign is to be placed and the installation of the sign. Design of the brochure and printing; distribution of brochure to area schools, Info. Centres and from Kimberley Heritage Museum, to inform the public of the heritage building and its history.

Japanese Canadian Historic Site Gesture Interactive Digital Storytelling Project

Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall

2017 is the 75th anniversary of the Japanese Canadian Internment and the 150th birthday of Canada, two milestone anniversaries. The Japanese Canadian Historic Site Gesture Interactive Digital Storytelling Project is an outgrowth of the Japanese Canadian Historic Site registry project, sponsored by the Ministry of Trade & Multiculturalism and Heritage BC. Building on the 2D map of 56 certified historic sites (April 1, 2017), the Japanese Canadian Legacy Committee, consisting of eight partner community organizations, conceived to tell the story of Japanese Canadian History and the Internment by uplevelling the static 2Dgovernment map into a gesture interactive 3D visual interface exhibit. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, this exhibit will be incorporated into the core curriculum toolkit in the new Social Studies curriculum (grades 5, 6, 10). This experiential exhibit will be part of a school-age field-trip programming to promote 'stories of place' and the 'experiential' focus in the new curriculum. This virtual exhibit using gesture gaming technology will be partnered with on-site Legacy Walking Tours in the Historic Japantown/Powell Street District. Based on this unlevelled content which will be curriculum-based, a goal of 10,000 students is the first year objective. An online version for remote access will also be available for teachers. Teacher training of the new curriculum using this tool will also be offered on-site.

Historic site interpretation project

University of the Fraser Valley, South Asian Studies Institute

The National Historic Site Gur Sikh Temple in Abbotsford (est.1908) is a 109 year old heritage structure that holds within it the historic heritage, ethos, political, religious, economic and social record of an immigrant community. Within the site is the Sikh Heritage Museum (est.2011) that holds exhibits on the value of community building by engaging both the history and contemporary moments for our inclusive community. This project's scope of work is to create interpretive markers that relay the significant and important historic physical structures (e.g. the nishan sahib) and the site's placement in the history of BC. One such marker is the placement of this site within the historic BC gurdwaras (e.g. 2nd Ave, Paldi, New Westminster, Golden etc.) to present the community's heritage connections across the province. These connections remain vibrant (for the most part) and themselves hold significant historic value. This project builds on the provincial Historic Places Recognition Program.

McAbee Fossil Site

Community Futures Sun Country

Currently there are no facilities or infrastructure on the site (apart from rough roads from previous activities). The long-term goal is to re-open the site so that the scientific research can inform natural and cultural heritage education opportunities can be shared with other researchers, students and visitors. (See attached McAbee Fossil Beds Heritage Site, Business Case and Plan Summary, March 29, 2017) Site visitors will be offered a varied and deep experience as a result of opportunities to learn about the fossils, ancient and contemporary FN culture, and Settler history. The phased development of MFBHS will ensure that the site is protected, that education opportunities will unfold for all and that visitors will enjoy compelling and unique experiences. We anticipate a phased development approach over the next 1-5 years.

Heritage Conservation

Nelson Coke and Gas Works Building - Exterior Preservation and Restoration Towards Neighbourhood Revitalization

City of Nelson

Liveable neighbourhoods, green space, and opportunities for work, play, and community engagement were among the aspects of a strong community identified in public visioning exercises. The Coke and Gasworks building is key to the Railtown project, which supports anticipated demands for new jobs, offers better physical and visual connections to the downtown and adjacent neighbourhoods, provides additional civic space, incorporates brownfield andecological restoration, and embraces mixed-use and innovative live-work residential/commercial opportunities. This project is an investment in Nelson’s future and an illustration of community resilience, adaptation, and innovation. The work includes exterior building conservation, including: 1. Roof replacement including main, copula, entrance and stair canopies 2. Structural repair to brick including steel banding or ring beam 3. Repointing of brick & stone 4. Restoration of original wood windows and cupola including re-facing of brick wall sills 5. Restoration or replacement of exterior wooden doors depending on conservation plan recommendations 6. Restoration of historic gas lamps posts & sign post at front of building.

Re-painting of St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church

St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church

St. Luke’s Church is a Gothic Revival-influenced structure located on the northwest quadrant at the intersection of Cedar Hill Road and Cedar Hill Cross Road in Saanich, BC. The Parish of St. Luke was founded in 1860 and the cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1886. The building has served continuously as a centre of worship and fellowship for both the immediate community and Greater Victoria. A landmark in the community, the church was given Heritage Designation by the District of Saanich on February 4, 1980 under By-law #4400 and was awarded a Hallmark Heritage Society Award In 1994. Heritage grants have played a significant role in preserving the building, making it possible to restore the original window above the main entry in 2007 and to paint the exterior of the building in 2005. The continued preservation of this resource through maintenance of the exterior and interior walls is key to ensuring that it continues to be viable well into the future.

Haylmore Heritage Rock Wall Restoration

Bridge River Valley Community Association

A significant character defining element of this historic property, the dry stacked rock wall, is currently in a state of degrade and disrepair. The tiered dry stacked walls, originally running over 300 feet long and three feet tall against the east and north end of the property, holding three Lewis/Maxim machine gun posts, are earth filled terraces made from boulders collected from the nearby riverbed brought to site. This project supports the restoration of these historical character-defining elements that will advance the Haylmore Heritage Site to become a tourist destination.

Old Hastings Mill Store Museum

Native Daughters of BC Post #1

The most important part of the Heritage Conservation Program for the Old Hastings Mill Store Museum has to do with building code upgrading and fire safety improvements to make the building safer and more usable to groups for community events and performances. By rehabilitating the West fire escape and North Balcony it allows the public more accessibility and safety during opening and events. The preservation and rehabilitation of the chimney will improve the safety and structural integrity of the chimney in event of a seismic event. Lastly the roof rehabilitation will be key to the structural integrity of the building, preserve the fascia, which has some water damage, as well as the keep the efficiency of the building envelope.

Lim Sai Hor Kow Mock Benevolent Association Life Safety Upgrades

Lim Sai Hor Kow Mock Benevolent Association

Interior life & safety upgrades represent the last phase in a year-long restoration project that has seen the restoration &rehabilitation of the Carrall Street façade, the Shanghai Alley façade, a full roof replacement, and repairs at the North and South façade. Installing a new sprinkler system, new water service, and new fire alarm would provide greater life safety as well as protect the historic and reinstated fabric of this important Vancouver Chinatown building to ensure its long life and enjoyment. As this phased project has been ongoing for the past year, the finances of the Lim Sai Hor Kow Mock Benevolent Society are beginning to be stretched beyond their means and we are reaching a critical point in determining if these voluntary life safety upgrades are feasible at this time. A Heritage BC Legacy Grant will ensure that these needed upgrades can happen within this current project timeline.

Haney House Conservation

City of Maple Ridge

From tea parties to guided tours Haney House welcomes visitors throughout the year. Featured in the home are static displays complemented by Haney family heirlooms and era-correct interior furnishings. Although Haney House remains structurally sound and usable for hosting events, preventative work is required to ensure that this remains the case in the future and allow for a more historically accurate representation. Overall, the majority of the home has been assessed as in need of rehabilitation or restoration through the recent conservation review. Exterior priorities include required rehabilitation and restoration work of the following: roof, chimneys, gutters and downspouts, windows, doors, verandahs and balcony.

Heritage Planning

Statements of Significance for Community Heritage Register Features

Village of Cumberland

Statements of Significance will be prepared for three buildings according to the following rationale: The Ilo Ilo Theatre is listed in the Heritage Management Plan as one of the five priority places to be placed on the Cumberland Community Heritage Register (in process). While universally seen as iconic, the theatre has no specific protection or designation to assist the owner or the Village in managing development plans to retain its significance; Camp Road neighbourhood is listed in the Heritage Management Plan as one of the five priority places to be placed on the Cumberland Community Heritage Register. The neighbourhood is under pressure of continuing house renovations and while many have kept with the scale and character of the historic homes, there are no guidelines to assist homeowners and the Village in defining the character and to maintain what is valued. The first step is to create a SOS to develop a neighbourhood and community understanding of that value; The Saito house is currently under pressure as the individual house is privately owned, yet located in a public park. The Village needs to develop a strategy to balance the owners’ needs, the public park status and the house’s historical significance. An SOS will define the importance of the house in the broader heritage context of the Village and assist the community, staff and Council to consider option for its protection. The Saito House is the last remaining house in the No. 1 Japanese Townsite, which in 2016 received provincial recognition in the Japanese-Canadian Historic Places project.

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