UHI-CERIP Funding Announcement February 22, 2021

Province of B.C. and Heritage BC Announce Results of Largest Heritage Infrastructure Funding 

Monday, February 22, 2021 

Heritage BC joins the Province of British Columbia in announcing the results of the single largest funding program to support B.C.’s unique heritage infrastructure. This announcement is part of BC’s $10 billion COVID response, which includes the StrongerBC for Everyone recovery plan — a plan that protects people’s health and livelihoods while supporting businesses and communities — and the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP). 

“We could not be happier to have this recognition and support from the Province,” says Paul Gravett, executive director of Heritage BC. “Through this funding program, the Province not only provided the largest one-time infusion of funds into the heritage sector, but it also recognized the importance and potential of heritage infrastructure and its place in our province’s economic picture.” 

The Province of B.C. allocated $16M to the Unique Heritage Infrastructure stream of the CERIP program and appointed Heritage BC as the program delivery partner. First People’s Cultural Council was the program delivery partner for an additional $4M in funding. 

“Funding heritage and cultural projects throughout British Columbia is vital for communities and their wellbeing. It allows them to remain connected to their past and it helps to support their cultural organizations”. said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “This funding also helps communities recover from the pandemic with investments in programs that benefit the whole community.” 

Funding will soon flow throughout the province to support projects in 68 communities including Atlin in the northern reaches of the province to Fernie in the southeast corner and to Port Alberni on the western side of Vancouver Island. The projects will ensure that, as a province, we retain and celebrate many aspects of the British Columbia’s history and community life, from Chinese association buildings and Japanese internment camps to well-used town halls and an abandoned historic mine. 

“The awarded projects show us the strong local connections of our history and heritage. CERIP has shown us the great need for this type of funding and it has shown us that people need their heritage,” says Britney Dack, chair of Heritage BC’s board of directors. “It is part of our daily lives. It is part of communities and our stories.” 

Contact
Paul Gravett
Heritage BC 

pgravett@heritagebc.ca 

About the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) 

With a goal to help communities impacted by COVID-19 and support B.C.’s post-pandemic economic recovery, the Province of British Columbia allocated up to $100 million through CERIP to support community economic resilience, tourism, heritage, and urban and rural economic development projects. 

The funding is distributed across five funding streams: 

• Community Economic Resilience $30 million (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing) 
• Destination Development $20 million (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) 
• Unique Heritage Infrastructure $20 million (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development) 
• Rural Economic Recovery $20 million (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development) 
• Aboriginal Head Start Land-based Project $10 million (Ministry of Children and Family Development) 

CERIP is providing $100 million in one-time infrastructure grants for shovel-worthy projects across B.C. These projects will improve community economic resilience, develop tourism infrastructure, support unique heritage infrastructure and support economic recovery for rural communities.

CERIP’s funding is distributed across five different streams managed by separate partner ministries: Municipal Affairs; Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport; Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operators and Rural Development; and Children and Family Development.

Heritage BC is privileged to work with the Province and the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development as a program delivery partner for a portion of the Unique Heritage Infrastructure funding. 159 submissions were reviewed by five peer-review juries made up of 20 heritage professionals. 

Funded Projects (organization, project title) 

1. Alkw Media Society, House of Numst’
2. Atlin Historical Society, Atlin Courthouse Rehabilitation
3. Barkerville Heritage Trust, Theatre Royal Foundation Project
4. Bridge River Valley Community Association, Bralorne Pioneer Mines Ltd. Office Conservation and Adaptive Reuse
5. Britannia Mine Museum Society, Foundations for Heritage Stability of Cottage #122
6. Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, Heritage Slipways Restoration to Operational Status
7. Capital Regional District, Goldstream Powerhouse Roof Replacement
8. Chin Wing Chun Tong Society of Canada, Chin Wing Chun Tong Society Storefront Rehabilitation
9. City of Enderby, Enderby Drill Hall Roof Replacement
10. City of Kamloops, Old Kamloops Courthouse Interior and Exterior Restoration
11. City of Port Alberni, Port Alberni Train Station Rehabilitation
12. City of Surrey, Indigenous Carving Centres
13. Columbia Shuswap Regional Distict, Secwépemc Landmarks Project
14. Cowichan Tribes, Sharing Ye’yumnuts
15. Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society, Dunsmuir Era Kitchen
16. Cranbrook Community Theatre Society, Theatre Proper Restoration Project
17. District of Mission, Mission Museum Rehabilitation
18. District of North Vancouver, Murdo Fraser Cabin Refurbishment
19. District of Peachland, Peachland Museum Preservation
20. District Sechelt, Rockwood Lodge renovation and conservation project
21. Fernie & District Historical Society, Fernie Museum Building Basement Asbestos Abatement
22. Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society, Heritage Railway preservation and conservation
23. Galiano Museum Society, The Water We Call Home: Infrastructure Grant
24. Grand Forks Art Gallery Society, Grand Forks 1911 Heritage Courthouse windows conservation
25. Greenwood City, Historic Greenwood Courthouse Restoration Project
26. Grist Mill CCC Corp., Heritage Gardens Restoration and Improvement
27. Heritage Abbotsford Society, HAS Applied Heritage Preservation Project
28. Holy Family Church, Bell Tower Roof Repairs Holy Family Church Fernie BC
29. Japanese Garden Society of Salt Spring Island, Repairs to Heiwa Garden in the Peace Park
30. Kamloops Heritage Railway Society, Heritage Railway Infrastructure Expansion Project
31. Kootenay Lake Historical Society, SS Moyie National Historic Site Infrastructure Improvement
32. Ladysmith & District Historical Society, Preservation and Rehabilitation of The Ladysmith Museum
33. Lardeau Valley Historical Society, Pavillion and 2 Sheds for Displaying and Interpreting Large Heritage Machinery
34. Metchosin Museum Society, Metchosin School House Museum Conservation Implementation
35. Metro Vancouver Regional District, Davies Orchard Revitalization
36. New Beginnings Benevolent Society, Shuswap North Okanagan Cultural Heritage Centres
37. New Pathways to Gold Society, The 1926 Alexandra Bridge Rehabilitation Project
38. Oak Park Heritage Preservation Society, Restoration and conservation of the 1894 Elkington house, Maple Bay Road, Duncan, BC
39. Okanagan Historical Society, Father Pandosy Mission Heritage Site Rehabilitation
40. Oliver and District Heritage Society, BC Police Station Site Buildings Conservation
41. Pemberton and District Museum and Archives Society, Pemberton Station School and John Arn Cabin Project
42. Port Edward Historical Society, Addressing Threats to North Pacific Cannery NHS through Preservation Interventions
43. Potato House Sustainable Community Society, Potato House Heritage Restoration and Rehabilitation
44. Powell River Film Society, Preservation and Restoration of the Historic Patricia Theatre
45. Prince George Backcountry Recreation Society, Tacheeda Fire Lookout Tower Rehabilitation
46. Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum Society, Heritage Powerhouse Conservation and Adaptive Repurposing Project
47. Roberts Creek Community Association, Roberts Creek Hall & Library Conservation Project
48. Ross Bay Villa Society, Irrigation system for an 1860s Era Domestic Heritage Garden at Ross Bay Villa
49. Saanich Historical Artifacts Society, Heritage Acres Museum, repair and remediation of roof structures
50. Saanich Pioneers’ Society, Structural Conservation of Log Cabin Museum
51. Saint Aidan Orthodox Church, New lift and stairs to address accessibility issues at historic St. Aidan Orthodox Church
52. Sandon Historical Society, Sandon Museum Wheelchair Access & Replica Building Completion
53. Sidney Museum and Archives Society, Historic Floor Rehabilitation for Accessibility
54. Slocan Valley Historical Society, Merriwake Interpretative Centre – Phase III & Phase IV
55. Smithers Central Park Building Society, CPB rehabilitation
56. Sointula Museum and Historical Society, Sointula Museum Archival Storage Project
57. Synod of the Diocese of Kootenay, The Cathedral of St. Michael’s and All Angels Stained Glass Protection
58. T’it’q’et Administration, T’it’q’et Community Cemetery Revitalization
59. Tashme Historical Society, Tashme Kindergarten Schoolhouse Rehabilitation Project
60. The Pender Islands Museum Society, Historic House Major Protective and Accessibility Upgrades
61. Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Tla-o-qui-aht Big Tree Trail Extention and Access Improvements
62. Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Hedley Mascot Mine Heritage Site
63. Vallican Heritage Hall Society, Preservation and Restoration of Vallican Heritage Hall Windows
64. Village of Burns Lake, St. John’s Anglican Church Revitalization
65. Village of New Denver, Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre Revitalization
66. Village of Salmo, Salmo Train Station Exterior Restoration Project
67. Western Front Society, Revitalisation of Western Front’s Exterior Form
68. Yen Wo Society, Tam Kung Temple Access and Accessibility