VHF advances the appreciation and conservation of our city’s diverse heritage places and their stories. We raise awareness of the vital contribution that heritage makes to a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community.
We host informative events and workshops, create resources about Vancouver’s history and heritage places, and provide financial and practical support for the successful conservation of historic buildings and sites.
Join Vancouver Heritage Foundation, Cory Weeds and special guests in recognizing the brief but lasting legacy of the Cory Weeds’ Cellar jazz club. From 2000-2014, this Kitsilano underground venue became a jazz destination. Meet and hear from the thriving local jazz scene and celebrate PTM Plaque #102.
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In the early 1960s, Vancouver’s city planners became concerned with housing affordability and the need to create new housing options to ensure that people would remain in the city rather than move to the growing suburbs. Many architects posed a range of designs to city planners, from tall apartment towers, to townhouses, and narrow single-family dwellings. Yet, despite a range of styles and designs being proposed, the Vancouver Special utterly dominated the 1960s and 1970s. Join interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Jennifer Chutter as she discusses why people were drawn to the Vancouver Special, what it offered homeowners as an affordable option for living in the city, and the ways it helped Vancouver become more cosmopolitan.
In many municipalities in BC, a Heritage Conservation Plan is a mandatory document for development permits involving a listed heritage property or for the purposes of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement, but it also represents a really helpful and thorough decision making process for owners of old buildings. In this informative hybrid workshop, heritage professional Elana Zysblat will illustrate how to create a Heritage Conservation Plan using real case studies. Each project will be illustrated and analyzed from the research stage, through the owner’s plans and needs, the construction phase and the crucial role of the Heritage Conservation Plan in guiding and solving the complexity of a heritage project.
From artist files and audiovisual recordings to born-digital materials, Western Front's archives function as a significant repository of contemporary art history. Join Western Front’s Executive Director, Susan Gibb, and Archivist, Anna Tidlund, for an in-depth look at the organizational strategies that support both the preservation of its history and the development of its future. This session explores how that history is actively documented, interpreted, and sustained through archival practice.
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An interactive map of places listed on Vancouver's Heritage Register.
Places That Matter sites recognize some of the people, places and events that tell the story of Vancouver’s history.
Defines, details and illustrates local house styles, their architectural elements and social context.
As a charitable organization, we are grateful for all donations. Your support means we can promote appreciation of Vancouver's unique history and heritage places, as well as support conservation projects with education, information and grants. Donors are known as Friends of VHF and are acknowledged on our website.
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Explore all resources & guides
A heritage study guide, grants for field trips and professional development support
Guidance and support for heritage property owners and stewards.
Learn about the relationship between community, sustainability and heritage
Explore all grants
Support for heritage places.
Grants to assist with researching and sharing Vancouver's heritage.
To support local field trip costs for Vancouver history and heritage experiences.