February 17 – 23, 2020
Heritage Week offers a chance to explore heritage across BC and Canada. In 2020 the theme is “2020 Vision: Bringing the Past into the Future”. The restoration and adaptation of heritage buildings is key to a sustainable future, preserving community and cultural spaces, retaining affordable retail and residential spaces and keeping usable building materials from landfills, all while enriching our streetscapes and neighbourhoods. The future also includes reconciliation with Indigenous communities and a more inclusive telling of the stories of the past for all communities. Join us as we explore the role of heritage in our future throughout Heritage Week, February 17th – 23rd.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Heritage Week 2020! We’ve created a short video with some highlights from the week. Below that are the full details of events that were offered in 2020.
Places That Matter Community Celebration
Wednesday, February 19th
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St
Join VHF to learn about the special places recognized in the Places That Matter plaque project, and hear about them from the people and organizations involved in bringing their history forward. This free celebration includes displays from a variety of organizations, institutions and individuals related to Places That Matter sites and local history, a short program of storytelling with our emcee author Michael Kluckner and refreshments. There will also be music from members of bluegrass band Viper Central: Steven John Charles (musical director, composer and musician) and Kathleen Nesbit (Metis fiddler and singer).
Let your friends know you’re attending and invite them to come along via the Facebook event page.
Thank you to event sponsor Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association and community sponsors Charles and Lucile Flavelle, and BC Golf House Society. Thank you also for in-kind donations from All India Sweets and Restaurant, Cartems Donuterie, Choices Markets, COBS Bread and Starbucks Reserve.
Read more
Speakers:
Territorial Welcome with Alec Guerin, Self-Governance Community Coordinator, Musqueam First Nation
Heritage Consultant Donald Luxton on the conservation and history of Vancouver bridges
Historian Rob Howatson on the history of South Vancouver including the legacy of Loretta Lynn
BC Heritage Fairs Alumni Coordinator and Grade 9 student Leona Lam
Families of the pre-WWII Celtic Cannery Japanese Canadian community, and current resident
Jan Tollefsen from Heritage Hall, Erika and Kate Gerson
Participants Organizations:
Asian Canadian Asian Migration Studies UBC & INSTRCC (Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies at UBC), African Descent Festival Society, BC Golf House Society, BC Heritage Fairs Society, BC Labour History Society, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Celtic Cannery and Shipyards Communities, Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC, City of Vancouver Archives, Don Luxton (Heritage Bridges), Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, False Creek Watershed Society, Friends of the Vancouver City Archives, Gerson Family (Unitarian Church), Heather Heritage Society & VGH School of Nursing Alumnae Association, Heritage Hall Preservation Society, Jason Vanderhill (Future History Endeavors), Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, John Oliver Legacy Society, Kits Neighbourhood House, Loretta Lynn Chicken Coop & South Vancouver History (Rob Howatson), MAU Collective (Nellie Yip Quong), Mount Pleasant Heritage Group, Nikkei National Museum and Archives, Punjabi Market Renegeration Society,Stanley Park Rock Garden, Talking Stick Festival, United Players of Vancouver, Vancouver Historical Society.
Mid-Project Tour: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church Seismic Upgrade and Heritage Restoration
Friday, February 21st
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, 1018 Nelson St
Please note this workshop is geared towards heritage professionals. In order to attend the tour, participants must bring the following PPE: green triangle work boots, hard hat and reflective vest. This will not be provided for you and is required for everyone entering the site. A mandatory Health & Safety briefing will be provided.
St. Andrew’s-Wesley is a historic landmark church in downtown Vancouver, designed and constructed 1930-33. It is currently undergoing a full seismic upgrade and heritage restoration during a two-year closure. During Heritage Week, we are offering a special opportunity to tour inside the church and see the work in progress with project consultants, Donald Luxton FRAIC CAHP and Michael MacLean BSc, P.Eng., LEED AP O+M, CCCA.
Thank you to St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, Mike Maclean and Julia Halipchuck of RJC Engineers, Donald Luxton and Heatherbrae Builders.
Something Old/Something New: Adaptive Reuse and Industrial Heritage
Sunday, February 23rd
Early Mount Pleasant saw residential development spurred on by the opening of the streetcar line up Main Street and west along Broadway, while industry was attracted to the shoreline of False Creek which brought sawmills and shipyards. Up the hill, the neighbourhood’s numerous creeks helped spur on smaller operations including an emerging brewing industry. Today much of that early legacy of development can be found with these former industrial sites adapted to new uses. Join historian John Atkin to explore the challenges and benefits of adaptive reuse with examples found in this historic neighbourhood.
