Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Heritage in Schools Program includes our Heritage Study Guide that is full of helpful resources for teaching about local heritage, our popular Field Trip Grants, and Professional Development support for educators.
The Heritage in Schools Program aims to:
- Increase students’ and educators’ awareness and knowledge of local heritage places and history by providing learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom.
- Encourage students and teachers to engage with Vancouver’s diverse heritage places, and contribute to meaningful discussions around their histories and future legacies.
- Support the professional development of educators in order to promote place-based heritage education in Vancouver public schools. We do this by collaborating with educators and students to develop accessible resources and self-directed inquiry-based projects, and through support of Vancouver Heritage Fairs.
Stay up to date with Heritage in Schools by signing up for our Educator Newsletter.
Thank You to Our Project Partners
The Christopher Foundation
Andrew Mahon Foundation
Laura Saimoto
Shigeo Saimoto
GMR Foundation
Friends of VHF
Vancouver Historical Society
Resources for Educators
As our Heritage in Schools program grows, we have created a new digital space designed for educators interested in engaging with VHF produced resources, from study guides, videos, map guides and more.
In addition to the Heritage Study Guide, the Places that Matter Study Guide (currently in development) will be a digital hub of learning resources that encourage site-specific and virtual explorations of the PTM sites and increase awareness about our city’s diverse heritage places.
Field Trip Grants
VHF has been offering field trip grants to encourage explorations with Vancouver’s diverse local history and heritage places since 2019 thanks to public donations and special funders.
Applications for the 2026-27 Field Trip Grants will open on October 1st. Sign up for our Educator Newsletter or follow VHF’s social media channels to keep up to date with the latest on our Heritage in Schools program.
If you have questions regarding the program or application process, please email our Director of Education, Sarah Carlson at sarah@vancouverheritagefoundation.org
Professional Development Support
Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosts a variety of Professional Development Day (“Pro-D Day”) sessions intended for current educators focusing on enriching K-12 lesson plans and programming. VHF recognizes educators as a diverse field and not exclusive to district school teachers. We welcome all those whose field of work or employment/volunteer position impacts the education of K-12 children and youth.
We present sessions for a number of District Pro-D Days in Vancouver, as well as the Provincial Pro-D Day in October.
April 2024 Punjabi Market Pro-D - Mural Walk (Credit S Carlson)
Group Photo at Tupper Secondary Memorial Rock for Jomar during April 2023 Pro-D focusing on Filipino history of Fraser St. Credit: Kamran Safari
Author H.P. Fraser reading her book 'The Little Girl' at Ahn and Chi during the Family & Food: Stories from Vancouver's Little Saigon Pro-D workshop in February 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Lunch stop at Shameless Buns - part of Kuwentuhan (storytelling) on Fraser Street's Filipino Connections Pro-D Workshop in April 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Group photo at Monument to Vietnamese Boat People in McAuley Park during the Family & Food: Stories from Vancouver's Little Saigon Pro-D workshop in February 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Walking tour of Strathcona neighbourhood with John Atkin, supported by VHF's Field Trip Grants. Credit: Clara Conrado.
Walking tour of Mountain View Cemetery by John Atkin for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Educators inside the Livestock Building during 2022 Pro-D Tour of Hastings Park with Nikkei National Museum guide Carolyn Nakagawa. Credit: S Carlson
Walking tour for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D by John Atkin. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Group of teachers on False Creek Ferry during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: S Carlson
Lunch at Juke's during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: J Quan
Close-up of artwork done by a Grade 4/5 class at Britannia Elementary during a study of Vancouver housing styles.
A study of Vancouver housing styles done by a Grade 4/5 class at Britannia Elementary.
April 2024 Punjabi Market Pro-D - Mural Walk (Credit S Carlson)
Group Photo at Tupper Secondary Memorial Rock for Jomar during April 2023 Pro-D focusing on Filipino history of Fraser St. Credit: Kamran Safari
Author H.P. Fraser reading her book 'The Little Girl' at Ahn and Chi during the Family & Food: Stories from Vancouver's Little Saigon Pro-D workshop in February 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Lunch stop at Shameless Buns - part of Kuwentuhan (storytelling) on Fraser Street's Filipino Connections Pro-D Workshop in April 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Group photo at Monument to Vietnamese Boat People in McAuley Park during the Family & Food: Stories from Vancouver's Little Saigon Pro-D workshop in February 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Walking tour of Strathcona neighbourhood with John Atkin, supported by VHF's Field Trip Grants. Credit: Clara Conrado.
Walking tour of Mountain View Cemetery by John Atkin for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Educators inside the Livestock Building during 2022 Pro-D Tour of Hastings Park with Nikkei National Museum guide Carolyn Nakagawa. Credit: S Carlson
Walking tour for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D by John Atkin. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Group of teachers on False Creek Ferry during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: S Carlson
Lunch at Juke's during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: J Quan
Close-up of artwork done by a Grade 4/5 class at Britannia Elementary during a study of Vancouver housing styles.
A study of Vancouver housing styles done by a Grade 4/5 class at Britannia Elementary.