Learn about the state of heritage and conservation projects in Vancouver today with experts in architecture and design, conservation, city planning and other related fields. These virtual talks discuss issues, local projects and topics that are relevant to the future of Vancouver’s historic neighbourhoods and buildings. The speakers offer in-depth illustrated presentations followed by a Q&A.
Thank you for joining us this spring for two incredible presentations focusing on decolonizing heritage, as well as inclusion, collaboration and partnership with indigenous neighbours. If you missed it, Rena Souta and Julia Hulbert’s presentation on ‘Expanding Relevance through Decolonizing Heritage‘ is now available for viewing on our YouTube channel.
The series will continue in a virtual format this fall – stay tuned formore details about the topics and speakers for our upcoming Heritage Lunch and Learns!
You can earn 1 Old School credit per Evening Lecture or Lunch and Learn, to a maximum of 3 towards VHF’s Heritage Conservation Certificate. Professional Development Credits (AIBC, PIBC, BOABC, BCSLA, AICBC) are dependent on the lecture topic and speaker – talk to your professional body to inquire how to register your attendance.
Online
$15+tax
Learn about the state of heritage and conservation projects in Vancouver today with experts in architecture and design, conservation, city planning and other related fields. Our past virtual heritage lunch and learns discuss issues, local projects and topics that are relevant to the future of Vancouver’s historic neighbourhoods and buildings.
Recordings from past VHF virtual Lunch & Learns are available. A link will be sent for each virtual lunch & learn following your purchase and the video will be available for viewing on YouTube up to a month after your purchase. Price includes GST and PST.
April 21 – Expanding Relevance through Decolonizing Heritage
Rena Soutar, Manager of Decolonization, Arts & Culture at the Vancouver Park Board and Julia Hulbert, Arts & Culture Planner at the Vancouver Park Board led a conversation on the expanding relevance of heritage. This lunch-time conversation introduced how the field of heritage planning can begin to decolonize and reckon with difficult histories.
May 12 – The Uncomfortable Reality of Inclusion, Collaboration and Partnership with Indigenous Neighbours
In this illustrated presentation, Janice Alpine, Ktunaxa Nation Business Development Officer/Tourism Engagement, and Elana Zysblat, BCAHP – Heritage Consultant, Ance Building Services, shared how the Ktunaxa finally became the tellers of their own story in the Fernie Heritage Strategy, about their ongoing work together today, and a list of their shared understandings on this type of collaboration, both for Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants. They also shared some tips, including: “Truth” comes first in TRC; Willingness to Work in Discomfort; How Beginnings Matter; Consensual Language; Taking the Time and Valuing Difficult Perspectives.
April 29 – Hollywood Theatre
A much-loved icon on West Broadway, the Hollywood Theatre has recently re-opened as a film, live performance and arts and culture venue. Designed by Harold Cullerne in 1935 for the Farleigh family, the Art Deco movie theatre was one of the last remaining single-screen movie theatres in the city when it closed in 2011. With significant effort by the local film, arts, heritage and residential community, alongside the City of Vancouver and the building owner and theatre operators, the architects were able to secure its future through a Heritage Revitalization Agreement that enabled the restoration of the building, its significant historical features and its use as a theatre. The building retains many of its distinctive features, including neon exterior signage and painted façade and interior Art Deco detailing, while allowing for modernizations that secure its future adaptability and continued use. Architect Marianne Amodio of MA+HG Architects Inc. shared the rehabilitation of the building and how its heritage and conservation were considered.
September 23 – St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church
One of the largest historic churches in the province, St. Andrews-Wesley Church was designed by the architects Twizell & Twizell in a freely-adapted Gothic Revival style between 1930 and 1933. A designated municipal heritage site, it recently underwent a full seismic upgrade and restoration work, which was awarded the 2021 BC Heritage Award for Outstanding Conservation. Heritage consultant Donald Luxton and engineer of record for the project Dennis Gam discussed the completed restoration and seismic upgrade, including how interior and exterior character-defining elements were preserved or rehabilitated and how missing or deteriorated elements were restored.
October 21 – Sun Tower
Designed in the Beaux Art style in 1911-12 by W.T. Whiteway, the Sun Tower is an iconic and flamboyant feature on the Vancouver skyline. It was originally home to the Vancouver World Newspaper. Its publisher, Louis D Tayor, was a prominent figure who was elected as mayor eight times. The paper promoted the war effort during the First World War while also directly participating in fundraising efforts. In 1915 Taylor lost control of the newspaper and the building due to the recession. The Vancouver Sun newspaper moved into the building in 1937 after its offices across Pender were destroyed by fire and it has been known as the Sun Tower ever since despite the newspaper moving out again in 1965. Powell Talverdi and architect Barry McGinn explored the recent envelope stabilization, dome reroofing and restoration work of the building that has been ongoing since 2018.
April 5 – Tamura Building Sheet Metal Restoration
Architect, Mitch Sakumoto, and Eagle Sheet Metal owner, Randy Sewell, discussed one of the last in the series of City of Vancouver and BC Housing SRO rehabilitation’s, Tamura House. The building is a storied part of the Japanese community on Powell Street and now boasts fully restored spectacular metal pediments. The talk covered how sheet metal work is created and how the heritage elements of Tamura House have been brought back to life.
April 26 – Impacts to Heritage of Real Estate, Speculation and Development in Vancouver
This discussion covered a subject everyone has an opinion about – the impacts of land speculation and development, the foreign-buyer tax and other issues affecting Vancouver’s heritage architecture. When current property assessments are reportedly 95% land value and 5% building value, preserving older homes becomes more and more challenging. Our two presenters were Researcher and SFU City Program Director, Andy Yan, who studies the economics of property values and sales in Vancouver, and Gordon Price, Fellow with the SFU Centre for Dialogue, and former City Councillor and SFU City Program Director.
October 4 – The Mah Society Buildings
The Mah Society Building is the first Chinese Benevolent Society Building in Vancouver’s Chinatown to complete a full restoration. At this talk we learned, about the Society’s history as well as the scope of rehabilitation and conservation work, the procurement process and planning for the future of the building from Fred Mah, James Weldon and Ian Shapcott.