Vancouver Heritage Fair
VHF is proud to support the Vancouver Heritage Fair, which is affiliated with the BC Heritage Fairs Society, a non-profit organization that aims to “bring BC students together to make Canadian history come alive.” After a one-year hiatus, the Vancouver Heritage Fair is being reorganized by a new Executive Committee led by Dr. Lindsay Gibson of UBC, Jessica Quan, Community Engagement Manager at the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, and Vancouver Heritage Fair Alumni member Daniel Li.
The 2026 Vancouver Heritage Fair will be hosted at UBC in May 2026 at the Neville Scarfe (Education) Building. The event is being sponsored by the UBC Faculty of Education, Vancouver Heritage Fairs Alumni, Vancouver Historical Society and Vancouver Heritage Foundation. Get involved in 2026 Vancouver Heritage Fair Google Doc
Resources for Supporting School Heritage Fairs
- bcheritagefairs.ca
- Heritage Fairs – Learning Portal
- HERITAGE FAIR – Richmond Museum
- TC² | Thinking About History
- Canada’s History – Heritage Fairs
Love Learning About History + Interested in Volunteering?
Vancouver Heritage Fairs is always looking for English and French-speaking volunteers who are interested in history and enjoy working with children. If you are interested in participating or learning more please contact: vancouverheritagefair@gmail.com
John Oliver Legacy Society
- To protect, preserve, and display heritage objects, archival materials, history books, pamphlets, pictures, and memorabilia of John Oliver Secondary School and display them in public places;
- To establish and maintain an accessible online digital web-library/database of the heritage objects, history documents, pictures, archival material, and other scholarly materials for the benefit of the public;
- To advance education by providing publicly available scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of financial assistance to students attending John Oliver Secondary School;
- To undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the attainment of the above mentioned charitable purposes.
King George Secondary School Archives
“As I’ve said to many students and families over the years, this is the people’s archives. This is not my archives, I’m simply the curator. For now, I hold such an honour to take care of it with the others. The past, present and future King George students and their families. It’s a piece of living history that’s always changing.” KGSSA.
Tecumseh Elementary
Every school and school community holds memories, lived experiences and notable educators, students and alumni. Tecumseh Elementary School has engaged in a number of projects surrounding the legacies of educator, Vivian Jung who taught at the school from 1950-1986.
With the help of Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, Fiona Tinwei Lam and Tecumseh AIRS artist-in-residence, Julie McIntyre, the school has put together a book of student poetry titled, Splash! Odes To Vivian Jung.
Artists in Residence – AIRS
“Revealing our Histories” with permission from the artist. A whole school collaborative heritage legacy project by local printmaker Julie McIntyre and Tecumseh Elementary Students. The project delved into the changing historical landscape and heritage of the school itself, the Victoria-Fraserview neighbourhood situated on the unceded and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlil̓wətaʔɬ peoples.
Suzhou Alley Women’s Mural
A community-driven commemorative mural and storytelling project celebrating the contributions and legacies of the women who helped shape Vancouver’s Chinatown and community. Located in the courtyard of the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Punjabi Market Murals
Vancouver’s Punjabi Market was the first and largest Punjabi market in North America. From humble beginnings, Main Street transformed into a cultural hub and was home of the first Punjabi-language street signs outside of Asia. At its peak, Punjabi Market was home to over 300 shops including 24 jewellery shops between 48th and 51st Avenue.
Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosted a heritage collaborative inquiry group in 2023-24.
We visited each school and went on walking tours to learn neighbourhood histories, what places, people and stories mattered to their communities and how to better engage and inspire place-based understanding- beginning at your school. As a result, thematic projects and curriculum connections have been made with specific local examples and projects.
Share your local school or class projects!