INFORMATION BULLETIN
For Immediate Release 2008TSA0047-000877 June 7, 2008	Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts
PROVINCE RECOGNIZES COMMUNITY HERITAGE LEADER

LANGLEY – Merritt resident Murphy Shewchuk has received the British Columbia Heritage Award for 2008.

 

The annual award, which recognizes a British Columbian who has made an outstanding contribution to heritage, was presented by Langley MLA Mary Polak on behalf of Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen at the annual Heritage BC awards ceremony held last night in Langley.

 

Shewchuk has been a leader in heritage conservation in British Columbia for more than 30 years. An accomplished author and photographer, he has published more than 300 magazine articles and 1,000 photographs since 1965. He has also written and illustrated 11 books or book-length publications since 1973, including The Craigmont Story, the history of a mid-20th century copper mine.

 

In addition to his career as a researcher, photographer, author and volunteer, Shewchuk has been involved in the heritage conservation movement in the Nicola Valley. He was a founding director and first president of the Nicola Valley Museum Archives Association when it was formed in 1976 and has been a director of the museum society since its inception, also currently serving as vice-president. While continuing as a “hands-on” volunteer, he has also been a leader and active fundraiser for this important community heritage institution.

 

His other historical interests include early trade routes and he has worked with the Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society to preserve the Hudson’s Brigade Trail between Tulameen and Hope. He has also served as president of Trails BC, the group responsible for the Trans-Canada Trail in British Columbia.

 

As part of the heritage award, a $10,000 grant is provided to a heritage-related non-profit organization selected by the award recipient. This year’s grant will go to the Nicola Valley Museum Archives Association for its museum rebuilding fund and to continue with modernization work begun three years ago.

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Media contact:	Victoria Klassen Communications Manager 250 387-2799
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