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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA – A $5-million endowment for a new British Columbia Heritage Legacy Fund will allow communities to take a leadership role in heritage conservation, George Abbott, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services, said today.
The fund will be directed by a non-profit entity that the Heritage Society of B.C. and The Land Conservancy will establish by October. The entity will work to encourage corporate, institutional and private donations. Future proceeds may be used for a wide variety of efforts to conserve heritage resources and enhance public awareness of B.C.’s heritage.
“Heritage is best conserved at the local level, and the province is helping to provide the tools to the community to do that,” said Abbott. “This is an important step to encourage and support community-based heritage activity. The new fund will allow broader public participation in heritage ventures than ever before.”
Abbott and representatives of the two groups signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the fund at a ceremony at Emily Carr House in Victoria. The legacy fund will take the place of the Heritage Trust, a Crown corporation that will wind up its operations by the end of the month. The new fund will give its managers greater ability to raise funds from corporations, the private sector and institutions and, in future, to decide on initiatives at the community level.
“The new Legacy Fund holds tremendous promise for heritage conservation in B.C.,” said Maureen Arvanitidis, President of the Heritage Society of B.C. “The provincial government have shown real vision and leadership with this substantial endowment to get the fund off to a great start.”
“By putting these resources directly into the hands of the community, this fund will be a tremendous tool that can be strategically used to enable our heritage groups and advocates to better protect and conserve our priceless heritage,” said Bill Turner, Executive Director of The Land Conservancy. “We are building a legacy that will last in perpetuity, and this is a good step forward.”
The legacy fund is one of many changes aimed at strengthening heritage conservation by giving control over heritage resources to communities. The devolution of 15 heritage properties will see community groups, individuals and local governments manage historic sites at the local level.
“Communities are in the best position to manage our heritage sites,” said Abbott. “They have greater expertise and interest in managing local facilities, and their knowledge of local needs will allow them to be more creative and innovative.” The first announcement of new managers at a number of historic sites is expected in early April.
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