A new Heritage First program in the City of Port Coquitlam will coordinate and support initiatives intended to preserve the City’s built heritage.

The program has two main focuses:

• development of a Heritage Strategic Plan in 2009, and
• ensuring City staff, Council and local developers are aware of the importance of the City’s built heritage and look for opportunities for preserving and restoring it.

Development of the City’s first Heritage Strategic Plan will be the responsibility of the new Social Inclusion Committee, supported by the Development Services Department. Led by Councillors Michael Wright and Glenn Pollock, the Social Inclusion Committee includes citizen advisors and heritage advocates Pippa Van Velzen, Pat Dales and William Summersgill as members.

The intent of the plan is to provide the City with a clear direction regarding the preservation of heritage buildings, based on community input. Public consultation opportunities will be publicized to the community as they arise.
Mayor Moore has also committed to lobbying the provincial and federal government for legislative changes that help protect built heritage, such as tax incentives for revenue-producing heritage buildings.

Related Links

• Speech - Museum Fundraiser Gala (February 2009)
• Heritage Display Centre
• Port Coquitlam History

 

Milestones

• February 2009 - Mayor Launches Heritage First Program