Provincial Heritage Strategy
Heritage Branch staff recently held nine workshops to inform the development of the emerging provincial heritage strategy. The Branch heard from 184 stakeholders representing a diverse field that included Crown corporations, municipal and regional government land-use and economic development planners and building 
inspectors, owners and operators of gated heritage attractions, educators, councillors and advisory committee members, tourism developers, heritage consultants, museums and archives operators, and volunteers in almost every one of these fields.
We asked three questions: why is heritage important to you, your organization, or your community; what are the challenges facing your heritage; and, how might we meet those challenges? The graphic recordings from these sessions have been transcribed by Branch staff and an on-line consultation is under way for those unable to attend the workshops in-person. It is hoped that the on-line consultation, in addition to augmenting the workshop findings, will provide quotable material that can be used to enhance the draft strategy. In addition, respondents will be asked to indicate whether they are willing to provide images to illustrate the strategy in due course.
Heritage Branch’s next step will be to prepare a report recording the findings of these research and consultation initiatives. The results will be available for review early in the new year so that stakeholders have an opportunity to ensure that 
their observations have been accurately reflected. Further analysis of issues and opportunities will then allow the draft strategy to be prepared for the Minister’s consideration by March 31, 2009.
On behalf of the Heritage Branch, I would like to thank all of you who attended the workshops or who have already provided written submissions, and to reiterate that the strength of the draft strategy lies in how responsive it is to challenges to the sustainability of our historic places as expressed by British Columbians.
