ABOUT

Heritage Legacy Fund

What Is It?

The Heritage Legacy Fund (HLF) was established in 2003 by an agreement between Heritage BC,  The Land Conservancy, and the provincial government.  With the termin-ation of the B.C. Heritage Trust at that time, HLF was intended to take over the community support function, specifically to provide grants.  The province endowed the project with an initial gift of $5 million, held by the Vancouver Foundation.  A new organization, the Heritage Legacy Fund of B.C. Society, was set up to run the program.  Heritage BC and TLC would appoint the board, with one director representing the provincial government.  Two years later in March of 2005, the availability of funding through grant programs was announced.

Who Benefits?

The HLF is the only funding organization in B.C. dedicated exclusively to heritage conservation.  Of the nearly 100 grants provided to date, about 80 per cent have been for the conservation of historic buildings and other structures.  Projects supported range from one-room buildings to civic landmarks such as Victoria’s City Hall or the former municipal building in Nelson.  A lot of funding applications are for basic repair and maintenance work – roof replacement is the most common request.  There have been a few very unusual applications as well, like the project to retain the famous Hollow Tree in Vancouver’s Stanley Park.

Applications come from many sources.  There are the community museums and heritage societies who look after historic properties.  There are also those who simply own and care for historic buildings that are community treasures.  Local governments and First Nations have also successfully applied to the Heritage Legacy Fund.

Beyond the applicants themselves, it is the community and the local economy that benefit from the financial support of the Heritage Legacy Fund.  The HLF society wants not only to conserve heritage resources, but to help communities, to encourage understanding and appreciation of our heritage, to bolster tourism and economic well being, and foster a more sustainable future.

The Future

We have learned a lot in our first five years.  The most important lesson has been that this was definitely the right thing to do.  The HLF is clearly meeting a need, and that need is growing.  So the future means continuing with the grant programs.

The biggest challenge will be finding the necessary resources.  The endowment fund suffered during the recession, as expected, but recovery is underway.  The need for support is growing, and in the last year the Heritage Legacy Fund has stepped in to replace the financial support to Heritage BC cut by the provincial government in 2009. 

In the longer term, the Heritage Legacy Fund must build its endowment.  There is so much more that can be done if the resources are available.

You Can Help!

We are making a difference and you can help. Please join us in the effort to conserve British Columbia’s 
priceless heritage. Your gift to the Heritage Legacy Fund 
can make a real difference — right now and looking ahead.
There are several ways you can contribute:

BY CHEQUE
Please make your cheque payable to Vancouver Foundation and
reference Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia on the memo line.

ONLINE

Donations can be made by clicking ‘Give Now’
» www.vancouverfoundation.ca

A PLANNED GIFT
There are many ways to leave a legacy gift; please contact us 
for a confidential discussion of your options:

VANCOUVER FOUNDATION

Kristin Helgason
Manager, Development & Donor Services
kristinh@vancouverfoundation.ca

604.629.5186

Suite 1200 – 555 West Hastings Street
Box 12132, Harbour Centre, Vancouver, BC  V6B 4N6

HERITAGE LEGACY FUND OF BC SOCIETY
Rick Goodacre
Executive Officer
rgoodacre@heritagebc.ca 

250.384.4840
» www.heritagelegacyfund.ca