2023 Heritage Award winners

2023 winners

Heritage Award winners include architects, community organizations, developers, writers, artists, and ordinary citizens.

We recognize recipients for their extraordinary efforts to safeguard and regenerate tangible and intangible heritage throughout Vancouver's neighbourhoods.

Award categories

  • Living heritage: Projects that highlight the self-expressed heritage of Vancouver's communities, or for projects that support reconciliation, cultural redress, or safeguarding or regeneration of living heritage
  • Heritage conservation: For the restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse or continued maintenance of buildings, structures, cultural landscapes, or other natural features, including seismic or sustainability upgrades
  • Education and awareness: For the use of a publication, exhibit, activity, social media, or website to promote tangible or intangible heritage, or celebrate diverse cultures and histories

2023 awards jury

  • Joel Massey (Chair)
  • Timothy Ankenman
  • Jenni Pace
  • Stephanie Leo
  • Judy Oberlander

Living heritage

Motanka Creations

Lena Ciesielska

This award recognizes their use of doll-making to maintain and promote Eastern European cultural traditions and to support UNICEF.

Coming Out of Chaos

Karen Jamieson Dance

This award recognizes Coming Out of Chaos for exhibiting the history of contemporary dance since the 1970s in Vancouver, documenting a pivotal moment when many prominent dance artists came together for the first time.

Punjabi Market Revitalization

Punjabi Market Collective

This award recognizes Punjabi Market Revitalization for its exemplary multigenerational community engagement and partnerships, and excellence in placemaking through art and celebrations.

Heritage conservation

UNION

MA+HG Architects, Terris & Company General Contractors Ltd., Mira Malatestinic

This award recognizes the retention and restoration of the exterior architectural elements, interior details, and finishing of the Victorian-era home at 851 Union St.

Broadhurst & Whitaker Block, 3495 Commercial St

MA+HG Architects, Donald Luxton Associates, Hudson Projects

This award recognizes the thoughtful rehabilitation of this Edwardian vernacular building, contributing to the character of its streetscape.

Coulter House, 67 West 6th Avenue

Ance Building Service, Conwest Yamamoto Architecture

This award recognizes the thorough work on conserving this modest 1901 home as part of a larger industrial development.

BC Securities Building, 402 W Pender St.

Reliance Properties Ltd., Barry McGinn Architect, Etro Construction Ltd., Van den Kerkhof & Son Masonry Ltd., and Ital Décor Ltd.

This award recognizes the extensive upgrade of masonry cladding, including the rehabilitation of deteriorated elements and creative use of materials for replicated elements.

Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street

City of Vancouver, Barry McGinn Architect, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., and Scott Construction Group Grist Slate and Tile Roofing Inc.

This award recognizes the sensitive rehabilitation and partial seismic upgrade, exemplifying model stewardship of this community-serving space.

Mah Society of Canada Building, 137-139 East Pender Street

Mah Society of Canada, Barry McGinn Architect, JTW Consulting, MEC Engineering Consulting, Raven Metal Products

This award recognizes the rehabilitation of exterior and interior features, supporting the continuation of services that the Mah Society provides to its community.

Hollywood Theatre, 3123 West Broadway

MA+HG Architects, Donald Luxton & Associates, Bonnis Properties

This award recognizes the sensitive restoration work on exterior and interior elements, and enabling the enhanced and continued use of a beloved community cultural venue.

St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, 1012 Nelson Street

RJC Engineers,  Ryder Architecture, Donald Luxton & Associates, Heatherbrae Builders, St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church

This award recognizes the sensitive conservation and seismic upgrade of this iconic neo-Gothic church.

Sun Tower, 128 West Pender Street

Allied Properties REIT, Barry McGinn Architect, Van den Kerkhof & Son Masonry Ltd., Alpha Masonry Ltd., Heather & Little Ltd.
 

This award recognizes the respectful envelope seismic stabilization, and implementing creative solutions for the rehabilitation and replication of deteriorated elements.

Education and awareness

Mount Pleasant Stories Historical Walking Tours Guidebook Walk 1: Mount Pleasant's Heritage Heart

Christine Hagemoen

This award recognizes the enlivening of neighbourhood stories, vignettes, and narratives in an engaging and accessible manner.

Vancouver Fruit Tree Histories and Communities

Vancouver Fruit Tree Project, Sylvia Grace Borda, Coast Salish Plant Nursery, Museum of Vancouver, and Gordon Brent Brochu-Ingram

This award recognizes the unique story of fruit trees in Vancouver through multi-community collaboration involving knowledge keepers, artists, and historians.

Jewish Historic Walking Tours

Jewish Museum & Archives of BC

The award recognizes the dynamic, engaging walking tours highlighting generations of Jewish history in Vancouver neighbourhoods.

Chinatown Storytelling Centre

Vancouver Chinatown Foundation

This award recognizes its immersive and interactive exhibits, emphasizing storytelling and uncovering common cultural experiences through both on-site and virtual media.