Vancouver Heritage Commission

The Vancouver Heritage Commission advises City Council on:

  • The need for preserving heritage buildings, structures, or lands which collectively represent a cross-section of all periods and styles in the City's historic and cultural evolution
  • The costs and benefits of the preservations
  • The compatibility of preservations with other lawful uses of the buildings, structures, or land
  • Recommendations on the designation of heritage buildings, structures, and lands, and the demolition, preservation, alteration, or renovation of those buildings, structures, and lands

Meeting updates: 

Meeting Format:

Civic Agency meetings may be in-person, electronic (as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law), or a hybrid of the two. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online under the ‘Meetings’ tab below.

Virtual Meeting Platform:

Virtual meetings use Microsoft Teams. No software download is required.

Attending Meetings:

  • To view a meeting online or listen by phone, follow instructions provided below.
  • Join link is made available at least 24 hours before the meeting.
  • For in-person attendance at City Hall, seek directions to the meeting room from Security staff. If arriving after 5:00 pm, enter via the 12th Avenue entrance by using the intercom (this entrance is equipped with a wheelchair ramp).

Note:

Unlike meetings of City Council, there is usually no public speaking option during Civic Agency meetings. Virtual attendees will be muted and unseen by meeting participants. If you wish to get in touch with this Civic Agency, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Next Meeting Details:

  • Date: May 5, 2025
  • Time: 11 am
  • Location: Joe Wai Meeting Room, 1st Floor, City Hall; Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Joining via Teams:

  • Click Join the Meeting Now (link will be updated the day before the meeting)
  • Meeting ID (if needed): TBD
  • Passcode (if needed): TBD

Joining by Phone (Audio Only):

Consent - Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy:

Personal Information collected via MS365 Teams Meetings will be used by the City of Vancouver for managing meeting attendance and collaboration under the authority of s.26(c) of FIPPA. Questions may be emailed to the Director, ATIP, privacy@vancouver.ca.

Terms of reference

The Vancouver Heritage Commission Bylaw establishes the Commission, and describes its membership and responsibilities.

Meeting frequency

The commission generally meets every three weeks, at 11:00am at City Hall. There are no meetings in August.

Subcommittees

Subcommittees are created to manage the annual Heritage Awards Program and for other matters, as needed.

Time commitment

Commission meetings typically last 2 to 3 hours. Commission members should expect to spend an additional 3 or more hours on committee work each month. Preparation time is also required before meetings.

Attendance requirement

Members may miss no more than four consecutive meetings without obtaining Leave of Absence from the Committee or Council. Membership will be terminated following the fourth such absence.

Membership

The Commission consists of 11 voting members, who are appointed by City Council. The Commission also has a City Council liaison who serves as a non-voting member.

Each year, five voting members are appointed for 1- and 2-year terms. Commission members are eligible for reappointment. There are no limits on how many terms a member may serve.

Before being appointed, members must have lived in Metro Vancouver (formerly the Greater Vancouver Regional District) for at least 6 months.

Members

Terms end December 1, 2025:

  • James Evans
  • Alison Fraser
  • Paul Giles
  • Hilary Macdonald
  • Shawn Preus

Terms end December 6, 2026:

  • Narges Afee
  • Michael Gordon
  • Nancy Kirkpatrick
  • Judy Lam Maxwell
  • Ivonne Voelkel

Liaisons

  • City Council: Councillor Mike Klassen
  • Vancouver Park Board: vacant
  • Vancouver School Board: Trustee Joshua Zhang
  • Staff: Zlatan Jankovic, Senior Heritage Planner

Meetings, agendas, and minutes

Resources for Civic Agency members

Staff Contacts

Staff Liaison

Zlatan Jankovic, Senior Heritage Planner

604-871-6448

zlatan.jankovic@vancouver.ca

*Contact the Staff Liaison for subject matter expertise and information on City programs, services, and initiatives.

Clerk

Kevin Burris, Manager of Civic Agencies

604-707-5412

kevin.burris@vancouver.ca

*Contact the Clerk for information on meetings, schedules, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and procedure.