About the Foundation
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC 150, a Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts initiative and the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia. Parts of this website were made possible through a grant in 2008 from the BC150-Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia. The grant has enabled the Victoria Heritage Foundation to create interactive maps with photos of each property from our previously published Neighbourhood Heritage Walking Tour brochures.
The grant facilitated a website redesign that contained much more information about Victoria’s built heritage, including a chronological history of the city and its neighbourhoods; indexes for architects and builders, a chronological listing of Heritage Registered buildings in the residential neighbourhoods; and an architectural styles guide and glossary. Comprehensive histories with archival photos of all of Victoria’s residential neighbourhoods will now be easily accessible.
Thank You To
- Victoria Heritage Foundation would like especially to thank the British Columbia Archives: images listed as BCA have been provided free of charge for this BC 150 project courtesy of Royal BC Museum, BC Archives
- The City of Victoria Municipal Archives, the Esquimalt Municipal Archives, and Saanich Municipal Archives for permission to use photos from their collection
- The City of Victoria – for the yearly base grant which provides the funding for Victoria Heritage Foundation’s House Grants Program, its administration costs, and some of the funding for its Education Committee’s projects
- Heritage Planners Steve Barber, City Hall staff and Council members for all their help, guidance and support Victoria Heritage Foundation’s volunteer Board and Committee members and staff who provide the structure for the organization and who do so much to assist Victoria’s Heritage House owners and the City’s Heritage Program
- Victoria Heritage Foundation’s many volunteers who contribute so many hours each year to supervising house grants and advising homeowners, writing architectural descriptions, researching and writing social histories, organizing special events, and cataloguing plans and permits
- Photographers Cam Fennell, Alex Kerr, and Brigitte Clark for the Heritage Walking Tour photos; and to the late Derek Trachsel for the many hundreds of photos he did for Victoria Heritage Foundation over the years, for This Old House and for new designations
- Reber Creative for their website design and their patience with our process
- Brigitte Clark and Jennifer Nell Barr for writing and redesigning text and content
- Julia Trachsel, who developed our first website in 2004 and was volunteer webmistress until 2009.
The Victoria Heritage Foundation Board of Directors comprises 10-15 volunteer members, as well as the City’s Heritage Planners and a Council representative. The Board meets at City Hall monthly to oversee the work of its Committees and to administer its programs.
House Grants Committee
Victoria Heritage Foundation’s House Grants Committee volunteer members include professionals, tradespeople, homeowners and other interested persons with house construction, rehabilitation, or related experience. Committee members perform on-site inspections of the applicants’ homes, meet monthly to discuss the properties and the work required, and report to the Board of Directors. VHF has established clear guidelines and priorities for approving applications. The House Grants Committee annually reviews policy issues and the program’s information sheets, the Application Guidelines & Conditions, Application Form and the Rehabilitation Requirements.
Every year, the City of Victoria presents this plaque to owners of newly designated heritage buildings. It recognizes personal efforts to help conserve and commemorate historic places for our neighbourhoods and community.
The City of Victoria administers the Heritage Designation process. The City of Victoria’s website provides an overview of its Heritage Program, including information on topics such as designation and altering heritage buildings. On the city’s website, you will also find the Heritage Register. This list includes residential, commercial and institutional buildings as well as some landscape features. Download a City of Victoria Application Form for Heritage Designation.
- What is the Heritage Register?.
- What is the difference between registered and designated?
- Can I make changes to my house if it is designated?
- Does designation affect my property value?
- I own a designated house and would like to build a deck: What is the
application process? - What is a Heritage Alteration Permit?
Need More Information?
Sustainable Planning & Community Development Department
#1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC V8W 1P6
Contact Us
For information on the funding program for Designated Houses, please phone or email, as our office is not at City Hall.
Mailing Address / Phone / Email
Victoria Heritage Foundation
c/o Victoria City Hall
#1 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC V8W 1P6