The City of New Westminster has recognized the efforts of property owners who have worked to conserve and preserve the city’s heritage.
New Westminster has declared Feb. 20 to 26 as Heritage Week, a time it says provides British Columbians with an opportunity to learn more about the province’s rich and diverse histories and for communities across B.C. to recognize the work of heritage organizations and volunteers.
“The theme of Heritage Week 2023 is Always in All Ways, which invites British Columbians to explore their local community’s heritage in all the ways that excite them,” said the city’s proclamation. “This could be anything from joining a walking tour or visiting a museum or archive, to attending a cultural cooking class and sharing a meal with others or spending time enjoying our city’s unique spaces and places.”
On Feb. 13, city council handed out plaques to owners of some newly designated heritage buildings.
“Designated heritage buildings display these plaques in perpetuity as a symbol of the value that the keepers of these buildings and the community put on our heritage places,” said Mayor Patrick Johnstone. “This presentation is one way we celebrate Heritage Week in our city.”
Johnstone noted the homes and buildings receiving plaques at the Feb. 13 meeting represent six different neighbourhoods across New Westminster and five decades of development and history from the 1890s to the 1930s.
“We are really grateful for the time and effort that has gone into restoring these buildings and protecting them for the long-term benefit of the community,” he said. “We thank the owners, the builders, the historians and the other community members who invest their time, their energy and their passion into these projects. These heritage buildings help connect us to the past and to the stories of our city.”
Judith Mosley, the city’s senior heritage planner, said the city has not been able to come together to present the plaques in some time, so 11 buildings are being recognized at the 2023 Heritage Week presentation.
Here are the properties that received plaques for having received their heritage designation.
* 508 Agnes St. — the Freemason’s Hall, built in 1911. (Downtown)
* 612 Brantford St. — the Fulton/Thompson Residence, built in 1890. (Uptown. This is the oldest house standing in the Uptown neighbourhood.)
* 746 Ewen Ave. — Shymkowich Residence, built in 1923. (Queensborough)
* 327 Fourth St. — Bell Residence, built in 1913. (Queen’s Park)
* 305 Gilley St. — Nellie Mercer Cottage, built in 1916 (Brow of the Hill. This was built as a store building and relocated in 1927, when it became a residence at a time when homes were needed because of a population boom)
* 323 Regina St. — Edgar House, built in 1928 (Queen’s Park)
* 515 St. George St. — Adams House, built 1912. (Originally built in the Moody Park neighbourhood, this Craftsman style home was restored after being moved to Queen’s Park in 2002.)
* 632 Second St. — Pugh Residence, built in 1937. (Glenbrook North)
* 224 Sixth Ave. — Makepeace House, built in 1937. (Queen’s Park)
* 109 Third Ave. — G.R. Speck House, built in 1911. Queen’s Park)
* 125 Third St. — J.J. Johnston House, built in 1905. (Queen’s Park)
“Your participation in the conservation and preservation of heritage places is greatly appreciated,” Mosley told owners of designated heritage buildings.
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