Since 1961 when the Historical and Museum Advisory Committee was formed, Richmond’s municipal government has been involved in identifying and preserving heritage sites in the community.

The old Richmond United/Methodist Church building being moved to Minoru Park, 1967. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1989 33 1

One of the first major heritage projects undertaken was in 1967, when the original Richmond United/Methodist Church building at the corner of River Road and Cambie was purchased by the municipality, moved to Minoru Park and renamed Minoru Chapel.

Steveston Museum and Post Office (formerly Royal Bank / Northern Bank) during restoration, 1980. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1997 42 1 125

The acquisition and restoration of heritage buildings by the municipality continued in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Royal Bank (originally Northern Bank) in Steveston, London Farm, and the Britannia Shipyard being the most notable during this time.

London Farm before restoration, 1977. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1985 187 7

Britannia Shipyard area, 1988. City of Richmond Archives, Heritage Advisory Committee, File 2-1-3

Other important heritage preservation activities included the establishment of the Steveston Heritage Conservation Area and the development and preservation of Garry Point Park and Scotch Pond.

Cover of the first Heritage Inventory for Richmond, 1984. City of Richmond Archives GP 34

The establishment of a Heritage Advisory Committee by the municipality in 1984 marked the beginning of a formalized program for heritage preservation. That committee, later reconstituted as the Richmond Heritage Commission, conducted a number of important heritage studies, not the least of which was a formal Heritage Inventory for Richmond. The first inventory was published in 1984 and several updates have been made since.

The City of Richmond Archives has comprehensive records documenting heritage preservation activities in the community, dating back to the records of the Historical and Museum Advisory Committee and including minutes, research files, project files, studies and reports of the Heritage Advisory Committee/Heritage Commission. In addition, records of the Engineering Department and the Leisure Services Department document restoration, maintenance and programming activities at municipally-owned heritage sites. Records of the Planning Department, Law Department and Clerk’s Office provide an accurate picture of the process by which heritage properties were acquired, and how policies relating to non-City owned property of heritage significance have developed.

[Note – this is an updated version of an article first published in the Fall 2014 issue of the Archives News]