The Province has amended Heritage Investigation Permit 2011-0376 for a private property on the 1300 block of SW Marine Drive, also known as the Marpole Midden site, under Section 12 (6) of the Heritage Conservation Act.

The amendment no longer authorizes any further alteration of the investigation area on Lot 9 and requires that the investigation area be returned as close as possible to its original condition.

In addition, the expiration of Alteration Permit 2011-0210 has been extended from June 30 to July 15 to accommodate information-gathering and further consultation with the parties.

This amendment is the result of a provincial review of the two permits. Following the discovery on April 29 of several intact, largely undisturbed remains and other burial fragments that indicated a group of burials unknown when the permits were issued, the provincial statutory decision-maker requested that no work take place near the burial sites. No further work has been done on the site since.

The provincial statutory decision-maker reviewed the permits from May 8-June 5. Both the permit-holder and the Musqueam Indian Band participated in the review, and the review was extended twice at the request of the parties.

A heritage investigation permit allows the permit-holder to recover any information at archaeological site that could be lost if development occurs. An alteration permit authorizes the removal of archaeological material from a site and details the proper care and handling for any materials found.

These permits pertain only to the archaeological significance of the site. The City of Vancouver remains responsible for subdivision, right-of-way and building permit approvals for the development.

Media Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261
Brennan.Clarke@gov.bc.ca