Heritage Week starts Monday, Feb. 18 and runs until Feb. 24. It's the perfect opportunity to explore your local heritage and learn more about the role historic neighbours play in your community.

This year's Heritage Week theme is Good Neighbours: Heritage Homes and Neighbourhoods. The character and warmth of historic homes and heritage neighbourhoods enhance a community's attractiveness and liveability with their vintage house styles, gardens, landscapes and boulevards and create a positive sense of well-being throughout a community.

B.C.'s historic buildings, structures and cultural landscapes help residents and visitors appreciate and understand the province's heritage. These treasures are not only a direct connection to our own past, they also serve as a boost to the tourism industry by providing visitors a tangible highlight to their experience that encourages return trips for years to come.

Many heritage organizations are hosting events during Heritage Week. Find an event in your community: http://www.heritagebc.ca/events/heritage-week/community-events

Quote:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

"Take the opportunity this Heritage Week to get out and learn more about our province's rich past and the contributions historic neighbours make to your community."

Quick Facts:

• Local governments have been responsible for conserving their own heritage buildings since 1994, when legislation was amended to give them the tools to recognize and protect their historic sites, and the ability to encourage conservation.
• B.C.'s historic buildings, structures and cultural landscapes attract over 200,000 visitors annually from around the globe, creating jobs for British Columbians and supporting sustainable communities.
• B.C.'s Register of Historic Places has over 3,500 listings of recognized historic sites - and ere may be hundreds more that have yet to be registered.

Learn More:

Heritage BC: http://www.heritagebc.ca/

Canadian Register of Historic Places: http://www.historicplaces.ca/

Heritage Branch: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/heritage/

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261