The Victoria Highland Games Association will become the new tenant of the historic Craigflower Manor effective April 17, 2014, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.

The Victoria Highland Games Association is the successful proponent selected from an Expression of Interest that the Province advertised in summer 2013. The association’s proposal is consistent with Town of View Royal’s vision for the site. The association intends to continue to operate the museum and host events in keeping with the Scottish cultural traditions that are common to the association and the site itself.

Quotes:

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

“With the Victoria Highland Games Association taking residency, the Craigflower National Historic Site will once again become an active and important place in the community. Putting provincially-owned properties to work for their communities supports the Province’s vision for sustainable stewardship of heritage properties.”

Victoria Highland Games Association president Jim Maxwell -

“Craigflower has major associations with the important Scottish cultural aspects of the colony of Vancouver Island and early British Columbia. Short-term plans include continuing the museum operation of the Manor, and hosting cultural events on the property.” 

VHGA board member and president of Stewart College of Languages Randy Stewart -

“The VHGA is very excited to be taking on the lease of Craigflower Manor and Lands.  The place is of great importance for members of our Association as it is so directly associated with 19th century Scottish settlement in B.C.” 

Quick Facts:

• Craigflower Farm was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1852 in an effort to colonize Vancouver Island.
• The manor house was built for the first farm bailiff, Kenneth McKenzie and his family, by the early Scots settlers and looks similar to Renton Hall in Haddington, East Lothian, McKenzie’s ancestral home in Scotland.
• Craigflower is significant for its associations with early Scottish immigrants on Vancouver Island.
• Craigflower Manor is one of 62 Provincial Heritage Sites listed on the B.C. Register of Historic Places

Learn More:

To learn more about Craigflower Manor: http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7600&pid=0

To learn more about provincially owned heritage properties: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/heritage/historic_sites/site_list.htm

To learn more about Canadian Heritage sites: http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/home-accueil.aspx

Media Contacts:

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