Heritage BC is announcing the results of the 150 Time Immemorial Grant Program (150 TIGP) which closed for intake at the end of December 2021. The grant program is intended to raise cultural awareness, educate people about B.C.’s colonial past and its ongoing impacts, advance reconciliation and promote inclusivity and diversity as a foundational aspect of B.C.’s future.  

The Province of B.C. provided $10 million for the 150 TIGP and appointed Heritage BC as a program delivery partner. This announcement highlights investment to support cultural heritage infrastructure, awareness, and community planning projects across BC.  

“The projects being funded are truly inspirational in their innovation and partnership collaboration” says Kirstin Clausen, executive director of Heritage BC. “This grant is encouraging the broadening of the definition of heritage to include what is described as intangible cultural heritage. Heritage BC is excited to connect with many organizations and local governments who might not have considered themselves aligned with heritage. Yet their projects are responding to the values of reconciliation, diversity and resiliency – values very important to the modern context of heritage”.  

“From exhibitions and oral history to documentaries and cultural centres, these projects will serve to revitalize cultural heritage and share vital knowledge, which will help strengthen B.C. communities and our collective understanding of each other,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Our government is committed to reconciliation, diversity and inclusion, and supporting cultural awareness in communities throughout the province in order to expand our understanding of B.C.’s shared history.” 

Funding will soon flow to support projects in 54 communities in every region of the Province. There is a total of 92 projects with 15 in the Nechako, North Coast, North East and Cariboo regions; 25 projects on Vancouver Island; 32 projects in the Mainland Southwest; eight projects in the Kootenays and 12 projects in the Thomson Okanagan. Many infrastructure projects will reinvigorate public spaces by incorporating and recognizing indigenous history.  Awareness and engagement projects are supporting community healing but also celebrating important milestones. The planning projects are helping to normalize the value of genuine cultural engagement early in the visioning stages. Several cultural groups and communities have projects including Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, South Asian, those of Black descent and those from 2SLGBTQ+ communities. 

“150 TIGP has shown us that British Columbians embrace heritage and are creative in their intent to respond to what communities need and value,” says Britney Dack, chair of Heritage BC’s Board of Directors. “I would like to thank the Province of B.C. for their trust in Heritage BC and all applicants for their time to submit their projects. There were many more projects than funding available and the response shows us that British Columbia’s heritage is rich and there is a commitment to reconciliation in all its forms.”

A backgrounder follows.