Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture.

Photo by Charles Coupar

Join VHF’s Places That Matter for the last two plaque presentations of 2012, bringing our total plaques presented to 48 out of 125! Bloedel Conservatory was opened Dec 6, 1969. In 2009 its fate became unclear before being rescued by the Friends of Bloedel Association and the VanDusen  Botanical Garden Association. It is now home to 100 species of birds and over 500 species of tropical plants.  Come out for a special (free) presentation with Friends of Bloedel, Bloedel Conservatory, Park Board and VHF (and other folks from the garden community). Meet us inside the conservatory at 3pm for speeches and mini-tours, and you’ll be able to explore this tropical oasis at the highest point in Vancouver for free until 4pm.

Photo courtesy of vancouver4life.com and miss604.com

Burrard View Park is the last of our 2012 plaque presentations. It has a long and incredible history as a Children’s Aid Society home (c.1906), Wall Street Orphanage (c.1920) , the Vancouver Juvenile Detention Home (c.1930s) and finally in 1990 as Cottage Hospice (the old Babies’ Cottage), managed by St. James Community Service Society.

Not the original building on the site, but the Juvenile Detention Home on Wall St. from CVA

We’ll be inside the Dining Room of Cottage Hospice at 650 N. Penticton St (two blocks East of Nanaimo) at 4pm for the speeches and plaque presentation then head over to Trinity St. at 5pm for their annual light display!

Photo courtesy of St. James Community Service Society showing Cottage Hospice

We love that this plaque presentation is also able to highlight an awesome community tradition, the Annual Winter Walk on Trinity St. Dec.16th, 5-9pm. After the plaque presentation we’ll be joining the fun as community sponsors provide pizza from Fresh Slice and hot chocolate from Roundel Cafe!

The 14th Annual Trinity Street Light Festival takes place  in the 2400-2900 blocks of Trinity Street. Stroll & vote for your favorite lights Dec.4th-Jan.6th The Trinity Light Festival is a Car Free Event.  Use your feet and stay off the street! All proceeds from the 2012 Trinity Street Light Competition and the Winter Walk Concession go to Harbourview Daycare, a Kiwassa Neighbourhood House program and St. James Cottage Hospice. See the poster….