Glossary

Community heritage register – an official listing of historic places identified by a community as having heritage value that are formally recognized or protected by the local government.

Heritage advisory commission – a group created or authorized by local government, mandated to advise a municipal council or regional district board on heritage matters.

Heritage conservation – the protection, rehabilitation and celebration of British Columbia’s historic places.

Heritage designation – a legal regulation of local governments that protects private heritage property.

Heritage planning – the process used to decide how to best manage a community’s cultural heritage resources.

Heritage value – the aesthetic, historic, scientific, cultural, social or spiritual importance or significance for past, present or future generations. The heritage value of a historic place is embodied in its character-defining materials, forms, location, spatial configurations, uses and cultural associations or meanings.

Historic places – buildings, other structures, landscapes, historic districts, and other places of heritage value.

Historic Places Initiative – a national program aimed at conserving and celebrating Canada’s historic places, created in 2000 as a partnership between the Government of Canada and all the provinces and territories.