The Heritage & History committee is a part of the Riley Park South
Cambie Advisory Group (RPSC). Since 2005, the RPSC has provided
public in-put to the City of Vancouver on issues of development and
redevelopment that affect the area from 16th to 41st Ave. and
between Oak and Fraser Streets in Vancouver. A part of that advocacy
deals with the loss of local history that takes place when landmarks
and familiar places disappear.
Heritage
One important impact of urban redevelopment is the loss of significant
landmarks that come when existing structures are demolished and
repurposed. When a hospital or familiar business for example is
removed from the local landscape, a piece of our shared past goes
with it. The physical building is a place marker that signals lifetimes of
lived experience in our community. As places disappear, the heritage of
our past diminishes and rapidly fades into obscurity.
In response to the rapid disappearance of physical links to our history,
the Heritage Committee strives to preserve a sense of continuity and
collective memory from one generation to the next. Just as
importantly, the committee works to “rediscover” stories of our past
that have been lost over the last one hundred and fifty years of
ongoing urban change.
Participate With Us
The Heritage & History Committee invites local residents to take part
in its work. We meet by Zoom from October to June regularly, and you
are welcome to attend. Also, if you have a story or history project
about this area that you would like the committee to develop, please
let us know what you would like to see added to the stories of this
wonderful part of Vancouver. We welcome your suggestions and
feedback. You can contact us at rpscheritage@gmail.com