Heritage Grants & Awards

Delta's heritage sites provide a tangible link to our vibrant past and are a valuable part of our community pride, identity, local economy and tourist potential.

Heritage Week

Every February, the City recognizes Heritage Week with awards that recognize efforts to preserve and protect the community's buildings, history and traditions. Events which celebrate Delta's culture and heritage also take place during this week.

Visit Heritage BC's website for more information about Heritage Week.

Heritage Conservation Grants

In 2017, Delta established a fund to support heritage conservation and encourage the retention and maintenance of heritage properties in Delta’s urban and rural areas, as a key recommendation of Delta's Heritage Strategy. Through Delta’s Heritage Conservation Grant Program, owners of heritage buildings in Delta may apply for up to a maximum of $30,000 (50% cost-sharing) from the Heritage Conservation Grant Fund for repairs and restorations that would preserve and protect their heritage building.

- Grants are available for up to 50% of capital costs up to a maximum of $30,000.
- Repair or restoration means physical works, which may include structural improvements, exterior alterations, reinforcement, maintenance, fire protection, or security of the building.
- Applications for grant requests are accepted on a quarterly basis. The deadline for each quarterly application intake period is the last Friday of February, May, August, and November of each calendar year. Priority will be given to first time applicants.
- Owners may apply for additional funding support for separate projects in subsequent years.
All properties included on Delta’s Heritage Inventories are eligible. If you are not sure your property is included, visit DeltaMap or contact the Community Planning and Development Department by email or phone, 604-946-3380.
To be considered for a heritage conservation grant, an owner must agree to place the building on Delta’s Heritage Register. While most heritage buildings in Delta are already on the heritage inventories, only some of them are also on Delta’s Heritage Register. Properties on the Delta Heritage Register are recorded so that the review process for any type of application regarding them will include referral to the Heritage Advisory Commission and the discussion of incentives for their preservation and maintenance. Properties on the Delta Heritage Register are eligible for reduced B.C. Building Code requirements and for nomination to the National Heritage Register.
An owner must also agree to enter into a restrictive covenant to ensure maintenance of the building for a ten year period in order to protect the building from demolition and prevent significant impacts to the building’s heritage features. Depending on degree of renovation or restoration, a priority agreement may be associated with the covenant.
An application form for grants, as well as a guide to the grant process, and Delta's policy are provided below:
Applications will be forwarded to the Delta Heritage Advisory Commission (HAC) for review and recommendation. The HAC’s recommendation will be based on the extent to which the proposed repair or restoration reinforces the building’s heritage value and integrity of the building as a heritage structure. Should the HAC support the proposed grant application, it will be forwarded to Delta Council for approval. Final approval requires a 2/3 vote of support from Council. Grant funding is issued to the owner after the restoration or renovation works and the Post Approval Grant Payment Checklist have been completed. Please see the Heritage Conservation Grant Application Guide for the checklist.

Past Recipients

Nels Johnson Residence at 10306 Main Street	$5,473 toward repainting the building exterior
4896 Delta Street (old Bank of Montreal site)	$10,000 toward roof replacement
Olaf Stokkeland Residence at 11096 River Road	$13,314 toward repairing the deck and repainting the building exterior
5008 47A Avenue (old Ladner Baptist Church site)	$11,475 toward repainting the building exterior
Wallace Residence at 5606 Grove Avenue	$15,000 toward roof replacement

Heritage Advisory Commission Scholarship

Delta's Heritage Advisory Commission (HAC) Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school student residing in Delta. This scholarship is provided in an effort to encourage students to display an interest in local or regional heritage, as demonstrated through an original piece of work. The scholarship is valued at $2,000 and is applied to a student's post-secondary studies.

Delta's Heritage Advisory Commission (HAC) encourages our youth to discover, promote and protect our heritage, and recognizes the importance of higher education in its mandate to promote public education and awareness in the area of local and regional heritage, conservation and preservation. The HAC Scholarship is available to:
- High school students in their graduating year and residing in Delta.
- Award is based on an original project prepared by the student, which documents local or regional heritage. Any of the following media may be used:
  text
  visual art or craft
  web design
  audio or video productions
  interactive game (computer game/mobile app)
  stage or theatrical presentation (recorded)
- Applications must include written statement of approximately 250 words plus a bibliography or citation of the source(s) of information for the project. It must describe the significance of the heritage story told through the project, the research undertaken as part of the project and how it conveys an understanding of local or regional heritage.
- Scholarship is valid for all post-secondary institutions, including colleges, universities, technical and trade school programs, art schools, or any other career oriented coursework or program.
For more information, contact the Community Planning & Development Department by email or phone, 604-946-3380.

Past Recipients

2020	Navkiran Takhar of Sands Secondary School for her booklet presentation and website documenting the history of Burns Bog.
2019	Stuart Yahn of South Delta Secondary School for his slide presentation documenting the history of shipbuilding in Delta.
2018	Aiden Bennett of South Delta Secondary School for his slide presentation and photos documenting the Vancouver Wireless Station.
2017	Senja Lieuwen of Delta Secondary School for her book documenting Kirkland House and her family’s connection to the house.
2016	Aidan Graham of South Delta Secondary School for his ornamental paddle with a First Nations-style salmon engraved and painted onto it. Mr. Graham noted the historic importance of the paddle and salmon to both the First Nations, and later Delta immigrants.
2015	Rachel Hislop-Hook of Delta Secondary School for her story written in the perspective of a Ladner mother, who writes a letter to her soldier husband who is on the front lines in World War II.
2014	Emily Lieuwen of Delta Secondary School for her collection of photographs comparing various locations in Ladner 50 years ago to their existing sites today.

Heritage Awards

Delta has implemented a number of awards to recognize heritage preservation contributions. The Heritage Advisory Commission (HAC) selects recipients for Delta's Heritage Award of Merit and Friends of Heritage Award annually.

Heritage Awards of Merit are conferred to projects, individuals or groups for their contribution in conserving a valuable part of Delta's history. Awards may be granted to urban or rural projects in the area of preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive re-use and may be considered for their exterior or interior characteristics. Heritage Award of Merit winners receive a brass plaque to commemorate their heritage building.
Friends of Heritage Awards are conferred to a project, individual or group who promotes heritage conservation and awareness in the areas of education, publication or advocacy.
To view past recipients of the Heritage Award of Merit and Friends of Heritage Award please see the Heritage Grants and Awards page.

Nominations for the 2022 Heritage Awards are now being accepted. Please review the criteria and submit your nomination by January 10, 2022.

Do you know an individual or a group who has:
- done an impressive job of preserving, maintaining, or restoring a Delta heritage building;
- promoted heritage awareness in Delta; or
- contributed to heritage awareness in Delta?
If so, send your nomination for either the Heritage Award of Merit or the Friend of Heritage Award. Please note that owners may nominate their own projects and nominees must agree to the nomination.

Past Recipients - Heritage Award of Merit

2022	Nominations are open!
2021	The Embree House, located in close proximity to the Delta Heritage Air Park, is owned and operated by the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Department. The historic house, which was constructed in 1918, recently underwent significant restoration to fully reinstate the dwelling back to its original form. The restoration strategy involved the removal of previous additions and dormer features that were inconsistent with the character of the heritage home.
2020	Westham Island Herb Farm - Sharon Ellis was recognized for hosting various agriculture themed events, educating residents about Delta’s roots in agriculture at the Ellis Family Farm which contains the Ellis Residence, constructed in 1914 as well as the original barn, understood to have been constructed in the 1880s. The Westham Island Herb Farm provides a valuable connection to Delta’s heritage and is a great example of a dynamic enterprise that highlights heritage as part of their business model.
2019	Long-standing Community Celebrations - The volunteer groups who continue the thread of stories that celebrate Delta’s unique past and present by carrying on community celebrations were recognized for three annual community festivals: Ladner Pioneer May Days - This event began in 1896 as an opportunity to bring the community together to celebrate, share their stories and enjoy events such as a baseball tournament, midway rides, displays by community organizations, a pancake breakfast and a parade. North Delta Family Day - This event began in 1967 as a celebration marking Canada’s Centennial. It continues to bring the community together around a festival, parade, barbeque and family picnic. Tsawwassen Sun Festival - This event evolved out of other community events which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. It is a time when the community celebrates by hosting a wide variety of sporting events, including a skateboard competition, volleyball, lawn bowling and softball tournaments. There is also a talent competition, barbeque, antique fair, parade and pancake breakfast.
2018	No award.
2017	Niemetz Residence - Ted Andres and David Riek of Andres Homes, and Spencer and Ellie Andres, were recognized for their preservation and restoration of the dwelling. Installation of markers along the Huff Corridor - Gary Manuel was recognized for his work in bringing the community together to install markers that speak to the areas’ history. Boundary Bay Cenotaph and Air Cadet Commemorative Pathway - This project was championed by Mayor Lois E. Jackson and made possible by varied groups and individuals including Alpha Aviation Inc., Veterans Affairs Canada, Air Cadet League, Friends of Old Canada, Humphrey Construction Ltd., Michael DesMazes and Delta staff who were all recognized for their part in a place to permanently honour those who lost their lives while serving at RCAF Boundary Bay.
2016	*The səẃq́ʷeqsən* or "recognition area" at the foot of the Alex Fraser Bridge** - Seven First Nations who worked with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to create this historical marker: Chief Bryce WIlliams and Council, Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Wayne Sparrow and Council, Musqueam First Nation Chief Susan Miller and Council, Katzie First Nation Chief Marilyn Gabriel and Council, Kwantlen First Nation Chief Maureen Thomas and Council, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Willard Cook and Council, Semiahmoo First Nation Chief Ron Giesbrecht and Council, Kwikwetlem First Nation
2015	Ladner United Church - The congregation was recognized for renovation and restoration of the church which was originally built as a Presbyterian church and constructed in a Gothic Revival style in 1893.
2014	McCrea's Pool Hall - Linda Park and Pierre Bonato were recognized for the restoration and adaptive re-use of the building at 4880 Delta Street, Ladner. Ladner Baptist Church - Steven Knoblauch for the restoration and adaptive re-use of the church at 5008 47A Avenue, Ladner.

Past Recipients - Friends of Heritage

2022	Nominations are open!
2021	Anne Murray for her recently published book “Tracing Our Past: a Heritage Guide to Boundary Bay” which explores the local landscape and the people who transformed it. The book presents the history of Delta’s coastline from the last ice age to the challenges facing our community today.
2020	John M. Horton was recognized for promoting awareness of Delta’s maritime heritage through art. Mr. Horton’s painting “Arrival at Port Guichon” was inspired by a photograph dated 1903 which was taken from the banks of the Fraser River. The painting features the Victorian ferry arriving at the Port Guichon wharf in an historic Delta setting including the Victoria Terminal Railway train, the Guichon family home and marine vessels carrying potatoes and salmon down the river. This painting gives life to Delta’s connection to the Fraser River and to the Port Guichon wharf which played an important role in the development of Ladner. The North Delta Advisory Group including Valerie Adolph, KP Aujla, Mark Boyter, Sandra Clark, Nancy Demwell, Norman Eyford, Rita Hagman, Gordon Lande, John MacDonald, Brenda MacDonald, Warren Nottingham, Les Starheim, and Len Stroh. The Group was formed in 2017 with the goal of protecting North Delta’s heritage and educating residents. They were recognized for undertaking various projects including presentations at George Mackie Library and at community events on a variety of topics, monthly publications on North Delta heritage in local newspapers, and community engagement including heritage displays and booths at North Delta libraries, community centres and Family Day events. All of this information has been compiled into a book called “North Delta History and Heritage”, edited by John MacDonald.
2019	No award.
2018	Grace Yan was nominated by the Gibson Elementary Parent Advisory Council for making the school library an appealing place for students through her creative, interactive projects. She introduced her classes to indigenous culture through hands-on activities including soapstone carving with Cree-French carver Mark Gauthier. She also invited various speakers such as Yukon Dan to introduce the Gold Rush, Jay Powell to talk about indigenous languages and Chinook jargon, and John MacDonald to talk about the Kennedy Trail. She also started Gibson's Heritage Fair. The Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust was recognized during its 25th anniversary of working to promote the preservation of over 1,500 hectares of farmland and wildlife habitat through cooperative stewardship with local farmers. Through the Trust's activities, they have helped to conserve agricultural and wildlife resources in Delta.
2017	No award.
2016	Boundary Bay Park Association for their work promoting heritage through activities at the historic Cammidge House in Boundary Bay Park. Rick Pelletier for his heritage photo restorations and installations at the buildings in Hawthorne Grove Park. Gary Cullen for promoting interest and awareness of local heritage through his Facebook group "Tsawwassen: Old Photos".
2015	The congregation of the Ladner Baptist Church was recognized for renovation and restoration of the church which was originally built as a Presbyterian church and constructed in a Gothic Revival style in 1893. The congregation was recognized both for the quality of the restoration and the effort it took to accomplish the project.
2014	The Delta Fishing Heritage Committee including Doug Massey, John Stevens, Brian Birch, Peter Capadouca, John D. Capadouca, Michael Wolzen and Joan Blair. The committee works as a subcommittee of the Delta Museum and Archives Board and as an independent organization. They were recognized for their work promoting and preserving Delta's fishing heritage.