History

The BC Heritage Conservation Act provided the municipal authorities with the power to intervene and act to protect heritage assets.

The Heritage Advisory Committee began recommending policies for historic conservation.

Saanich Council designated 13 institutional buildings as heritage sites.

The Heritage Advisory Committee became the Heritage Advisory and Archival Committee, adding an archivist. The first inventory of heritage structures, A Registry of Residential Buildings of Heritage Merit, was developed.

Saanich established the non-profit Saanich Heritage Foundation to provide grants for heritage-designated properties, promote public interest in heritage conservation, and raise funds from sources including the District of Saanich, the Government of Canada, and the Government of BC.

The first 18 private residences received heritage designation.

Saanich contracted heritage consultant Jennifer Nell Barr to assess heritage sites across the area. The project ended in 1990, with 280 historic properties identified and approved by the Council.

The book ‘Saanich Heritage Structures : an Inventory’, based on the work by Jennifer Nell Barr, was completed and printed.

Council endorsed the first Saanich Heritage Management Plan.

Amendments to the BC Heritage Conservation Act improved municipal access to heritage protection tools.

Saanich Heritage Structures: An Inventory was adopted by Council as a Community Heritage Register under the revised Local Government Act.

An updated Heritage Management Plan was adopted.

The Saanich Heritage Foundation took over management of two municipally owned heritage houses, Dodd House and Stranton Lodge, with rental income directed to heritage restoration and rehabilitation.

66 sites in Saanich were documented for inclusion on the new Canadian Register of Historic Places.

A Heritage Action Plan was created to implement the recommendations of the 1999 Heritage Management Plan and support the vision of the Saanich Strategic Plan, 2006-2010.

The Saanich Heritage Advisory & Archival Committee was disbanded, and its duties were split between the Saanich Heritage Foundation and a new Arts, Culture & Heritage Advisory Committee (renamed Arts, Culture & Community Wellbeing). The Saanich Heritage Foundation took on two new roles: recommending heritage designations and changes to heritage buildings, and reviewing updates to the Saanich Community Register and Heritage Management Plan.

An updated /expanded Saanich Heritage Structures: an Inventory was completed and published, which included many new sites and extensive, updated research information.

Management of Dodd House and Stranton Lodge passed back to the District of Saanich.

Saanich’s updated Official Community Plan notes that ‘the community’s heritage is valued and promoted’. Policy 13.5.7 continues funding assistance to support the Saanich Heritage Foundation and its mandate.