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Cowichan Historical Society awarded $17,500 through Heritage Legacy Fund

Cowichan Historical Society awarded ,500 through Heritage Legacy Fund

Heritage Legacy grant to go towards Duncan Train Station Shingle Restoration Project

The Cowichan Historical Society has received $17,500 through Heritage BC’s Legacy Fund, which provides grants for heritage building conservation, awareness, planning and Indigenous partnership projects around the province.

Out of the $463,000 that is being distributed to 30 heritage projects across the province, the society has received funding to go towards their shingle restoration project for Duncan’s downtown heritage train station.

“The Cowichan Historical Society is always pleased when a grant application has been successful. This latest one is for another Phase of our Business Plan as it pertains to maintaining the 112-year-old, heritage-designated Duncan Train Station,” said president Sheila Kitson. “Gradually the building is looking less like an empty warehouse with the repairs to the exterior wood using generously donated lumber from local mills and fresh paint, another generous donation. Now there is more to come, thanks to the grant and the generosity of many people within the community. The grant provides 50 per cent of the cost of the project we, the Cowichan Historical Society, have to raise the rest.”

“Heritage BC is pleased that the $17,500 from the Heritage Legacy Fund will help the Cowichan Historical Society continue their phased approach for keeping the 1912 Duncan Train Station an active part of Duncan community life,” said Heritage BC executive director Kirstin Clausen. “The Cowichan Historical Society presented a well planned project with an up to date heritage conservation plan. The integration of Canada’s Standards and Guidelines for Conservation of Historic Sites into the routine maintenance of the station is commendable and is an important element of the work to be done.”

Heritage BC, which was first established in 1981, is a charitable society composed of stewards and advocates that supports all people of British Columbia who champion the preservation and conservation of all forms of cultural heritage. It is the strategic goal of Heritage BC to work with the province of B.C. so that the Heritage Legacy Fund can make sustained and meaningful investments in British Columbia’s tangible and intangible cultural resources. The 2024 grant recipients were selected by three volunteer juries of heritage sector professionals who contributed to a deliberation process supported by Heritage BC staff.

This year, Heritage BC saw a total of 94 applications come through requesting more than $1.8 million in support including 37 applications for Heritage Conservation, 11 for Heritage Planning, 25 for Heritage Awareness and 21 for Indigenous Partnership projects. After adjudication with three juries of five members each, 30 applications were recommended for funding. This includes nine Heritage Conservation projects, five Heritage Planning, eight Heritage Awareness, and eight Indigenous Partnership projects.

Clausen said the decision-making process to break down the awarding of more than $463,000 to just 30 recipients was not only very challenging but it also emphasized the extreme needs of the heritage sector in British Columbia, and how vitally important the Heritage Legacy Fund is to the organizations and communities it supports.

“We are pleased that there is increased awareness of the Heritage Legacy Fund, but concerned about the extreme need being demonstrated by the number and total funding requested for heritage conservation and reconciliation work throughout the province,” said Clausen. “We acknowledge the disappointment of many applicants, but draw attention to the remarkable heritage projects we are able to support.”

Kitson said they look to begin work on the project very soon under the experienced supervision of David Coulson of David Coulson Design Ltd. She said the work on the second floor will involve scaffolding and would like to apologize ahead of time for those needing to use the sidewalk. She doesn’t expect for the job to take too long and says that the scaffolding will be removed as soon as possible. Kitson noted that an interesting fact about the original roof of the historic train station is that it had cedar shingles. 

“The Cowichan Historical Society is committed to continuing to work on the unique building,” said Kitson. “Once this phase is completed the roof, a fire suppression system and an upgraded security system are on the list. This means the volunteers will be writing more grants and appealing to the public for donated funds.”

Community members can take part in the ‘Buy a Bundle’ campaign, which she said is still operating, except now it will be for Duroid Shingles, and asked that supporters mark their donation ‘Bundle’.

“We can use our slogan ‘For the person who has everything,’ a donation of $50 will buy a bundle and an excellent long-lasting gift that they can look on with pride,” said Kitson. “The recipient will be sent a card, a handwritten note, and the CRA receipt for any donation over $25.”

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