Kamloops Heritage Register - City of Kamloops

CITY OF KAMLOOPS HERITAGE REGISTER 2007-2008
INTRODUCTION:
THE KAMLOOPS HERITAGE REGISTER
WHAT IS THE KAMLOOPS HERITAGE REGISTER
A community heritage register is an official list of historic places in a community. As an
information tool, it enables communities to track the importance of their historic places, monitor
the state of their heritage resources, and take an integrated approach to community planning.
A community heritage register is a planning tool provided for under provincial legislation
(Section 954 of the Local Government Act). Local governments establish a community heritage
register by resolution. Kamloops enacted a Heritage Register with 20 identified sites on October
30, 2007.
WHAT IS THE CANADIAN REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
The Canadian Register of Historic Places is a searchable database accessible via the Internet. It
describes historic places formally recognized by local, provincial and territorial governments,
and by the federal government. Once appropriate documentation on the Kamloops Heritage
Register sites has been provided to the BC Registrar for inclusion on the BC Register of Historic
Places, they will be automatically included on the Canadian Register.
The main purpose of the Canadian Register is to identify, promote and celebrate historic places
in Canada. It will increasingly enhance understanding of our cultural heritage by providing a
comprehensive view of Canada’s historic places. The Canadian Register also provides a valuable
source of easily accessible information for government authorities, land-use planners,
developers, the tourism industry, educators, researchers, heritage professionals and the general
public. The Canadian Register may also be used to establish eligibility for funding under heritage
programs.
WHAT IS A STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The ‘Statement of Significance’ (SOS) is part of the required documentation that must be
submitted for inclusion on the BC and Canadian Registers. The SOS for a historic place is made
up of three sections: ‘Description of Historic Place’, ‘Heritage Value’, and ‘Character-Defining
Elements’.
The three sections which comprise the SOS explain: to what the formal recognition applies; why
the place is important or significant; and which principal features of the place must be retained in
order to preserve its heritage value. The SOS is intended to explain the heritage value of a
historic place to the Canadian Register users. It provides guidance to property owners, planners,
architects and others involved in the conservation or rehabilitation of historic places. The SOS
helps identify the character-defining elements of the place that should be protected when
undertaking a project. It may also be used to assess projects seeking funding under heritage
programs.
Donald Luxton & Associates Inc.: 2008
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