VHF’s Heritage Lunch and Learn series will continue in virtual format this spring on select Thursdays from 12pm to 1pm. Learn about the state of heritage and conservation projects in Vancouver today with experts in architecture and design, conservation, city planning and other related fields.

Our Heritage Lunch and Learns are being offered by donation this spring. Suggested donation amounts for each event are $15 for one attendee, $30 for a household of 2+ viewers and $9 for students. Please note that by donation events do not qualify for charitable tax receipts. If you would like to make a larger donation ($20 minimum for a tax receipt) or become a monthly donor, please contact the VHF office at 604-264-9642. Thank you for your support.

Thursday, April 10th | A History, and Examination, of Finn Slough as a Cultural Landscape

Finn Slough, originally settled by Finnish fishermen east of Steveston, has a history tied closely to the land and the fishing industry. The community’s deep connection to the marsh's natural geography shaped their lives and livelihood. Later residents embraced the ecological harmony of the site, fostering a commitment to preserving the landscape. Despite threats of eviction and climate change, the community continues to honor its heritage and maintain its ties to the land.

Join Guy Taylor, 2023/2024 winner of the Robert Lemon Heritage Studies Prize, and explore the history of the site, the concept of cultural heritage landscapes (CHLs), and how we may better understand the Finn Slough site through the lens of a CHL.

About the Speaker: Guy Taylor is a Cultural Heritage Specialist with Stantec’s Environmental Services Team, and has experience in identifying, evaluating, and planning for cultural heritage resources. He holds a Hons. Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Toronto, and a Diploma in Heritage Conservation from the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts. He won the Vancouver Heritage Foundation's 2023/2024 Robert Lemon Heritage Studies Prize with his independent research project examining Finn Slough as a Cultural Heritage Landscape. Born in the UK, raised in Vancouver, Guy now lives in Toronto.

Thursday, May 8th | Disaster Planning and Heritage: Imagining Earthquake Aftermaths in Vancouver

This talk invites you on a journey through speculative anthropology to a future where Vancouver has recovered from a seismic disaster. Dr. Jonathan Eaton will address key questions such as: What would transpire if the "Big One" were to strike Vancouver tomorrow? What principles would guide the rebuilding efforts in the ensuing months? What aspects of the city would we strive to preserve? How might Vancouver transform in the aftermath?
In the process, we will learn about the ways that heritage is threatened by disasters and how preserving and celebrating heritage can be woven into Vancouver’s recovery, even before disaster strikes.

About the Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Eaton is a socio-cultural anthropologist with a focus on heritage, the anthropology of space and place, and the anthropology of disasters. His ethnographic fieldwork in Vancouver explores how a bit of care and cultivation of place can help people preserve what they value in the face of approaching climate catastrophe and the unpredictability of earthquakes in this region. Jonathan holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, an MA in Anthropology from the University of Toronto, and a BA in History from Valparaiso University. He is currently serving as Executive Director of the UBC Disaster Resilience Research Network, a transdisciplinary group of researchers committed to inclusive and equitable disaster research.

This event is presented virtually through Zoom. Please ensure you enter a valid email address when registering. Details on how to join the Zoom webinar will be sent to registered participants in the confirmation receipt and reminder emails. If you have not received the Zoom webinar link before the event day, please check your spam folder or contact us at mail@vancouverheritagefoundation.org.

Please review our cancellation policy here before registering.

All donations are tax deductible. Please note that by donation events do not qualify for charitable tax receipts. Our Registered Charity number is 891765968.