COMMUNITY HERITAGE COMMISSION

MINUTES

An Open meeting of the Community Heritage Commission was held in the City Archives, Program Room, McGill Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby, B.C. on Thursday, 2019 November 28 at 6:00 p.m.

1.

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT:

Councillor Colleen Jordan, Chair

Ms. Karin Alzner, Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission Representative

Ms. Diane Gillis, Citizen Representative

Ms. Ruby Johnson, Honorary Member Emeritus

Mr. Richard Liu, Citizen Representative

Mr. Lee Loftus, Citizen Representative

Ms. Tammy Marchioni, Citizen Representative

Mr. Roger Whitehouse, Citizen Representative

ABSENT:

Councillor Paul McDonell, Vice Chair

Councillor James Wang, Member

Mr. Harry Pride, Historian

STAFF:

Mr. Jim Wolf, Senior Long Range Planner

Ms. Rebecca Pasch, Archivist

Ms. Deborah Tuyttens, Museum Services Supervisor

Ms. Lisa Codd, Heritage Planner

Ms. Monica MacDonald, Administrative Officer

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 6:19 p.m.

The Chair, Councilllor Colleen Jordan, recognized the ancestral and unceded homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples, and extended appreciation for the opportunity to hold a meeting on this shared territory.

2.

PRESENTATION

a)

Tour of the City Archives and the McGill Public Library

Presenters: Rebecca Pasch, City Archivist, and

                     Jorge Cardenas, Acting Branch Manager, McGill Library

Ms. Rebecca Pasch, City Archivist, provided an exhibition and description of a sampling of records held in the City Archives, including how they have been accessed, and highlighted some of the research requests made over the years.

Following the demonstration, Ms. Pasch led a tour through the Archives which included the renovated office space, Pixie McGeachie Reading Room, and cold storage area.

At the end of the Archives visit, Mr. Jorge Cardenas, Acting Branch Manager, provided a tour of the McGill Library.

The Committee returned to the Program Room to resume the meeting.

3.

MINUTES

a)

Minutes of the Community Heritage Commission Open meeting held on 2019 September 05                                   

MOVED BY commissioner alzner

SECONDED BY commissioner gillis

THAT the minutes of the Community Heritage Commission Open meeting held on 2019 September 05 be adopted.

-       amended

MOVED BY commissioner alzner

SECONDED BY commissioner marchioni

THAT item 6, first sentence under 2020 Work Plan and Budget Process be AMENDED to read, as follows: “…in the Planning Department budget process to secure resources to implement heritage projects.”

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED BY commissioner alzner

SECONDED BY commissioner marchioni 

THAT the minutes of the Community Heritage Commission Open meeting held on 2019 September 05 be adopted, AS AMENDED.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

a)

Correspondence from the BC Labour Heritage Centre

Re: Pacific Northwest Labour History Association

52nd Annual Conference - 2020 May 9-10, Vancouver

Correspondence was received from Mr. Joey Hartman, Chair, BC Labour Heritage Centre calling for proposals for participation in the Pacific Northwest Labour History Association’s 52^nd Annual Conference to be held 2020 May 9-10 in Vancouver.

b)

Memorandum from the Director Planning and Building

Re: Proposed Program for the Pacific Northwest Labour History Association Conference on 2020 May 9-10            

A memorandum was received from the Director Planning and Building in response to correspondence from the BC Labour Heritage Centre - item 4a), outlining a proposed program for City participation in the Conference.

Arising from discussion and without objection by any member, the Commission requested staff submit a proposal to the BC Labour Heritage Centre; and, if accepted, prepare a report seeking approval to participate in the Pacific Northwest Labour History Association Conference in Vancouver in 2020 May.

Staff undertook to follow up.

c)

Memorandum from the City Archivist

Re: City of Burnaby Archives - Update

A memorandum was received from the City Archivist providing an update on activities and initiatives at the City Archives, and noted the following:

·         The Legal Department, the Office of the City Clerk and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department transferred 35 boxes of records to the Archives in 2019, which are now being processed.

·         Approximately one quarter of the Archives’ born-digital records have been processed, with over 4,400 files (550 GB) converted to preservation formats and stored in secure remote and local network storage.

d)

Memorandum from the Museum Services Supervisor

Re: Burnaby Village Museum – Update                           

A memorandum was received from the Museum Services Supervisor providing an update on the activities at the Burnaby Village Museum (BVM), and noted the following:

·          The Indigenous History in Burnaby Resource Guide, developed in collaboration with a number of First Nations partners, was launched in the fall of 2019. The Guide provides an overview of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwxw̱ú7mesh history in Burnaby and was used by 500 students during an Indigenous Learning Week at the BVM. Printed copies are being distributed to all Burnaby schools and branches of the Public Library. A downloadable version is available on the BVM website.

·         The Christmas season presented by Concord Pacific, will run 2019 November 23 to 2020 January 3 - the launch of Heritage Christmas taking place on November 30th with a special Tree Lighting Ceremony. Proceeds of carousel tickets sales made will be donated to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, with Concord Pacific matching sales to double the donation total.

e)

Memorandum from the Deputy City Clerk

Re: Dutch Liberation Canadian Society 2020

A memorandum was received from the Deputy City Clerk advising that, at the Open Council meeting held on 2019 September 09, Ms. Adriana Zylmans, President, and Mr. Erik van der Ven, Vice President, Dutch Liberation Canadian Society 2020, appeared as a delegation and provided an overview of the Society's mission, and events planned for 2020 to thank and honour Canada and its veterans for their contributions to end World War II in Europe.

Staff advised that the Society has applied for a Community Grant in support of the 2020 events.

f)

Memorandum from Administrative Officer 2

Re: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada - Update on 'Calls to Action' for Local Government                        

A memorandum was received from the Administrative Officer 2 advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2019 October 07, adopted the above noted report providing an update on implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action for local governments, as well as approved an annual expenditure of $10,000 to fund reconciliation related activities.

The Chair advised that Council received a presentation on Local Government First Nations Reconciliation from Patrick Kelly, member of the Leq’á:mel First Nation.

The Commission inquired regarding the benefit of having a similar session to provide information on what the Commission could be doing from a heritage perspective.

Arising from discussion, the Commission introduced the following motion:

MOVED BY commissioner loftus

SECONDED BY commissioner whitehouse

THAT staff explore and develop a program on how the Commission can further address and advance Truth and Reconciliation through its work.

 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Further, the Commission requested staff provide copies of the Indigenous History in Burnaby Resource Guide.

Staff undertook to follow up.

g)

Memorandum from Administrative Officer 2

Re: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada - 'Calls to Action' for Local Government - Proposed Framework for Further Action                                                                                      

A memorandum was received from the Administrative Officer 2 advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2019 November 18, adopted the above noted report proposing a framework for further action regarding the City’s efforts to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s ‘Calls to Action’ for Local Government.

5.

REPORT

a)

Report from the Director Planning and Building

Re: Community Heritage Commission 2019 Overview and Two Year Work Plan                                                                     

The Director Planning and Building submitted a report providing a summary of activities of the Heritage Program for 2019, and outlining a two year work plan for 2020 and 2021.

The Director Planning and Building recommended:

1.    THAT the Community Heritage Commission approve the work plan for 2020 and 2021 as outlined in Section 4.0 of this report.

2.    THAT the report be advanced to Council for information.

MOVED BY commissioner Marchioni 

SECONDED BY commissioner Liu   

THAT the recommendations of the Director Planning and Building be adopted.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business brought before the Commission at this time.

7.

INQUIRIES

Councillor Jordan – Preserving WWII Stories

Councillor Jordan referred to two presentations made at the Edmonds Community Centre Remembrance Day ceremony about personal and unique family stories of veterans from WWII, and inquired regarding collecting and preserving other stories like these.

Staff advised that this project falls under Sections 4.2.2 of the Two Year Work Plan which includes a goal to build partnerships.

8.

ADJOURNMENT

MOVED BY commissioner whitehouse 

SECONDED BY commissioner gillis 

THAT this Open Commission meeting do now adjourn.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Open meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.