Get a Grant
Residential Heritage Building Grants program
Incorporated as a Society in 1992, the New Westminster Heritage Foundation operates an annual Residential Heritage Building Grants program. Funds were initially generated by donations from the film industry. Now there is a long standing partnership between NWHPS and the City of New Westminster, whereby NWHPS and the City of New Westminster’s Heritage Endowment Grant Program each contribute 50 per cent of the grant program’s annual budget. The maximum grant award to a qualified heritage home owner is $10,000.
Eligibility: The conservation grants are available to all owners of officially designated heritage houses that are protected by the City of New Westminster bylaws. Each year, owners who reside in their officially designated Heritage homes are contacted directly and invited to apply for a maintenance or restoration grant that provides up to 50 per cent of the actual cost of exterior house repairs. On average, approximately five to six owners take advantage of this grant each year.
How to Apply: Owners submit three estimates from recognized companies. The estimates are reviewed by the grants committee. Applications are prioritized, using “Preservation” and “Maintenance” of the houses as the main criteria. Grants are distributed at the end of the season, after close inspection of paid receipts. Repairs can be costly and the grants represent a helping hand rather than full funding.
The New Westminster Heritage Foundation is unique in terms of its funding. Unlike other civic heritage foundations within BC, the Residential Heritage Building Grants (RHBC) program isn’t funded entirely by the City. The Grant Committee is comprised of knowledgeable volunteer heritage enthusiasts – there are no paid staff members or office expenses.
NWHPS raises its share of the annual $10,000 share it contributes toward the RHBC grants program with proceeds from our annual heritage homes tour. As a thank you gesture, grant recipients often show their appreciation by volunteering to feature their newly restored residences in the annual heritage homes tour.
For information about the New Westminster Heritage Foundation, call 604-521-5733 or e-mail newwestheritage@gmail.com
Get on the Register Grant
Have your building officially recognized on the City of New Westminster’s Heritage Register
This grant provides financial assistance for the application process to add a heritage building to the City of New Westminster Heritage Register.
Receive up to 50% of the cost, to a maximum of $500, towards a Statement of Significance document and accompanying research needed for an application to the Heritage Register, as required by the City’s Heritage Planning Department.
Grant recipients must hire a Heritage Consultant from a list provided to draft the Statement of Significance and application to the Heritage Register. Contact the City of New Westminster Heritage Planner, (604-527-4556) for more information.
All grant information in the following section courtesy of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation
True Colours Grant – Vancouver
Paint your house in Vancouver heritage colours
Receive up to a $1,500 cash grant and complimentary paint from Benjamin Moore to restore the exterior paint colours of a heritage building. Your home must be on the Vancouver Heritage Register and be in good, original condition to be a candidate for a grant – email us a photo of your house if you are considering True Colours.
A Heritage Consultant visits grant houses to determine the original colour scheme. Vancouver grant recipients must hire a painter from the VHF’s approved list.
Funded paint schemes are the building’s original paint colours, or are historically appropriate colours selected from the Vancouver True Colours palette, as per the Heritage Consultant’s recommendations.
Restore It! Grant – Vancouver
Repair and maintain the exterior fabric of your heritage building
Restore It grants help repair and/or restore original exterior fabric of a heritage building. This includes repairs to character elements such as wood windows,
exterior trims and siding as well as reconstruction of lost heritage elements such as previously removed porches.
Receive a cash grant of up to 50% of the cost of your project, to a maximum of $2000.
Examples of past repair and restoration projects include work on original exterior shingles and siding, the repair of wood windows, vinyl windows being replaced with replica wood windows, porches, masonry repointing and repair, new roofs and gutters. Call if you aren’t sure your project will qualify and we can talk with you about your project.
House Call Grant – Vancouver
Get help drafting a report to guide the long-term maintenance and repair of a heritage building
House Call grants provide funding towards an on site consultation and the creation of a conservation report. This report guides owners in how to best preserve the historic fabric and character defining elements of their building. The document will outline the current state of a structure and the long-term plan for its repair, maintenance and conservation.
Receive up to 50% of the cost, to a maximum of $500, towards a Conservation Report.
Grant recipients must hire a Heritage Consultant from a list provided by VHF. The Heritage Consultant assesses the history and condition of your house, discusses your plans, and drafts the report.
If you apply for House Call, your house or building should be on or in the process of going on the City of Vancouver Heritage Register. This grant is often applied for at the same time as the Get on the Register grant.
Vancouver Grant Application deadline is February 1st of each year.
