$15,000 Donation Keeps Heritage Grants Alive

New Westminster, BC – In response to the recent news story in The Freshet highlighting the City’s denial of grant funding to the New Westminster Heritage Foundation, New Westminster resident Steve Norman has stepped forward with a one-time donation of $15,000  to help ensure grants remain available in 2026 for owners of designated heritage homes.

For more than 25 years, the New Westminster Heritage Foundation’s grant program has helped homeowners maintain and restore designated heritage properties, supporting important conservation work that helps preserve New Westminster’s legacy of historic homes.

Late last year, the City of New Westminster declined grant funding for the Foundation  after the Grant Advisory Committee determined the Foundation’s program does not align with current funding criteria. Since then the City has indicated it is exploring alternative ways to support heritage properties, potentially through an expanded role for the Community Heritage Commission (CHC). 

“The Foundation’s grant program has been an important tool in helping homeowners care for designated heritage properties,” said Graeme Davy, Director of the Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Steve Norman for his generous support, which will allow us to continue funding conservation work while we explore long-term solutions with the City.”

Representatives from Heritage New West and the New Westminster Heritage Foundation recently met with staff from the City’s Museum and Heritage Services to discuss the evolving role of the CHC and how heritage incentives might be supported going forward.

“The meeting was constructive and reaffirmed that everyone shares a commitment to preserving New Westminster’s built heritage,” said Deane Gurney, President of Heritage New West. “We look forward to exploring how best to work with city staff, the CHC, and Council to develop a sustainable framework that supports homeowners and protects the historic places that are such an important part of our city.”

The Foundation hopes that renewed collaboration will lead to a stable funding formula that    continues to support the stewardship of New Westminster’s designated heritage homes. “Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna and many other communities throughout BC all have city-supported grant programs to help owners maintain the exteriors of their designated heritage homes,” says Graeme Davy.

“Private and public contributions to non-profit organizations that support the preservation of built heritage are not new,” added Gurney. “We hope that the New Westminster Heritage Foundation will continue to benefit from support from the City, Heritage New West, and residents who value the role these historic homes play in tourism, film industry activity, and the cultural identity of New Westminster.”

Steve Norman was recognized for his contribution at Heritage New West’s AGM on Sunday, March 29.

See the story that goes with the photo of Steve below -- Steve Norman: Building a New Legacy