New Westminster Heritage Champion Ethel Field Honoured by Heritage BC

Longtime New Westminster heritage advocate Ethel Field has received Heritage BC’s prestigious Ruby Nobbs Distinguished Service Award, recognizing decades of leadership, volunteerism, and hands-on commitment to preserving the city’s historic places.

Presented annually by Heritage BC, the award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to heritage conservation in British Columbia through sustained service and community leadership.

Heritage BC praised Field for her “decades of heritage leadership in New Westminster,” noting her restoration of significant historic homes, long-term volunteer service, board leadership, and role as a founding member and key contact for the New Westminster Heritage Foundation and Heritage New West.

“Her work has strengthened heritage protection, public education, and support for homeowners, making a lasting impact on the community’s built heritage,” the Heritage BC organization stated.

Field attended the awards ceremony with her son Robert Makowichuk, who described the evening as both meaningful and inspiring.

“Mom was honoured to be there and mingled with the crowd, chatting and listening to the various speakers,” he said afterward. “When called to accept her award she gave a lovely concise speech praising New West heritage and the need for volunteer activism within one’s community.”

Robert added that it was moving to see his mother reconnect with fellow heritage advocates from across the province.

“It was lovely seeing Mom back in her element, chatting and networking,” he said. “We met many wonderful and hard-working individuals involved in an array of interesting projects throughout the province.”

For many in New Westminster’s heritage community, the recognition comes as no surprise. Over the years, Field has quietly become one of the city’s most respected and influential heritage voices — advocating for preservation, mentoring homeowners, organizing tours and events, and helping build the strong volunteer culture that continues to support heritage conservation in the city today.

Heritage New West congratulates Ethel on this well-deserved honour and thanks her for her decades of dedication to preserving New Westminster’s unique architectural and community history.