Category: Alberta Historical Resources Foundation

Applying for Historic Resource Conservation Funding

Michael

Do you own a Municipal Historic Resource? Would you like to learn how to obtain funding to conserve your historic resource? The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation operates several grant programs to help underwrite the conservation of Alberta’s heritage. The Historic Resource Conservation category of the Foundation’s Heritage Preservation Partnership Program offers grants to defray the cost of conservation work on Provincial and Municipal Historic Resources.

A grant can finance up to half the cost of conservation work that complies with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. No grant to help conserve a Municipal Historic Resource will exceed $50,000 (although most grants are less than this).

The proposed work must preserve, rehabilitate or restore the historic resource’s character-defining elements. The Foundation will also consider funding architectural or engineering studies that help develop a long-term conservation plan. The Board of the Foundation will only consider an application from an owner of a Municipal Historic Resource if:

  • The Municipal Historic Resource is listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places;
  • The proposed work complies with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada; and
  • The municipality has reviewed the proposed work, certified that it meets the Standards and Guidelines and issued written approval to undertake the project (pursuant to section 26 of the Historical Resources Act).

Although a provincial Heritage Conservation Adviser can help your municipality complete the approval-documentation, municipalities are responsible for reviewing the proposed work themselves. Municipalities have the legal authority to prohibit any changes that, in their opinion, detract from the heritage value of the site. Municipalities are best situated to evaluate how proposed work impacts the heritage value of the sites they themselves designate.

You can find a Historic Resource Conservation grant application package here. Because of the documentation needed, it is best to begin working on an application as soon as possible. The next application deadline is September 1st, but it is never too early to start thinking about the conservation work you would like to do next summer. Applications submitted for the February 1st deadline should be adjudicated before the snow melts.

For more information on the grant programs of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, contact Carina Naranjilla at carina.naranjilla@gov.ab.ca or 780-431-2305.

Written by: Michael Thome, Municipal Heritage Services Officer

Camaraderie and Commitment:

Alberta's Historic Places

Volunteers are key to the Town of Pincher Creek’s Municipal Heritage Survey Project

Throughout the next twelve months the Town of Pincher Creek will be completing a Municipal Heritage Survey. Approximately 300 sites (older than the 1940s) ranging from houses, commercial buildings and industrial sites will be documented through photography and by recording geographical, architectural and historical information. Diane Burt Stuckey, Director of Community Services, will serve as the Municipal Coordinator and Farley Wuth, Curator of the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, will be the Heritage Consultant.

Diane Burt Stuckey and Farley Wuth

Working together, Diane and Farley will coordinate the volunteer efforts of community residents interested in contributing to this project. These volunteers will photograph each site, conduct historical research, upload information to the Alberta Heritage Survey Program database and most importantly, gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the unique history that provides Pincher Creek with its strong community identity and sense of place.

On April 27, 2011, a public information meeting was held for area residents interested in learning about the project. Attendees exhibited an interest in the project and a passion for their community. On May 14, 2011, Brenda Manweiler, Municipal Heritage Services Officer, and Dorothy Field, Heritage Survey Program Coordinator, provided a detailed training session so that volunteers would understand their roles and responsibilities. With camaraderie and commitment, the attendees were excited to begin work.

The Philips House will likely be documented in the Town of Pincher Creek Municipal Heritage Survey.

To offset costs associated with the Municipal Heritage Survey, cost-shared funding assistance was provided by the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation via the Municipal Heritage Partnership Program.

Written by: Brenda Manweiler, Municipal Heritage Services Officer

Welcome A-board!

Alberta's Historic Places

Early this year, the Alberta Historical ResourcesFoundation (AHRF) welcomed six newly appointed members to the Board, strengthening its size to 12 members. Dr. Carolee Pollock, Board Chair, with Larry Pearson, Acting Executive Director, and staff ushered them in with an engaging orientation session held at the Edmonton headquarters in February.

“I am delighted to welcome Geraldine Bidulock, Joe Friedel, Robert Gaetz, Laurel Halladay, Leah Millar and Naomi Nind to AHRF’s Board of Directors.  I really appreciate the good questions and discussion that were generated by our newly strengthened Board,” said Dr. Pollock.

The most recent meeting held in Pigeon Lake in May was an equally engaging assembly as Board and staff gathered for the annual report presentations of the five provincial heritage organizations supported by AHRF (Alberta Museums Association, Archives Society of Alberta, Historical Society of Alberta, Alberta Genealogical Society and the Archaeological Society of Alberta); and the adjudication of applications submitted to AHRF’s grant programs (Heritage Preservation Partnership Program, Municipal Heritage Partnership Program and the Alberta Main Street Program).

Dr. Pollock concluded the meeting by saying, “We are fortunate to have a great diversity of skills and backgrounds among our Board members.  This makes for both good decision-making and lively and interesting meetings. The more the merrier!”

Pictured above: Board of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. Back row (L-R): Don Totten, Leah Millar, Geraldine Bidulock, Bob Gaetz, Joe Friedel, Fred Bradley, Laural Halladay. Front Row (L-R): Linda Affolder, Carolee Pollock (Chair), Tom Clark, Hazel Hart. (Missing: Naomi Nind.)

Written by: Carina Naranjilla, Grant Program Coordinator

Making “Cents” of it All!

Alberta's Historic Places

 

If you happen to be in a small town or a big city in Alberta and come across a well-preserved heritage home, church or grain elevator; stumble upon a community history book; experience a driving tour or pass by an interpretive plaque, chances are the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation’s (AHRF) grant program had something to do with it.  

AHRF’s (pronounced as “arf”) Heritage Preservation Partnership Program, is the only provincial grant program dedicated to funding heritage-based projects. With an annual allocation from the Alberta Lottery Fund, dedicated board members and a committed technical and administrative team from the Historic Places Stewardship Section (Culture and Community Spirit), the AHRF has supported the preservation and interpretation of Alberta’s rich heritage for many, many years. Since its establishment in 1973 under the Historical Resources Act, the Foundation has awarded matching grants to individuals, corporations, municipalities and non-profit organizations in support of conservation, heritage awareness, publications and research projects. It has also been offering a research scholarship called the Roger Soderstrom Scholarship and not too long ago, introduced the Bob Etherington Heritage Trades Scholarship.  

While the technical and administrative team is now in the midst of the February 1, 2011 grant run, project proponents are already gearing up for the next deadline of September 1, 2011. 

If you want to know more about what AHRF offers, call the Grant Program Coordinator at 780-431-2305 (toll-free by dialing 310-0000) or visit our website: Heritage Preservation Partnership Program.  

Written by: Carina Naranjilla, Grant Program Coordinator

Dollars and Sense: MHPP Funding

Alberta's Historic Places

 

Commercial buildings, recreation facilities, houses, churches, industrial structures and all the fascinating places in between – does your municipality want to learn more about its older buildings, structures and landmarks? The Municipal Heritage Partnership Program (MHPP) provides cost-shared funding opportunities to Alberta municipalities for the identification, evaluation and management of local historic places. MHPP also offers guidance and training to Alberta municipalities to enable the identification and conservation of local historic places.

Funding proposals from municipalities are accepted on an on-going basis. These proposals are then reviewed by the board of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. Funding proposals received:

  • by April 8, 2011 will be reviewed at the May 2011 Board meeting
  • by August 12, 2011 will be reviewed at the September 2011 Board meeting
  • by October 28, 2011 will be reviewed at the December 2011 Board meeting

If you would like to learn more about MHPP funding opportunities, or discuss project ideas please contact MHPP staff.

The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation also supports a range of community and individual heritage initiatives through the Heritage Preservation Partnership Program.

Written by: Brenda Manweiler, Municipal Heritage Services Officer