Heritage Commission Chair Mike Dragani (right) presents the Heritage B.C. award for the sign and facade design program to Mayor Mark McKee.

 
The City of Revelstoke was the recipient of two awards at the Heritage Society’s annual awards ceremony held in Burnaby British Columbia on June 4th 2004. The honours were for the Heritage Walking Tour Brochure and the Sign and Façade Design Program. A third award was presented to Saint Peter’s Anglican Church. The City Planner was in attendance to accept the awards on behalf of Council and the Heritage Commission.

The Sign and Façade Design Program initially began with the City’s Downtown Revitalization project of the 1980’s. This incentive program was expended to include residential properties in addition to commercial in 2001; it encourages owners to have a structure façade or sign designed by a professional Heritage Consultant.

A cost-benefit analysis of the residential program in 2002 revealed this: that every $1.00 of public money yielded $23.50 of private investment in façade upgrades. For commercial buildings the ratio was $1.00 to $41.50. The Heritage Society noted that it is a big-minded program for a small town.

Saint Peter’s Anglican Church was built in 1896 with a unique architectural design pattern: its strength depended on its stacked horizontal beams. Those beams survived successive Revelstoke winters until the winter of 2001: then the vital timbers began to visibly bulge; and the building became structurally unsound. Reluctantly, the City condemned St. Peter’s that December.

But the congregation rallied behind their church: they hired Bourcet Engineering to remedy the stricken building. Remedy the structure Bourcet did: two hollow beams were fastened to newly supported end walls. The beams have pulled in the bulge that once menaced the church.

For their intrepidity and their ingenuity, the congregation and Bourcet Engineering received the Outstanding Achievement Award.

The recent update of the Heritage Walking Tour Brochure now has more focus on the City’s residential heritage character. Three walking tours were developed: each has a full coloured map and is designed to last 45 minutes. It is popular with tourists and heritage appreciators. Due to its creative design and layout the City received yet another Heritage Advocacy Award.

Heritage Commission Chair Mike Dragani presented the City's two awards to City Council on July 12th 2004. Good work Revelstoke, and congratulations.
 

 
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