Shaping Vancouver | Undefined Heritage: Diversity – Inclusivity and Understanding

What would a broader narrative that includes our diverse histories that shaped our city look like? Heritage policy in Vancouver has historically been dominated by a pre-1940 Anglo-Colonial bias that has limited how and what we define as heritage. This has resulted in the exclusion of many narratives that are essential to the development of our city. In this talk, we explore what it means when Vancouver Specials, diverse cultural groups, immigrant experiences, and long-established international influences are missing from this conversation. We also wish to explore how these marginalized styles, histories, cultures, and people worthy of recognition exist within the mainstream conversation on heritage, and how they might exist in an expanded field where they may be recognized on more equal footing.