The series consists of records which document the financial assistance, for the purpose of heritage preservation, provided by the British Columbia Heritage Trust to organizations and individuals in the province of B.C.
The assistance involved initiatives and projects for the conservation, preservation, repair, restoration and maintenance of properties and structures. It also included historic site conservation, artifact conservation, archaeology projects, interpretive projects, research projects and management plans, oral history projects, and the creation of pamphlets, books and documentary films.
Grants and scholarships were awarded for one-year terms. Grants were available to registered non-profit societies, local governments, First Nations bands, and post-secondary institutions and students. Scholarships were available to BC university students and student prizes were available to BC high school graduate who were continuing on to post-secondary institutions. Study grants were available to professionals or volunteers from local government, non-profit organizations, or First Nation band councils to participate in workshops, symposia, or academic/professional courses.
Program staff reviewed the grant, scholarship and student prize applications and made recommendations to the BC Heritage Trust Board. Upon application, a case file was created for each applicant unless the applicant was clearly not eligible for funding. Most of the records are arranged by a file code which consists of that case file or project number (e.g. 00-79).
The records include: correspondence, applications for assistance and supporting documentation, photographs, architectural plans, feasibility studies, heritage building inventories, project budgets, business plans, letters to the Heritage Trust requesting payment, approved and rejected applications for financial assistance, maps, sketches, plans, press clippings, various reference materials, architectural plans and studies. Also included are progress reports, interim reports and final reports on projects, which often include photographs to document work in progress or completed. Payment records pertaining to applications receiving financial assistance include the name and details of prospective and/or completed heritage projects. The series also includes some annual reports and performance plans and board meeting minutes of the BC Heritage Trust.
The series includes records regarding creation of heritage trusts for Barkerville, together with records concerning management agreements between the Province and local trusts for the management and operation of historic sites. Records also relate to the devolution of the operation of heritage sites prior to the elimination of the British Columbia Heritage Trust in 2003.
Some projects involved the writing and publication of books and other published materials. The final products -- books and other published materials -- are located throughout the series.
Other records related to the British Columbia Heritage Trust are: GR-2941, GR-1661 and GR-3432. See also records created by the Heritage Conservation Branch.