About

The Places That Matter Community History Resource website is an information-rich website that expands on the original Places That Matter (PTM) plaque program – a project created in 2011 to celebrate Vancouver’s 125th anniversary as an incorporated city. PTM has helped recognize over 100 community-nominated sites, covering some of the people, places and events that tell the stories of Vancouver’s history. Each of the 100+ sites is profiled with their own webpage exhibiting the plaque text, historic research, oral histories, contemporary and historic photos, as well as opportunities for community contribution.

We welcome edits, comments, feedback, quotes, stories, information and questions in our “submit your story” form.  We reserve the right to edit, modify and omit content received. Please read through our working About PTM document for all aspects of the current project. For any inquiries related to Places That Matter please email Jessica Quan, Community Engagement Manager

The Places That Matter Community History Resource was made possible by generous support from our partners:

• Partial funding from the Heritage Legacy Fund for Awareness and Education through Heritage BC
• Vancouver Historical Society: two separate grants to support online research for the first 85 plaque sites and support for the Places That Matter Study Guide for Schools
• Split Mango Media for their continued support of the website creation and maintenance.
• GMR Foundation for support of the Places That Matter Study Guide for Schools

Thank you to all of our Project Partners!

Places That Matter started as a plaque project celebrating the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the city. In 2011, Vancouver Heritage Foundation asked for the public’s help to identify and mark 125 sites commemorating people, places and events that have shaped the city. This grassroots, broad‐based commemorative plaque project focuses on recognizing places, people and events that matter to Vancouverites and that have not been formally recognized by the City of Vancouver’s Heritage Plaque Program.

February 26, 2011 map of public nominations at the Vancouver Public Library:

 

All nominations that were put forward by the public by March 16th, 2011 were considered for a plaque. Public votes were taken into consideration by the Site Selection Committee. The Committee was comprised of a diverse group of local historians, artists, students, heritage consultants, writers and educators. The Committee finalized the first 125 plaque sites based on criteria set by the Committee which included sites that: were within the COV boundaries, had a geographic spread in the city, created awareness about little-known city history, were at least 20 years old, were not connected to current political issues, and represented various communities present in the city. The list of 125 sites were then given to two historians/writers who researched and wrote each plaque, verifying the sources with COV Archives, etc.

Since 2011, PTM has had free public presentations and community celebrations to provide opportunities to learn, engage and connect with the many people, places and events that have shaped and continue to shape our city. In 2018, Places That Matter held its first (now annual) Community Celebration event during Heritage Week (the third week in February). Storytellers and organizations are invited to speak, share table displays, enjoy entertainment and light refreshments and to connect. The Community Celebration has been held at Kits House and Heritage Hall, as well as held virtually in 2020 and 2021.

As of 2024, 94 plaques have been presented to the original 125 identified sites and to new community-based nominations. To see a full timeline of plaque presentations, please visit our Plaque Presentations events page.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity that advances the appreciation and conservation of our city’s diverse heritage places and their stories, raising awareness of the vital contribution that heritage makes to a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community.

VHF does this by creating opportunities and resources to learn about Vancouver’s history and heritage places, and providing practical support for the successful conservation of historic buildings and sites. Visit vancouverheritagefoundation.org

VHF recognizes the diverse history and cultural heritage of Vancouver and that the city is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam),Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.