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Heritage committee targets Esquimalt buildings

Residential, commercial properties on Best of 100 list

As a part of Greater Victoria's history, Esquimalt has played a major role.

With the naval base dating back to the 19th century and neighbourhoods and business centres developing around the military presence, it has a very defined heritage, one celebrated last year during Esquimalt's centennial.

The township's heritage advisory committee, in conjunction with the Esquimalt archives, is looking at maintaining the momentum from the 100th anniversary with an initiative focusing on the architectural heritage of the area.

The Best of 100 campaign aims to single out good examples of maintained heritage homes and other buildings in Esquimalt 100 years and older. The ultimate goal is to illustrate them on brochures, posters, banners and other items, with the launch targeted for B.C. Heritage Week next February.

"This speaks to our mandate of generating awareness of the rich built heritage in the township," said heritage committee chair Dar Purewall.

Photos of prospective homes and commercial buildings were taken and letters sent out to encourage residents and owners of those structures to take part in the program.

Purewall said the campaign is being rolled out in four phases, slicing the township into quadrants.

"They tend to originate in clusters," he said of quality heritage homes still standing. The plan, he added, is to highlight specific streets and neighbourhoods and eventually cover off the whole municipality.

For more information about the program, send an email to karen.hay@esquimalt.ca or call 250-414-7179.