Heritage Combines with Technology to Tell Langley’s Story

A click, a swipe, and the Township of Langley’s rich history comes to life through a new online showcase of the community’s registered historic sites. Early homes, places of heritage value, and sites that tell Langley’s story have been compiled in an interactive storyboard at tol.ca/langleyshistoricplaces, which is being launched in celebration of Heritage Week. 

Heritage celebrations will take place around the province from February 18 to 24 featuring the theme, “Heritage: The Tie that Binds.”

“Launching this storyboard on the Township’s website is the perfect way to celebrate Heritage Week and our local history,” said Heritage Planner Elaine Horricks, noting that 64 properties currently included on the Township’s Community Heritage Register are featured in the new web app. The sites are laid out in an interactive format, which includes maps, visuals, and links to attachments with additional information. Visitors can explore multiple layers that describe items of interest, such as Langley’s early transportation routes and historic road names.

The storyboard is an educational reference for history buffs and those curious about Langley’s early development, as well as serve as a useful tool for those wanting to determine the heritage status of a property, such as realtors, owners and developers.

The historic sites featured on the storyboard are all included in the Township’s Community Heritage Register, and represent about one-third of the municipality’s inventoried sites that are of historic interest. The register is maintained to identify the significance of the community’s historic places and formally recognizes sites for their heritage value and character based on their historic, cultural and architectural attributes. It is also used to integrate heritage conservation into land use planning processes.

Benefits of being on the register include the eligibility for special provisions under the BC Building Code, as well as grants through the Township’s Heritage Building Incentive Program, which helps owners with the cost of restoring, repairing, and maintaining their buildings. Anyone who has a property that has been documented for its heritage interest who wishes to find out more about the registry can contact the Township’s Community Development Department at 604-533-6152.

Have questions about Langley’s Historic Places? Contact Township Heritage Planner Elaine Horricks at 604-533-6176 or ehorricks@tol.ca.