People who keep Maple Ridge’s history vibrant and accessible were honoured as the city presented the 2026 Heritage Awards.
A ceremony held on Thursday evening, Feb. 19, at the Albion Community Centre, recognizing individuals, organizations, and sites that preserve and share the community’s rich history. The annual Heritage Awards honour efforts that support heritage conservation, awareness, and education.
The 2026 Heritage Award winners are:
• Heritage Site Award: Matt and Deanna Laity – Brookfield Farm, which was established in 1879 by John and Henry Laity, and has been operated by their family through seven generations. Today there is milking herd of 80 cows on the 110-acre farm.
• Bernice Gehring History Hero Award: Gina Armstrong and Victoria Vancek, who share local history through creative and engaging programs, including historic walks, and community events that combine storytelling, local history, and outdoor settings.
• Sheila Nickols Award: Raymond Nakamura for his work with the Community Education on Environment and Development (CEED) Centre on writing and displays about the historic Japanese Canadian community.
• Stewardship of a Community Cultural Asset Award: Whonnock Post Office – originally built in 1928 and rebuilt in 1932, the post office has long served as a central gathering place in Whonnock.
• Youth Heritage Award: 1st Haney Cub Scouts who fundraised for the museum, collected supplies, and participated in a cemetery tour before spending several hours cleaning more than 80 headstones at Maple Ridge Cemetery, primarily in the Japanese Canadian section.
“Our community identity is shaped by both our history and how we choose to grow,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “This year’s honourees have demonstrated outstanding commitment to preserving and sharing the stories that ground us, even as Maple Ridge continues to evolve. On behalf of council and the community, I offer my sincere congratulations and appreciation for the impact they are making.”
Recipients were selected through a public nomination process, followed by evaluation and voting by a city committee. One recipient was selected in each category based on established criteria and alignment with the purpose of the award.
The city also recognized recipients of the Heritage Grant Program – a pilot initiative that provides financial support for eligible heritage projects led by residents, organizations, and members of local First Nations.
James Rowley received a built heritage grant for conservation work at the historic Whitehouse Residence, which was built in 1923 and is representative of early 20th-century Port Hammond.
The Maple Ridge Historical Society received a cultural heritage grant to support a translation project that will make a basic introduction to local history available in multiple spoken languages and American Sign Language.
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