The Editor,
The Coquitlam Heritage Society recently hosted an exciting and edifying Coquitlam Heritage Symposium, which concluded with a great interest, from many of the people present, in a designated-heritage space in the city.
That said, given the backdrop that a designated heritage space continues to remain a desire of city fathers as Coquitlam celebrates its 125th birthday, one may have reasonably assumed that the symposium participants — which included a sprinkling of municipal and provincial politicians — would have approached the symposium in a gloomy, curmudgeonly state of mind.
Well, some may have. But after hearing the first, world-class presenter, Tim Willis, a specialist in exhibition planning and visitor experience, and seeing his photos of museums from around-the-world, the audience’s mood quickly shifted to one of ebullience. That participant elation continued to escalate as Mr. Willis’ visual presentation demonstrated how designated heritage space enhances civic tourism, benefiting residents as well as visitors.
Candace Matelic, in her evocative presentation, went on to emphasize that “consumers value memorable experiences more than goods and services.” She made it ever so clear that memorable heritage experiences are immeasurably enhanced when displayed in an architecturally exciting space — a fact now understood, worldwide, as absolutely essential.
All of the presenters, in attempting to identify our defining heritage characteristic, revealed, overwhelmingly, that it was a designated heritage space. So, too, the speakers emphasized that “heritage” in general remains a key challenge for us all. We cannot allow it to be depreciated or trifled with.
And as the city of Coquitlam celebrates its quasquicentennial, we are reminded, once more, that a designated heritage space remains the quintessence or soul of any official heritage plan, and, in Coquitlam’s case, a goal.
Don Cunnings, Coquitlam
