Canada Heritage Week goes down February 19th to the 25th and to celebrate, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation has organized three events at various locations around the city where Vancouverites can get a dose of local history, and possibly even some civic optimism.

It’s easy to forget that our relatively young city has a past when we consider how ruthless it is in replacing of old buildings with prohibitively expensive condos and generic chain stores.

That’s why reminders like this, and the VHF’s new online Community History Resource, are so important. If you haven’t checked out the latter yet we definitely recommend you do. It’s a very comprehensive and interactive site that’s easy to navigate. It features some 125 historically significant buildings around Vancouver with details from their beginnings to their current struggles and importance in the community.

After just a quick perusal, I was surprised and intrigued by the inclusion of more than a few otherwise innocuous-seeming spots. Since the website invites citizens to submit their own personal stories related to the buildings, the addictive map will continue to expand as more people check it out and tell their stories. And beyond being a fruitful way to spend some of the remaining winter days, it’s also a great resource for planning a neighbourhood stroll.

Local events take place in Kitsilano, Gastown and on Main Street, beginning with a free evening of storytelling at Kitsilano House on Wednesday the 21st that is open to the public.

All of the events promise to be both informative and entertaining for the mind, but the “Sunday Morning at Punjabi Market” sounds equally (and deliciously) engaging for the tastebuds as well. At $25 it’s the most expensive of the three events, but the cost includes loading up on chai and traditional Indian goodies from neighbourhood institution All India Sweets before embarking on an agreeably sugar-fuelled walking tour of the colourful neighbourhood. (The Gastown tour is sold out so if you’re already salivating over the sound of the Punjabi Market one then snag your tickets right away!)

Wed, Feb. 21 – Sun, Feb. 25 | Various Locations | FREE – $25 | DETAILS