We are making every effort to keep members informed of our activities and efforts during the CCAA process. All members should receive TLC’s newsletter, the LANDmark, within the next week. Below is a copy of an opinion editorial that TLC’s new Director of Operations, John Shields, wrote recently for the Vancouver Sun.

When the Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) accepted the historic West Vancouver house from the estate of the late B.C. Binning, it stepped in to protect it where no other organization or institution would. In fact, Binning House illustrates the challenges that heritage properties face in B.C., across Canada, and indeed around the world.

The preservation of heritage properties in Canada is founded upon a lapsed model. The focus is on the creation of museums, which are costly and rely on government support. We are all too aware of the limitations of public funding, and TLC has determined that the preservation of heritage properties requires a different approach.

After years of trying to maintain the house, TLC has come to the harsh realization that public funds and donations will not materialize, and a better ownership structure is needed to preserve this precious site. An appealing offer has been presented, which the board of TLC believes meets the public interest in a viable and appropriate manner.

Binning House was designed and built by the late B.C. Binning, the founder of modernist architecture in British Columbia, and a leading figure in the arts. On her death in 2007, Binning’s widow wanted the house and its furnishings to be preserved. At the time, no one wanted to take on that challenge.

Perhaps other organizations knew better that there was little support for our precious heritage. Nor was there any endowment left with the house to maintain it. Both the federal and provincial governments have backed away from funding heritage preservation, and neither the municipal nor regional levels of government have the wherewithal to carry that responsibility. Only TLC was willing to try to maintain the house and its unique decor.

TLC tried for years to raise the funds to create an endowment for Binning House. Repeated campaigns failed even to raise enough money to cover operating costs, much less create an endowment. As it stands, an estimated $200,000 is needed to remediate the house and protect it from falling into an irredeemable state.

TLC’s aspiration to preserve heritage sites was modelled on Britain’s National Trust. The previous TLC administration had ambitious plans of acquiring and caring for heritage properties, believing that this was a value that would be shared by governments and patrons of conservation. Unfortunately, that dream was only realized to the extent that TLC acquired the sites. Without the finances to sustain and maintain these examples of Canadian heritage, we are left to see many crumble into disuse.

Last year, the board of TLC realized that it could not continue to maintain Canadian heritage on borrowed money. TLC’s business model was clearly flawed. When the debt reached $7.5 million, the membership and the board said, “stop.” The board slashed the size of the organization, terminating senior staff and reducing the size of its workforce from 50 to seven. This year, under new administration, TLC filed for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. To meet its moral and legal obligation to its creditors, many of whom are individuals — longtime friends and supporters, TLC has asked the Supreme Court of B.C. to oversee a plan to repay its debts in the hopes the organization can successfully restructure and continue to protect conservation properties in critical B.C. ecosystems.

The board also realized that TLC needed to make dramatic changes to the properties it holds. This would mean finding new homes for its heritage properties, but in a way that would protect the conservation values to the greatest extent possible.

That brings me back to the Binning House. When a well-respected philanthropist made an offer to purchase the house, with the intention to restore and renew it, we thought we had found a fortuitous solution. This potential purchaser is a lover and collector of Binning’s work, and his expressed intention is to preserve Binning House’s heritage features. In fact, he would do for the house what TLC has not been able to.

The current model of heritage preservation in Ontario, Britain and many other jurisdictions worldwide incorporates heritage designation, while allowing for ongoing use and preservation by private citizens. The proposal for Binning House is a step in this direction. TLC has asked the court to assess the plan and approve the sale, knowing that the heritage elements of the property will be protected through an existing heritage bylaw.

On Dec. 11 our application will be heard. The judge will determine whether the approach that is succeeding throughout the world to preserve innumerable cultural assets can be incorporated here in B.C.

John Shields assumed the role of director of operations for The Land Conservancy of BC in August of this year.