Japanese Canadian citizens being transferred into waiting trucks outside Hope Station House. NNMCC L2021-2-1-004. Photographs courtesy of the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre

Hope council could remove heritage designation of Hope Station House tonight

Final adoption of repeal bylaw on District of Hope agenda for Aug. 9

The Hope Station House is back on the table at the District of Hope tonight.

The agenda shows that council will be looking at repealing the heritage designation of the building, which has been mired in controversy for the past year.

The bylaw was given a first and second read on April 12, and then a public hearing was held on May 10. It was then read a third time on May 25, and has been waiting for adoption ever since.

To date, council has been unanimous on demolishing the Hope Station House. They believe it to “badly deteriorating” and have no desire to have to moved to a different site to be repurposed. But that is what many in the community are hoping to do, and launched an appeal to council, complaints to the ombudsman, and various protests.

Other items on the Aug. 9 agenda include a staff report on the Legacy Program, a report on the Coquihalla flood projects, a discussion of the community signage plan, and a change to the fees bylaw that include a new charge for flower vases at the Hope Cemetery.

To follow along, you can watch the meeting online on the District of Hope YouTube channel and Facebook page.

READ MORE: ‘Honk for history’ say supporters of Hope Station House


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Hope Standard