The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) Legacy Fund supports community-initiated capital projects that restore, renovate or transform an existing building or exterior space intended for community use. Projects must commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality, marking a 100th anniversary or a subsequent anniversary in 25-year increments (such as a 125th or 150th anniversary).

Projects may involve community museums, theatres, longhouses, outdoor amphitheatres, Indigenous cultural arbours, parks and public gardens, or religious buildings converted to secular use. Eligible projects may also include the purchase, commissioning, restoration or installation of permanent works of art, monuments, sculptures or public murals connected to the commemoration.

The program aims to increase opportunities for local residents to help preserve their community's heritage and to make restored or transformed community spaces available for community use.

Eligible Projects

• Restoration, renovation or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces intended for community use.

Eligible expenses

• Construction and renovation costs
• Permanent commemorative works
• Professional fees
• Volunteer support
• Administration up to 15%, contingency funds up to 10%
• Insurance
• Eligible non-refundable taxes.

Ineligible Expenses

• Public works such as roads, docks, parking lots, bike paths and sewers
• New building construction, routine maintenance, recreation or sports equipment, cemeteries and projects of an essentially religious, political or commercial nature are not eligible.
• Expenses incurred before the application is received.