A workshop is being planned for residents who live in homes that are listed on the city’s heritage register.

Homes listed on the heritage register aren’t legally protected, but their inclusion on the register indicates that they have heritage value or character.

A June 4 workshop at city hall will cover topics such as researching a heritage home, painting a heritage house, uncovering original siding and shingles (and what to do if hazardous materials are found), discovering how a heritage house has evolved over time, the do’s and don’ts of additions to heritage houses, determining the original colour scheme of the home and restoring heritage wood windows.

“The afternoon will provide a great deal of information and tips from professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in the care of heritage homes,” states a staff report.

“The presence of heritage-related community groups will round out the afternoon and provide participants with local and provincial resources that they can access. The New Westminster Museum and Archives will have a small display on how to research one’s heritage house that will tie in with the session they are offering.”

Julie Schueck, the city’s heritage planner, was impressed with the response she got from professionals and community groups who were asked if they’d be willing to do free presentations. The workshop will be free to people whose homes are on the heritage register.

“They all jumped on it,” she said. “They were so happy to do it, so excited to do it. It was a really, really impressive response from these companies and individuals.”

According to Schueck, the idea came out of comments made at various open houses.

She said the city wanted to find a way of giving back to individuals who have put their homes on the heritage

register.

“Part of the reason for doing it is to get people interested in the heritage register and partly to give back to the people who are already on it,” she said. “It’s a really great informational thing.”

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