A recent workshop has helped entice some owners of heritage homes to put their houses on the New Westminster Heritage Register.

On June 4, the City of New Westminster hosted its first heritage register homes workshop, which was a day-long workshop offered to owners of homes on New Westminster’s heritage register.

The workshop included presentations about various heritage home issues and display tables showing products and services offered in the community.

Julie Schueck, the city’s heritage planner, said the city had to turn people away because their homes weren’t among the 100-plus New Westminster homes listed on the 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.

More than 50 people attended the June 4 workshop, which covered 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, knowing the dos and don’ts of additions to heritage houses, determining the original colour scheme of the home and restoring heritage wood windows.

“At check-in, each person received a paint sample brochure from Farrow Ball Paints in a gift bag that could then be used for collecting other brochures and samples through the afternoon,” Schueck wrote in an email to The Record. “In addition, everyone put their name in a draw for impressive goods and services donated by the local business community.”

Schueck said the success of the workshop was due in large part to the contributions of Jaser Painting and Heritage Restoration, architect Eric Pattison, Donald Luxton and Associates, Basil Restoration Ltd., Housewright Building and Restoration Ltd. and City Green Solutions.

“Six different professionals volunteered their time to give one-hour presentations, some bringing tools of their trade and samples, such as historic wood window frames, in order to show techniques and tips for the care of heritage homes,” she wrote. “There were also very informative power point presentations on various topics.”

Tourism New Westminster, the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society and the New Westminster Heritage Foundation set up displays. The New Westminster Museum and Archives also had a booth at the event.

Schueck said the city wanted to find a way of giving back to individuals who have put their homes on the heritage register, and to get more people interested in placing their homes on the heritage register.

The City of New Westminster expects to be adding four new homes to the heritage register as a result of the workshop.