Congratulations to Heritage BC on choosing “Stir the Pot” as their theme this year for BC Heritage Week February 16 to 22, 2026. (https://heritagebc.ca/events-activities/heritage-week/) There is no better way to experience heritage in your community than through food! Museums and heritage sites throughout the province are organizing an array of events happening throughout the week and with many scheduled for Family Day on February 16. What an opportunity to take part as a family in a little community history! Introducing children to the living history of their community early is one way to ensure that they will develop a lifelong interest in history, museums and their heritage.
The week kicks off with a Virtual Launch Event on Thursday, February 12 at noon. Gale Smith and I are delighted to be part of this launch event and to share some of why food history is important and the 15-year story (along with Mary Leah deZwart) of the BC Food History Network. Registration for this event is open with details: https://heritagebc.ca/event/heritage-week-official-launch-food-for-thought-with-the-british-columbia-food-history-network/
Behind the events happening in your community is likely a Heritage or Historical Society. If you are not a member of your local society, it’s a good time to consider joining and supporting their work throughout the year. Monica Braun of the Chilliwack Heritage Society writes monthly newsletter columns that are posted on the Chilliwack Heritage Society website as blogs. She picks up on the Heritage Week theme in her latest, “The Farms That Fed Us” (https://www.heritagechilliwack.org/post/the-farms-that-fed-us-chilliwack-agriculture-through-the-generations) It’s well worth reading. Monica writes, commenting on agriculture (i.e. food) “It’s the kind of heritage that isn’t always marked by plaques or protected by designation, yet it’s fundamental to the character of our region.”
What a great opportunity to take part in a community event and reflect on and honour one of the most taken-for-granted features of our daily lives – food. It’s time to “Stir the Pot!”