Robert Lemon Heritage Studies Prize

Students enrolled in a post-secondary program related to heritage conservation who are working on a research thesis or project related to heritage conservation. Eligible students must be enrolled in full-time studies and must have some connection to Vancouver or the Lower Mainland. 

The prize is intended to support costs related to enrollment in a relevant academic program or to support research for a specific thesis or project. The grant amount cannot exceed total eligible costs. The project cannot have commenced prior to the awarding of the prize. Eligible costs may include:

• Tuition costs.
• Travel costs for research trips within Canada or abroad.
• Conferences or workshops directly related to the specific thesis or project research.

Applicants will be required to submit the following documentation:

• Current C.V. with contact details
• Proposal (max 3000 characters) that describes the intended use of the funds, any research projects that will be funded with the prize money, and how the funds will further the student’s knowledge of heritage conservation theory and practices.
• Impact statement (max 3000 characters) that describes the impact of the funds, if conferred on the student.
• A letter of recommendation
• Proof of enrollment in a qualifying program of study

Full prize details and required supporting documentation can be found in the Program Guidelines.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Alignment with the stated goal of the prize and the eligibility requirements.
• Uniqueness of research and its alignment with modern heritage practices (e.g.-  focus on adaptive reuse, sustainability, or community driven research)
• Financial need of applicant
• Relevance of proposed research to Vancouver or surrounding areas

Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received the award.

The Robert Lemon Heritage Studies Prize Committee may decide not to award the prize in a given competition year if none of the applications meets the criteria. All committee decisions are final.

The prize recipient will be required to submit a final report within three months of completing the corresponding academic year (max 1000 words) and may be asked to make a public presentation in collaboration with Vancouver Heritage Foundation on their research topic or travel experience. The format and timing of the presentation will be arranged with the VHF Program Manager.

The prize recipient agrees to have their name, photograph, and information about their research made public for the promotion of the award.