NORTH VANCOUVER - Putting new uses into old buildings has earned Samuel and Nicholas Bawlf the British Columbia Heritage Award for their pioneering contributions to the heritage community, Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen announced last night.

"Before climate change or sustainable development became popular issues, the recipients of this year's award were creating a foundation on which the modern ideals of urban development would be built." said Hagen.

Hagen presented the award during the 2007 Heritage BC Annual Conference at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel in North Vancouver. The B.C. Heritage Award honours British Columbians who have made outstanding long term contributions to heritage. The provincial government presents the award annually.

The Bawlf brothers were two of the first British Columbians to practice conservation architecture. Their most noteworthy project was the creation of Market Square in Victoria. They created Victoria's first open-air public market which preserved and rehabilitated several heritage buildings and contributed significantly to urban revitalization.

"If we can take the models for building re-use introduced by the Bawlf brothers, and make them the standard, we can continue building a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren," said North Vancouver - Lonsdale MLA, Katherine Whittred.

The B.C. Heritage Award comes with a $10,000 grant that is donated to a heritage-related non-profit organization selected by the award recipient.

The Bawlf brothers have chosen the Sir Francis Drake Historical Society as the financial recipient. The society's main mandate will be to support and undertake further research into the discovery and exploration of the Northwest Coast of America by Sir Francis Drake.