The community of Oak Bay displays its rich heritage from homes and neighborhoods, to sites and historic structures. Preservation and enhancement of Oak Bay heritage is one of the building blocks for a healthy and sustainable community. By preserving the character of Oak Bay, long time residents feel a sense of belonging, and new residents are attracted to the area.

While Oak Bay has already established goals and objectives for the community, the principles that follow are meant to specifically guide future direction for heritage preservation.

1. Incorporating preservation into community planning processes;
2. Educating residents and visitors about Oak Bay’s history and heritage;
3. Encouraging community involvement around heritage issues;
4. Preserving and maintaining heritage resources, where possible;
5. Ensuring new development is compatible with the existing community.

An important outcome of heritage preservation is to retain the historic features and materials that are unique to the Oak Bay community, and to protect the neighborhoods and structures that have helped shaped the architectural, environmental and social history of Oak Bay.