Museum

A bone in the office of Victoria Arbour at the Royal B.C. Museum. (Ella Matte, Black Press Media)

$8.4M ‘Sue the T. rex’ skeleton invades Royal B.C. Museum in pending new dino exhibit

Exhibit on its way later this year will focus on dinosaur discoveries from around the province

  • Feb 1, 2023

 

A memorial totem pole is shown in this handout image provided by National Museums Scotland. The museum says it will return to the Nisga’a Nation in British Columbia a memorial pole taken nearly a century ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-National Museums Scotland

B.C. Nisga’a totem on display at Scotland museum since 1930 is heading home

Delegation of Nisga’a leaders travelled to Edinburgh last August to ask that the pole be returned

 

A plane parked at the BC Aviation Museum. (Courtesy BC Aviation Museum)

BC Aviation Museum seeking donations for new floatplane exhibit

Donations will be used in a new exhibit dedicated to floatplanes during the 1950s

 

Kirsten Smith, collections curator at the Alberni Valley Museum, opens a drawer of war memorabilia, including a Red Cross ditty bag veteran Arthur Thompson brought home from the First World War. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Alberni Valley Museum’s wartime items hold stories from decades past

Red Cross ditty bag brought back by First World War veteran was used for personal items

Kirsten Smith, collections curator at the Alberni Valley Museum, opens a drawer of war memorabilia, including a Red Cross ditty bag veteran Arthur Thompson brought home from the First World War. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The Victoria Cross Medal belonging to Pte. James Peter Robertson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum

‘War hero of the family’: Canadian War Museum acquires 3 more Victoria Crosses

Museum now has 36 of the 73 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians in the First World War

The Victoria Cross Medal belonging to Pte. James Peter Robertson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum
An exhibit from the third floor of B.C. Royal Museum is pictured in Victoria, Wednesday, December 29, 2021. The museum announced that it will be closing the third floor including parts of the First Peoples Gallery in an effort to decolonize the institution. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Canadian Museums Association recommends 10 ways to decolonize heritage sector

Report presents ways to give Indigenous Peoples authority over how they are represented

An exhibit from the third floor of B.C. Royal Museum is pictured in Victoria, Wednesday, December 29, 2021. The museum announced that it will be closing the third floor including parts of the First Peoples Gallery in an effort to decolonize the institution. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
James Manke has been “overwhelmed” by the local support he’s received since rolling new life into the town’s iconic The Wreckage building with a brand new kayak museum. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Traditional kayaking museum debuts in The Wreckage of B.C.’s wild West Coast

Manke at the Wreckage celebrating the building and use of traditional kayaks in Ucluelet

James Manke has been “overwhelmed” by the local support he’s received since rolling new life into the town’s iconic The Wreckage building with a brand new kayak museum. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Joseph and Clara Clegg. Joseph Clegg was born on March 13, 1875, in Salford, Lancashire, England. He married Clara Orange September 12, 1900. They had five children; Alice (1901), David Alfred (1903), Frank (1904), Lucy (1906), and Eva (1909).
The family moved to Canada in 1912. He was a photographer in Port Alberni from 1912 until 1945.
 Joseph Clegg died March 22, 1961 in Port Alberni and is buried here. Circa 1930. This is one of 24,000 photos included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online archives, accessible at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN21565 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)

A LOOK BACK: Portrait of an iconic Port Alberni photographer

Joseph Clegg turned his photography hobby into a career in the city’s early days

Joseph and Clara Clegg. Joseph Clegg was born on March 13, 1875, in Salford, Lancashire, England. He married Clara Orange September 12, 1900. They had five children; Alice (1901), David Alfred (1903), Frank (1904), Lucy (1906), and Eva (1909).
The family moved to Canada in 1912. He was a photographer in Port Alberni from 1912 until 1945.
 Joseph Clegg died March 22, 1961 in Port Alberni and is buried here. Circa 1930. This is one of 24,000 photos included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online archives, accessible at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN21565 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)
Maritime Discovery Centre summer staff program assistant TJ Barrowcliff hangs out with the resident lighthouse pirate during a Maritime Monday event, July 18, 2022. Pirate Day at the pier is coming up July 30, 2022. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)

Maritime Mondays reveal a treasure trove of kids’ activities on Port Alberni waterfront

Pirate Day is coming up on Saturday, July 30 as well, at the Maritime Discovery Centre

Maritime Discovery Centre summer staff program assistant TJ Barrowcliff hangs out with the resident lighthouse pirate during a Maritime Monday event, July 18, 2022. Pirate Day at the pier is coming up July 30, 2022. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)
People walk up stairs to the entrance of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced June 22 they are stopping their $789-million plan to rebuild the ageing building, and sending things back to public consultation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Province cancels controversial $789M Royal BC Museum rebuild

Premier says public engagement will now determine the future of the ‘seismically unsafe’ building

People walk up stairs to the entrance of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced June 22 they are stopping their $789-million plan to rebuild the ageing building, and sending things back to public consultation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Large landing barge on shore of Great Central Lake. One man on the shoreline. The barge is carrying boy scouts and their leaders, and some vehicles. 18 men and boys in total. One truck has a canopy on it with a woman standing outside. Painted on the door of the truck “Art Skipsey Sash and Door”. Front of the barge has a gang plank that is open. Painted on the side of the barge “B.C. FOREST-SERVICE”. On the back written in blue ink “Sat.1:30 pm 1st Sept/ 1951 / at N.W. end of / Great Central Lake , on the / Della Falls trip.” This is one of 24,000 photos included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online digital archives, at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN20251 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)

A LOOK BACK: Great Central Lake

Take a trip back in history with the Alberni Valley Museum

Large landing barge on shore of Great Central Lake. One man on the shoreline. The barge is carrying boy scouts and their leaders, and some vehicles. 18 men and boys in total. One truck has a canopy on it with a woman standing outside. Painted on the door of the truck “Art Skipsey Sash and Door”. Front of the barge has a gang plank that is open. Painted on the side of the barge “B.C. FOREST-SERVICE”. On the back written in blue ink “Sat.1:30 pm 1st Sept/ 1951 / at N.W. end of / Great Central Lake , on the / Della Falls trip.” This is one of 24,000 photos included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online digital archives, at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN20251 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)
Qualicum Beach High School class of 1932. Shima Umemoto is sixth from left in front row. (Photo courtesy of Qualicum Beach Museum Archives)

‘Broken Promises’ explores Vancouver Island’s dark chapter of Japanese mistreatment

Qualicum Beach Museum exhibit explores dispossession, internment of Japanese-Canadians during WW2

Qualicum Beach High School class of 1932. Shima Umemoto is sixth from left in front row. (Photo courtesy of Qualicum Beach Museum Archives)
An example of a black-figure panel amphora from the last quarter 6th century B.C. seen in the Dallas Museum of Art. (Wikimedia Commons)

Police say man smashes ancient museum artifacts worth millions in Dallas

A 6th century B.C. Greek amphora and a Greek pot dating to 450 B.C. were among the items destroyed

An example of a black-figure panel amphora from the last quarter 6th century B.C. seen in the Dallas Museum of Art. (Wikimedia Commons)
The Royal B.C. Museum will close in September in preparation for a rebuild. BC Archives will remain until 2025 with Imax Victoria staying open through early 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

Royal B.C. Museum gets $789-million overhaul

Museum to close in September for rebuild, expected opening in 2030

The Royal B.C. Museum will close in September in preparation for a rebuild. BC Archives will remain until 2025 with Imax Victoria staying open through early 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)
President Dave Ferguson of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame said the museum will have to leave its current home at the Westshore Motorsports Park in September and is currently searching for space to store its artifacts. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame needs homes for its artifacts as it faces fall closure

The museum is looking for storage space until a new permanent home is found

President Dave Ferguson of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame said the museum will have to leave its current home at the Westshore Motorsports Park in September and is currently searching for space to store its artifacts. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Ken Lane, former director of the Royal London Wax Museum which closed in 2010, sits with a life-like wax rendition of Queen Victoria. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

VIDEO: Saanich man says wax museums are an opportunity for big Canadian cities

Former director of downtown Victoria wax museum is selling what remains of his collection

Ken Lane, former director of the Royal London Wax Museum which closed in 2010, sits with a life-like wax rendition of Queen Victoria. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Part of a dock hangs on the top of pilings, where the tsunami wave placed it. Fishing boats are tied to the docks nearby. March 1964. The 58th anniversary of the Port Alberni tsunami is coming up on March 27. This historical photo is one of 24,000 available for the public to see on the Alberni Valley Museum’s digital archives. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com (PHOTO PN19027 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Tsunami hits Port Alberni in 1964

This year is the 58th anniversary of the tsunami

Part of a dock hangs on the top of pilings, where the tsunami wave placed it. Fishing boats are tied to the docks nearby. March 1964. The 58th anniversary of the Port Alberni tsunami is coming up on March 27. This historical photo is one of 24,000 available for the public to see on the Alberni Valley Museum’s digital archives. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com (PHOTO PN19027 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)
Kirsten Smith, collections curator at the Alberni Valley Museum, demonstrates the interactive aspects of the museum’s newest exhibit, “Snapshots of Canada.” (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Alberni Valley Museum offers ‘snapshots’ of Canada’s history

From Confederation to present day, exhibit shows Canada’s triumphs, failures and sacrifices

Kirsten Smith, collections curator at the Alberni Valley Museum, demonstrates the interactive aspects of the museum’s newest exhibit, “Snapshots of Canada.” (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Britanny Vis, executive director of the Maritime Museum of BC, is seeking input from queer, trans and two-spirit individuals willing to share their marine stories for use in the upcoming Queer at Sea exhibit. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria museum puts call out for maritime stories from B.C.’s LGBTQ2S+ community

Queer at Sea exhibit launches at the Maritime Museum in May

Britanny Vis, executive director of the Maritime Museum of BC, is seeking input from queer, trans and two-spirit individuals willing to share their marine stories for use in the upcoming Queer at Sea exhibit. (Black Press Media file photo)
Four women are seen standing on either side of stacks of plywood, moving the top piece into the dryers at Alberni Plywoods Ltd., circa 1948. A metal bar in the centre of the machine reads “NO. 2”. At the far right, a sign can be seen that reads “In Case of Fire Break Glass Here. The female workers at AlPly became known as the ‘Plywood Girls’ during the Second World War. The plant was rushed into production in 1942 on the site now known as Canal Beach in order to help Canada’s war effort. This photo is one of 24,000 that comprise the Alberni Valley Museum’s digital photo archives. The archives are accessible to the public at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN13192 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

A LOOK BACK: The Plywood Girls of Port Alberni

Take a peek at Alberni Valley history with the AV Museum

Four women are seen standing on either side of stacks of plywood, moving the top piece into the dryers at Alberni Plywoods Ltd., circa 1948. A metal bar in the centre of the machine reads “NO. 2”. At the far right, a sign can be seen that reads “In Case of Fire Break Glass Here. The female workers at AlPly became known as the ‘Plywood Girls’ during the Second World War. The plant was rushed into production in 1942 on the site now known as Canal Beach in order to help Canada’s war effort. This photo is one of 24,000 that comprise the Alberni Valley Museum’s digital photo archives. The archives are accessible to the public at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN13192 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
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