The Vancouver Maritime Museum is embarking on a significant revitalization of its St. Roch Gallery, set to offer a more immersive and inclusive experience beginning in August 2025. 

The gallery, which showcases the legendary vessel that was the first to navigate the Northwest Passage from west to east, will undergo its most extensive update since its original unveiling in 1974. This project aims to bring new life to the stories of St. Roch’s Arctic expeditions, incorporating Indigenous perspectives and modern technology to enhance visitors’ understanding of these historic journeys.

The updated exhibit will feature multimedia presentations, additional artifacts, and sound and light installations that will provide deeper insight into the crew’s experiences and the significant contributions of Inuit guides like Panikpakuttuk. The museum is collaborating with Inuit artists and historians Maarta Kyak and Deborah Kigjugalik Webster to ensure these narratives are authentic and respected.

“The story of the St. Roch and the crew, including Inuit and their stories, is an intriguing part of Arctic history that needs to be told more fully. After months of the team working on this interpretive plan and schematic design, it was presented to us. I was so moved to tears,” shares Kigjugalik Webster in a statement. “It really touched my heart to realize that visitors will soon be able to learn the full story of the St. Roch through an Inuit lens. I’m very happy that the Vancouver Maritime Museum is moving forward. In this time of reconciliation, it’s very important to share all of our history and in a way that was not done before.”

The full revitalization is expected to be complete by May 2026.

See the full article here.