An excerpt from the Winter 2024-25 issue of British Columbia History

To Be Seen, To Be Heard exhibit. Photo: Mark Forsythe

By Mark Forsythe

1 To Be Seen, To Be Heard

The summer reopening of the Museum of Anthropology couldn’t come soon enough for eager patrons. The Arthur Erickson–designed building that graces the UBC campus was closed for 18 months to undergo major seismic upgrades because the concrete pillars underpinning the Great Hall were at risk of tumbling in an earthquake. The closure was also an opportunity to consult with Indigenous communities and reinvigorate interpretation.

To Be Seen, To Be Heard: First Nations in Public Spaces 1900–1965 is a new multimedia exhibition that explores how Indigenous people represented themselves in urban public spaces during the dark period of potlatch bans, cultural erasure, and restricted rights. Archival images of Indigenous people attending community parades, protests, tourist venues, and royal visits are projected on large screens while the voices of Indigenous people reflect on their meaning. The pursuit of land rights, their laws, and cultural expression were always propelling Indigenous people to be seen and heard at these public events. Curated by Dr. Marcia Crosby (Ts’msyen/Haida) and Karen Duffek (MOA Curator, Contemporary Visual Arts + Pacific Northwest), the exhibition continues in the Audain Gallery at the Museum of Anthropology until March 31, 2025.

2 Parksville Museum: Hidden Gem

A 1950 fire truck holds centre court in Parksville’s original firehall. Photo: Mark Forsythe

At first glance the Parksville Museum appears to be a modest cluster of cabins tucked inside a copse on the edge of town. Roam the site and you may be surprised by its scope and variety of local storytelling. Eight heritage structures fan out from an inviting courtyard, including the Mosaic Pavilion that explores local logging history and the benefits of more contemporary sustainable forest practices. There’s also a blacksmith forge, an historic Knox Church, E&N Railway displays, a post office, a schoolhouse, a children’s nature trail, and a renovated main exhibit hall bursting with local stories and artifacts.

Like many British Columbia nonprofit heritage sites, the museum is closed during the winter (Mosaic Pavilion and Marion Craig Courtyard are open yearround) but there’s plenty of activity behind the scenes. This includes new interpretation for the town’s original firehall. The museum is gathering stories from former fire department members and fire chiefs. Museum manager/curator Rachel Filko says the history of the firehall represents an important chapter in the community’s history; the fire truck was purchased thanks to fundraising by local women. “We think stories like this—about the people of Parksville and how they helped create our community—are the stories we want to highlight.” Th e exhibit will also highlight fire prevention and safety in response to the growing threat of wildfires.

Visit the Parksville Museum website at https://parksvillemuseum.com.

3 Ship Shape for Restoration

Newly renovated boat repair space at Britannia Shipyards. Photo: Mark Forsythe

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly planed wood. This will be in abundance at the newly renovated boat repair shed at Steveston’s Britannia Shipyard. The Richmond Boat Builders’ structure was constructed in 1932 by Japanese Canadian boat builder Saeji Kishi and operated as the Kishi Boatworks Company until the Kishi family was interned in 1942. The structure recently saw major restoration and improvements to the mechanical systems. This newly outfitted shed will be used to restore boats from these traditional skills and techniques in action as work begins on the Crystal S.

The 3.2-hectare historic shipyard includes the 1889 shipyard building (originally built as a cannery), stilt houses, a Chinese bunkhouse, a seine net loft, and the newly restored Murakami House. Take a stroll along Britannia Shipyards’ boardwalks for a powerful connection with BC’s maritime history.

4 Patricia Theatre Magic

Patrons enjoy the 1952 classic Singin’ in the Rain at the Patricia Theatre. Photo: Grant Lawrence

The Patricia Theatre in the historic Powell River Townsite is looking marvelous after acquiring new seats, carpets, an air conditioning system, a refurbished lobby, touch-ups to the peacock-themed murals, and a new projection screen. The Patricia came to town in 1913 (the existing structure was built in 1928) and is the longest continuously running theatre in Canada. Since 2021 it has been owned by the qathet film society, which successfully generated donations for a new digital projection system and sound system improvements.

CBC host and author Grant Lawrence was in attendance at a summer reopening. “It all looks and sounds really awesome. Single-screen theatres are magical, special places … and the Patricia is one of the best.” The theatre is also forging new relationships with the local Tla’amin Nation, whose members once faced segregation inside the theatre. An Indigenous film festival is now held each fall surrounding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Visit the qathet international film festival website at https://www.qathetfilm.ca.

5 Mapping BC’s Industrial Heritage

New Industrial Heritage Places map. Image: Heritage BC

Canneries, sawmills, and ghost towns speak to British Columbia’s industrial past. A new interactive Industrial Heritage Places Map, created by Heritage BC, pinpoints 76 sites (1860s through the 1950s), providing historical context for each. The sites were sourced from nominations across the province. “Together, the sites help show the impacts of industry, both positive and negative, on changes within a growing province, and show the changing values of the communities they impacted,” says Heritage BC.

Click on Lillooet Tomato Cannery to discover it was operated by Japanese Canadians forced into internment camps during the Second World War. Lillooet offered perfect growing conditions for tomatoes, and their production became the camp’s main industry, creating jobs and family income. An accompanying historical context document called Setting the Scene also explores industry as a colonizing force, with its profound impact on First Nation communities and the associated environmental costs. The map is found on the Heritage BC website, https://heritagebc.ca/cultural-maps/industrial-heritage-places. •

Mark Forsythe travels through BC and back in time, exploring the unique work of British Columbia Historical Federation members.