Blog & News

This new exhibition explores the history of Smithers tourism and recreation through postcards, photographs, souvenirs, and ephemera from the permanent collection of the Bulkley Valley Museum. 

The many amazing sites and places featured in this exhibition that are enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike are located on the traditional territory of the Witsuwit'en people. The BV Museum is located on C'inulh K'it, Cas Yikh (Grizzly House) territory belonging to the Gidimt'en clan of the Witsuwit'en Nation. Other places visited by locals and tourists in regions surrounding Smithers may be located in the traditional territories of the Gitxsan and Nad'uten. 

Explore the exhibit here.

Join the Jewish Museum & Archives of BC for historical walking tours of Vancouver and Victoria this summer! Scan the QR code or visit their website for tickets.

The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is excited to announce the 13th annual Nikkei Matsuri, an authentic celebration of Japanese culture. This year is extra special as we celebrate Nikkei Centre's 25th anniversary. Join us for a weekend of festivities at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby) on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 from 11am-7pm. Admission is free for those under 18 and over 65, and members. $15 ($12 advance) admission for adults.

For more information, including a list of highlights and performers, visit the event's webpage.

The Transit Museum Society (TMS) has partnered with TransLink to take part in a new transportation-themed exhibition at the Museum of North Vancouver (MONOVA).

The exhibition, titled Are We There Yet?, is now open and will run until March 1, 2026. It offers fascinating insights into the history and future of transportation in Metro Vancouver.

For more information, visit the MONOVA website.

From the BC Museums Association:

"We are pleased to announce that Jules André-Brown will be serving as BCMA’s new Executive Director starting Tuesday, August 5, 2025!

As President, I know that I speak for all that Ryan Hunt’s departure this spring left a huge gap in the organization. Ryan is a forward thinker and connector who dedicated his time to building the BCMA into a well-respected organization across the country – thank you Ryan!

After Ryan Hunt’s departure, Council, with the support of BCMA’s Acting Executive Director Lorenda Calvert, embarked on a search for an Executive Director that is experienced in strategic planning and sustainable funding, highly focused and organized, and will uphold the values of the BCMA: accountability, bravery, equity, innovation, relevance and respect.

Jules represents all of these. Through his 15-year career of community-based work Jules has a proven track record of leading with sound financial stewardship and is highly experienced in community-based cultural work and strategic planning. He has dedicated his career to empowering community and nonprofits through governance and program development. Indeed, many of you may have met Jules in the past as he has championed and participated in several BCMA programs, including those related to professional development and leadership.

Jules demonstrated to the hiring committee his expertise when working and leading in a variety of cultural and nongovernmental organizations such as ArtStarts, Arts BC, BC Family Caregivers Association and Spectrum Society for Community Living.

Added to this is a wide range of educational qualifications in Leadership, Business and Community work that highlights his passion to support inclusive and productive communities throughout British Columbia.

Jules cares deeply about the cultural sector, dedicating his career to empowering communities and participating, not just professionally, but also in his day-to-day life.

After asking Jules to share some personal information, he noted that his children wanted the membership to know that Jules loves salty liquorice, used to build Trinidadian steel pans AND has a black belt in ninjutsu!

Welcome Jules, we look forward to working with you.

-Lynn Saffery, BCMA President"

Join the Alberni Valley Museum on Thursday, July 31st from 10am-2pm for the opening of Cecil Dawson: Worlds Colliding.

The exhibition Worlds Colliding presents the evocative and multilayered works of Cecil Dawson, a renowned Kwakwaka’wakw artist and Hereditary Chief of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation. Rooted in ancestral knowledge, cultural reclamation, and artistic innovation, the exhibition invites viewers into a world where Raven, ancient beings, and sea creatures coexist beneath coastal waters.

Dawson’s art is not only a reflection of his heritage but also a catalyst for dialogue. The exhibition foregrounds his collaborative efforts with non-Indigenous artists to explore the complexities of cultural exchange, Indigenous protocol, and the impacts of colonial contact. This cross-cultural engagement challenges and enriches the conversation around shared artistic practices, boundaries, and responsibilities.

The formal opening will honour Indigenous traditions through ceremony, songs, and dances, recognizing the artist and the cultural significance of the exhibition.

The exhibition runs from August 1 – November 1, 2025

"PORT HARDY, KWAKIUTL TERRITORY – The Port Hardy Museum and Visitor Centre is excited to announce the opening of The Carrot Campaign exhibit 'Do you Carrot All?’ at our Visitor Centre location (2520 Market Street). 

In honour of this year's Filomi Days theme, 'The Year of the Carrot', we have curated a quirky exhibition about the Carrot Campaign of 1976. This campaign advocated for a highway connecting Northern Vancouver Island to the rest of Vancouver Island. Promises of this road date back to the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company in the 1840s. 

Before the creation of the highway, North Island residents could only travel by ferry to the South end of the Island and Vancouver. In the 1960s, treacherous logging roads opened for public use; this was not a solution. North Island residents came together to pressure the government to stop dangling the carrot (the highway) for votes, and to finally follow through and build it. As noted at the time by Campaign organizer, Roland Shanks, “That battered, half chewed, over-mature carrot that you clutch so tenaciously in your hand is mine! I want it now!” 

Assistant Curator Brie Watson notes that "The Carrot Campaign is a strong example of how the determination and resilience of small communities can create positive political change, and can be a source of community pride." 

“The exhibit parallels the spectacle and humour of the original Carrot Campaign, and we wanted to capture that spirit,” shares Curator Robin Folvik. “Roland Shanks generously donated most of what is featured in the exhibit. His collection made it possible for us to include many of the original Carrot Campaign materials.” 

The Carrot Campaign exhibit ‘Do you Carrot All?’ was a collaborative effort of our staff. With guidance from Curator/Director Robin Folvik, contributors included Brie Watson (Assistant Curator), Miriam Xia (Curatorial Assistant), Ashley Cadwallader (Assistant Manager, Visitor Services), and Danya Gorodetsky (Volunteer). Tyler Nelson, Hyson Johnson, and Suzana Gogich provided additional support. 

The Port Hardy Museum and Visitor Centre is operated by the Port Hardy Heritage Society, a non-profit organization. For more information about latest activities, exhibits or how to support the organization, visit https://www.facebook.com/PortHardyMuseum/ 

The exhibit will be on display for the rest of the summer, and we welcome visitors and community members to view it."

His colleagues say he is a man of integrity whose authenticity and genuine interest made his connections to Stó:lō elders possible. His family says his work was guided by their ancestors, and his acquaintances defer to his understanding of their shared history.

For more than four decades, Albert “Sonny” McHalsie committed himself to learning Stó:lō history and sharing it with both the Stó:lō and Xwelítem (the hungry people, the Halq'eméylem word for white settlers). Now, he is finally retired.

Read the full article here.

Labour history in the Kootenays began in 1895 when Rossland became home to the first Canadian local of the Western Federation of Miners (WFM). Thanks to the WFM’s efforts, in 1899 the provincial government passed a law forbidding miners from working more than eight hours underground. In the West Kootenays, where 10-hour shifts were commonplace, mine owners and businessmen were outraged, and the WFM in Rossland were sharply criticized as “American agitators” and troublemakers. However, a petition signed by 3,000 district miners indicated widespread support among the workers, and several WFM union locals were established throughout the area.

Read the full article by Tressa Ford, Archives Assistant at the Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery.