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From the Golden Museum:
"The Golden Museum and Archives is excited to announce a major building upgrade coming in early 2025. This project focuses on the installation of a large solar array designed to bring the Golden Museum’s power usage to net zero, meaning the building will generate as much power as it uses.
Throughout 2024, the Museum has been working with A Fit Right Efficient Energy Company Inc. and GreenLight Power to create a design that will reach the goal of being net-zero. This project, funded by Columbia Basin Trusts Non-profit Smart Grant, Destination BC’s Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative Grant, and BC Hydro’s Solar Rebate Program, will create organizational and environmental sustainability.
“We are seeing more buildings and businesses take on solar projects,” Brittany Newman, Executive Director of the Golden Museum says, “I think that climate change and the visible effects it is having globally have really impacted the way people think. Solar is a great way to cut down on gas emissions and create a more sustainable community. We’ve seen what extreme weather has been doing, especially locally, so people are taking whatever steps they can to lessen their environmental impact. There is currently a lot of public and financial support out there for environmental sustainability projects, right now. I encourage people to do some research and look into it. Also, propane, gas, and electricity are not getting any cheaper, so installing a system that makes a building self-sufficient has a definite appeal.”
The Museum was built from a kit in 1970 by community volunteers. The 3300 sq. ft. building relies on electricity for heat, and costs between $6,000 - $7,000 a year to power. The Solar Array being installed on the museum will greatly reduce this cost and we estimate that the system will pay for itself within 12 years. Additionally, with the effects of climate change, including the on-going droughts, a self-generating system means that the museum is no longer reliant on hydroelectric generated power.
The unique shape of the building and its age have provided some challenges. Engineering inspections of the roof and upgrades to the building’s electrical service were required before the project could even begin. It took many months of planning and designing to ensure the optimal output of energy from the placement of panels. The building’s rounded roof ensured that a simple system wouldn’t work.
“The Museum has been a fun system to design, as [the panels] are being place on the side of a Quonset which has added a level of difficulty, but these are the types of challenges I enjoy most,” Thad Mertick, owner of A Fit Right Efficient Energy Company says. “Especially when we are able to find such a great answer, which has turned into a very efficient, clean, and advanced system.”
While the main focus of this project is to become sustainable, the museum is also a place of learning. Because of this, part of the project includes a display that will be installed in the museum gallery so that visitors can understand how the system works and monitor the energy production. This display is the first part of a future exhibit exploring power generation in Golden and Columbia Valley. The team is excited about the learning components this project offers, with Thad stating, “I love the thought of the museum and the mixture of old with the new technology. It’s really exciting.”
The 39.4KW system, worth approximately $100,000, is expected to be installed on the Museum this spring."
The Philippine Mars water bomber, a legendary aircraft that fought wildfires in B.C. for nearly 50 years, has completed its final flight.
The massive plane left its longtime base at Sproat Lake in Port Alberni, B.C., on Sunday, bidding farewell to B.C.
After a brief stop in San Francisco, the aircraft landed in Arizona's Lake Pleasant on Monday evening.
Read the full article from CBC here.
From the Sooke Region Historical Society:
"The Sooke Region Historical Society invites the community to play an active role in shaping the future of the Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre.
“As the museum approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, we’re looking for input from residents and visitors from East Sooke to Port Renfrew to reflect the needs, values, and stories of the region and create a shared vision for the future,” said Doni Eve, Society president.
Residents are invited to respond to a community-wide survey on the museum’s current offerings and provide new ideas. You can access the survey at sookeregionmuseum.ca
“Your ideas belong in a museum,” said Michelle Richard, Museum executive director. “We’re also excited to use this opportunity to reveal a new logo. We asked local designer Jen Eckert to update the best elements of the former logo, and local artist Shelley Davies added Indigenous elements.”
Jen's design is inspired by the tin roof of the museum, the lighthouse, and the tree that symbolizes the Sitka and Western Red Cedar, so important to our local history and an integral part of our natural heritage.
Shelley describes her inspiration, “I chose the Bald eagle “Qelensen” for its wisdom . Known to be highly regarded by Coast Salish as it flies high and close to Creator.
I also chose the Raven (SQTO) not because he is a trickster but because he is also known to bring back higher knowledge from the Creator. Raven has also been referred to as a storyteller which I feel represents the Museum well as they tell the story of the community.”
“Your input will help us grow with the changing needs of the region ensuring the museum remains a vibrant hub of culture, education, and connection for generations to come,” Richard said.
Since its founding in 1977, the Sooke Region Museum has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich human and natural history of the Sooke region. From exhibits and archives to community programs, the museum celebrates stories and heritage that make the region unique. Follow the museum’s Facebook and Instagram or visit www.sookeregionmuseum.ca."
The British Columbia Historical Federation is seeking a Membership Coordinator to join the board of directors to take on the volunteer position that coordinates and registers membership of the non-profit society.
The position would be ideal for someone who has a computer and an hour or so a week to answer email inquiries, undertake light data entry, process payments, and manage the membership database.
As part of the role, the Membership Coordinator serves on the board of the Federation and contributes to the decision-making process of the Society. The Membership Coordinator works as part of a team, and enjoys interacting with individual and society members from around the province.
The BCHF is an entirely volunteer-led Society that promotes the rich and diverse history of British Columbia. This mandate is delivered through the hosting an annual conference, publishing a quarterly magazine, delivering a small granting program, and recognizing excellence in public history through a number of awards and scholarships.
Interested applicants should contact Shannon to learn more: shannon@bchistory.ca.
On a chill day in early January, the sometimes-bustling interior of Agassiz’s historic train station-turned-museum is quiet and empty. The banner for a half-finished Lunar New Year display hangs on a wall between two windows. But on the second floor, museum manager Maria Martins is busy working. Around her, tucked away inside closets, cupboards, and shelves throughout the Agassiz-Harrison Museum are thousands of physical reminders of the community’s history.
Martins is ready to usher those artifacts into the digital age.
“The amount of information that has been able to be captured here over the years is incredible, but it's just not accessible to the public,” Martins told The Current during a visit to the historic train station that houses the museum and its archives. The goal is to change that.
Digitization. System alignment. Volunteer development. Those activities may not sound glamorous, but they form what Martins believes are the most important responsibilities of her position. And her work is already showing fruit.
Read the full article from the Fraser Valley Current.
Madison Bridal, Special Projects Coordinator for the BC Museums Association, has compiled a list of events happening in February for Black History Month. Information and links for the events are below:
History & Heritage Day
An Evening of History, Culture and Fashion
Mentor Tea – BC Black History Awareness Society
Ross Bay Cemetery Guided Tour – BC Black History Awareness Society
Music and Words – BC Black History Awareness Society
Black in BC: Celebrating Black Excellence 2025
BC Black History: Resilience Amid Racism
Online Speaker Series: Building a Future - Adult
(Hosted by the Museum of Surrey)
Black History Movie: Legacy of Resilience: A Black Pioneer Story
Black History Month Celebration
Black History Month | Vancouver International Film Festival
Atlanthos: Youth-Driven Innovation Through Afrofuturistic Storytelling
Sounds & Pressure : Reggae in a Foreign Land Series -
Black History Month Family Day
From the Museum of Surrey:
"Many Canadians take pride in the history of the Underground Railroad. They celebrate that Canada, specifically what is now Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes, was the destination for freedom‐seeking enslaved Africans fleeing slavery in America. But Canada also has its own untold, dark history of slavery.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade spanned 400 years with more than 12 million African people held in bondage. In Canada, the system of racial chattel slavery was introduced by the French in the 17th century. The term “chattel slavery” relates to the fact that enslaved people are treated as commodities or resources to be traded and/or sold. This chattel slavery was a dehumanizing and violent system of abuse and subjugation. Importantly, Europeans viewed slavery in racist terms. Indigenous and African peoples were seen as less than human. White supremacy justified the violence of slavery for hundreds of years.
Canada’s economy and infrastructure was built using chattel slavery; and the fruits of this unpaid, brutal labour are still enjoyed across the nation today. Reparations is a term which signifies righting a wrong and undoing harms of the past. While this is an expansive effort in the U.S., Canada falls far behind. In this conversation we are asking: Why isn’t making reparations a wide-spread effort in Canada? What reparations, if any, are being made in Canada to Black communities? How would reparations support Black communities? Could these reparations build equity and bolster the economy as a whole? Start the conversation with Dominique Jacobs regarding Reparations in Canada.
When: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – 12:00-1:00pm Where: Online via Microsoft Teams Cost: Free How to Register: Call/Email the Museum of Surrey: 604-592-6956 or museum@surrey.ca
More About our Speaker: Dominique Jacobs
Dominique Jacobs (she/her) was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Her family fled persecution from the apartheid regime to migrate to Canada in the 80s. She holds a degree in Professional Communications and has over 20 years of vast experience as a Communications Professional, having worked in both Canada and South Africa.
Dominique contributes to community non-profits, particularly expanding engagement by developing a strong brand voice and identity. Through her Communications consulting business, she supports organizations interested in social and climate justice, anti-racism and anti-oppression practices.
In collaboration with AACCCS (African Arts and Culture Community Contributor Society), Dominique facilitated anti-racism engagement sessions for BC Black communities. The report she wrote for the Ministry of the Attorney General, based on the sessions, was used to build BC’s new Anti-Racism legislation. At present, she is leading the communications strategy for the Black in BC Leadership Summit through AACCCS and is building an environmental steering committee for bioregional cooperation in the Westshore communities."
From the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre:
"In our 25th anniversary year, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) celebrates the vibrant and diverse artistic expressions of Japanese Canadians with the "Umami: Savouring Artistic Nikkei Identity" exhibition from February through September in the Karasawa Gallery.
Just as “Umami” represents the complex layers of flavour in cuisine, this exhibition delves into the depth and richness of Nikkei artistic identity. Featuring a diverse range of artists, from emerging to established, including Japanese Canadian Legacies Art fund awardees. From traditional to contemporary art practice, the Umami exhibition shares the rich essence of our Japanese Canadian creative community.
Anchoring the exhibition is the interactive and thought-provoking Kintsugi installation by Annie Sumi and Brian Kobayakawa. This contemporary multimedia piece, inspired by the traditional Japanese art of mending ceramics with gold, conceptually mends broken and shattered experiences of what it means to be Canadian of Japanese ancestry. It utilizes a Singer sewing machine that survived the era of Japanese Canadian internment and dispossession. By manually manipulating the machine, visitors can activate original music and spoken word, creating a unique and moving experience.
Part 1 of the Umami exhibition also showcases the work of Todd Inouye, Ken Mizokoshi, and Wendy Tanaka, each offering unique perspectives on the Japanese Canadian experience through their distinct artistic styles. Inouye's work focuses on materiality and healing. Mizokoshi takes an archival approach to photography. Tanaka combines portraiture of both family members and treasured objects. Inouye, Mizokoshi, and Tanaka will be in attendance at the Exhibit Opening + Artists’ Conversations on February 13.
Experience the Umami exhibition and explore the rich tapestry of Nikkei artistic expression. Visit the NNMCC from February to September 2025.
Part 1: Feb 8 – May 17, 2025
Todd Inouye
Brian Kobayakawa & Annie Sumi
Ken Mizokoshi
Wendy Tanaka
Part 2: May 27 – Sept 27, 2025
Molly JF Caldwell
Yoshiko Hirano
Marlene Howell, Bryan Kobayakawa & Annie Sumi
Vivien Nishi
Reiko Pleau
Supported by the Province of British Columbia and the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society."
The Vancouver Art Gallery invites visitors to delve into the mystical landscapes of British Columbia through Emily Carr: Navigating an Impenetrable Landscape, a year-long exhibition celebrating one of Canada’s most renowned artists. Running from January 25, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the exhibition presents over 20 of Carr’s renowned forest paintings, offering an exploration of the spiritual and physical interplay within BC’s rainforests.
Carr’s work, deeply rooted in her reverence for nature and influenced by European Modernism, transformed how British Columbians see their environment. Known for their vivid depictions of the dense coastal rainforests, Carr’s paintings often capture the beauty and mystery of our natural spaces, simultaneously inviting viewers into their depths and keeping them at bay.
Read the full article here.
Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Society will take over operations of Fort Steele Heritage Town on April 1.
The organization has a six-year contract and will assume management of the heritage attraction from the Friends of Fort Steele Society, which has been operating it since 2004.
Read more in the Cranbrook Townsman.
British Columbia Historical FederationPO Box 448, Fort Langley, BC, Canada, V1M 2R7Information: info@bchistory.ca
The Secretariat of the BCHF is located on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish speaking Peoples.
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