MEMBER LOGIN
The Museum of Vancouver is hosting the Repatriation Monologues at the MOV on March 21 and we hope you can make it!
Presented in conjunction with The Work of Repair: Redress & Repatriation at the Museum of Vancouver, this panel brings together voices reflecting on the complex, often deeply personal work of repatriation.
Moderated by Aaron LaMaskin, the conversation will focus on the Museum of Vancouver’s collaboration with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government to return over 60 ancestral belongings—the Nation’s first repatriation from the Museum, completed in 2024.
Through individual reflections and shared dialogue, the panel will explore the emotional and cultural impact of repatriation, the challenges of institutional change, and the ongoing responsibilities museums face in redressing colonial harm.
“Repatriation Monologues” invites attendees to consider what meaningful repair looks like—and how museums can support Indigenous sovereignty, cultural resurgence, and the return of stories to where they belong.
Please arrive early with your event ticket to view the exhibition.
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
Location: Museum of Vancouver
Tickets:
$24 General Admission (plus, fees and taxes)
Free for people who self-identify as Indigenous
Details and link to tickets here: Work of Repair: Repatriation Monologues Panel Discussion — MOV | Museum of Vancouver
The Bulkley Valley Museum is hosting a BC Heritage Emergency Response Network (BC HERN) emergency response and collections salvage training workshop in Smithers, April 8-9 2026. There are 9 spots still available!
This in-person intensive 2-day workshop is for keepers of cultural heritage who have little to no training in emergency response related to collections as well as for those who wish to build on existing experience and knowledge.
Instruction and practice on key salvage techniques will build the confidence needed to help in emergency situations. The workshop will include hands-on salvage of objects impacted by water and fire.
Thanks to funding from the Bulkley Valley Community Foundation the registration fee is just $45/person (lunch inclusive). Indigenous organizations are able to register free of charge, contact heidi@bchern.ca for details.
Registration information: https://bchern.ca/hands-on-workshop/
We have secured a preferred hotel rate at the Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge. Use code “BCHERN” to receive a 25% discount for accommodations if you book directly (by phone) with the hotel before March 27th, 2026. Other hotel options and community information can be found on the Tourism Smithers website: https://tourismsmithers.com/
If there are specific questions about the workshop, or if cost is a barrier please email heidi@bchern.ca.
Trade screen time for STEAM time at Britannia Mine Museum, where curiosities will be sparked and a sense of adventure brought to life through a lineup of hands-on, family-friendly discoveries and fascinating stories for explorers of all ages to enjoy.
From Saturday, March 14th to Sunday, March 29th 2026, the museum will present its Spring Break programs, featuring its “Live in the Lab: Secret Identities” interpreter-led STEAM learning sessions, along with its popular “Step Back in Time” social history programs: “Whatever Happened to Mt. Sheer” and “Before Roads and Rail”.
For the Easter long weekend from Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6, the museum will be hosting Easter themed activities where visitors can take part in a festive scavenger hunt with a unique mining twist as they explore the site in search of hidden surprises. Hop aboard the museum’s special Easter underground train tour and discover how every day felt like an Easter egg hunt for the hardworking miners of Britannia Mine. Learn about the challenges and discoveries that shaped life mining underground in an engaging, family-friendly experience. Visitors can also drop in at the Terra Lab for the “Live in the Lab: Secret Identities” interpreter-led hands-on learning sessions.
Located 45 minutes north of Vancouver on the picturesque Sea-to-Sky highway, the Britannia Mine Museum provides unique and memorable experiences that engage visitors of all ages. Visitors can enjoy fun exhibits and crowd favourites like the underground mine train, gold panning, the award-winning special effects BOOM! show inside the historic 20-storey concentrator Mill building, the minerals and gem gallery, the gift shop and the Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre.
General admission tickets and annual memberships are available online at www.britanniaminemuseum.ca.
For full programming details, visit their website.
The British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF) is excited to announce that its annual conference will be held in Vancouver on May 30, 2026 on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
As the nature of our collective work in historical and heritage-based contexts rapidly shifts and becomes increasingly challenging, we are holding dialogue on Layered Histories: Hard Conversations.
This one-day gathering will feature a keynote presentation by award-winning community historian, author, and exhibition curator Catherine Clement, along with two historical panels exploring the diverse histories of British Columbia.
Attendees can also take part in a guided bus tour of Vancouver’s historic Strathcona neighbourhood and learn about the city’s labour history with civic historian John Atkin, as well as enjoy opportunities for social networking.
The event will conclude with our annual awards dinner, where individuals working in the public history sector will be recognized and the winner of the Historical Writing Competition will be announced.
All conference activities are based at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way.
Everyone is welcome to attend! Participants are not required to have a professional affiliation or membership with BCHF to join.
Registration* is now open: bchistory.ca/conference
*Early bird discounts are available and bus tour seats are limited so we encourage you to register early.
The Spring 2026 issue of British Columbia History magazine will be arriving in your mailboxes soon! The theme if this issue is Black history, and features articles from authors and historians from around BC.
You can purchase single copies of this edition on our website, or become a member of the BC Historical Federation to receive a quarterly subscription.
Stories include:
Plus we have regular contributions from Front Words columnist Mark Forsythe and books editor Dalys Barney, and Snuneymuxw Titumels William A. White who shares teachings on the importance of counteracting the darkness of racism.
The BCHF has learned that Kenneth Welwood passed away on February 22, 2026. Ken served on the BCHF council as treasurer for several years, he will be missed.
Read his obituary in the Vancouver Sun.
The BCHF was sad to hear of the passing of Diane Rogers, on February 8, 2026 after a brief illness.
Read her full obituary below:
In addition to her immediate family, Diane also leaves behind a extended family of people who knew her through her many interests. She was a valued genealogy guest speaker at conferences and webinars around the world. She also headed, nurtured, or supported numerous groups too many to name including the British Columbia Historical Federation, Society of One Place Studies, Guild of One Name Studies, United Empire Loyalists, Women’s History Network/British Columbia, the Maple Ridge Family History Group, and Vancouver Postcard Club to name a few. Diane was also a supporter of the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, the European Festival, and the Highland Games and Scottish Festival. She was an avid reader and belonged to the BookCrossing book club.
At the British Columbia Genealogical Society (BCGS) she held positions as President (2009–2011), Director, Privacy Officer, and also led Special Interest Groups, was the BCGS newsletter and The British Columbia Genealogist editor for many years and was the Website Mistress (a term she used) for a time. She supported the BCGS travelling store known as The Boutique and often travelled around the province in support of that BCGS fund-raising arm. She helped develop the BCGS Vision and Mission statements.
Diane was an early proponent of the use of genetic genealogy (DNA testing) when that was a new field for genealogists. Today we are all very familiar with DNA’s growing ability to put families together, but it was quite unknown and viewed with some suspicion in the early days. Diane was a thinker for the future and advocated expanding genealogical studies beyond the British Isles and into more ethnic groups who also wanted to know of their heritage.
Diane is with her ancestors now. From the many people whose lives you touched—we will miss you.
The family has asked in Diane’s honour, please volunteer at your local seniors centre, donate to a literacy group or The BC Cancer Foundation or maybe just sit down in your favourite chair and pick up a book to read.
The Vancouver Public Library will be hosting an upcoming workshop in partnership with Library and Archives Canada entitled "Census - When, Who, Where" on March 4 from 12-1:30 pm online.
There are still spots available, register here!
It's that time of year! The Bright Lights award program and the Recognition Awards are looking for submissions! Do you know anyone who has completed groundbreaking, significant projects? Or who has served the sector for a long time? Nominate them today! Nominations close March 1, 2026.
Learn more and nominate here.
The BC Historical Federation was saddened to learn of the death of Gary Mitchell earlier this month.
Gary served on the council of the BC Historical Federation in a leadership capacity including as President and Honourary President. Gary was involved in setting up the Federation's Centennial Legacy Fund, a grant program to support grassroots historical projects in the province.
Here is his obituary, shared by Gary's family:
Gary died peacefully in Victoria Hospice on February 9, 2026, after a two-year ordeal with cancer, which he faced with grace and dignity.
Gary was born in Murrayville, Township of Langley, to Allan Ardiel Mitchell and Mary Teresa (née Kochmarski). He was raised on the family strawberry farm in Sperling District, Langley.
Gary attended the University of British Columbia, earning a BA (History) in 1976 and, in 1985, a Master of Archival Studies (MAS) degree from the university’s newly created archival school: the first in Canada. His post-graduate thesis, The Appraisal of Canadian Military Personnel Files of the First World War, offered a multi-national analysis of archival appraisal for military personnel case files. In his analysis, Gary examined issues that archivists still grapple with today: the strengths and weaknesses of different retention practices; the challenges of sampling; the potential of conversion to “machine readable” form, and the implications of destruction.
After receiving his MAS degree, Gary embarked on what became a lifelong career as a records and archives professional with the BC government. He served as a Senior Records Analyst from 1985 to 1988, then becoming Manager of Advisory and Training Services for the BC Archives, a position he held from 1988 to 1991. From 1991 to 1998, he was Deputy Provincial Archivist and Director of the BC Archives. In 1998 Gary became Provincial Archivist, leading the institution through many years of growth and change.
Gary initiated and led many innovations in records and archives services, including:
establishing protocols with the Office of the Speaker to allow public service support for parliamentary offices;
pioneering the application of standardized recordkeeping schedules across government;
introducing on-line search capabilities for archives;
negotiating the move of BC’s Sisters of St. Ann’s archives into the BC Archives
advocating for a common “pan-Canadian” federal, provincial, and territorial approach to the care of electronic archives.
Gary retired from government service in 2014 as Provincial Archivist and Vice-President, Archives, Collections and Research at the Royal British Columbia Museum. He was recognized for his decades of service with his appointment in 2014 as Provincial Archivist Emeritus.
As well as being a lifelong Canucks and Whitecaps fan, Gary pursued interests in Canadian history, vexillology, public administration, and heraldry. He volunteered with many heritage organizations, including the BC Historical Federation (President), the Archives Association of BC (President), Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (Director and Secretary), the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (Fellow) and the Royal BC Museum Foundation.
Gary’s commitment to the goals of heritage organizations was recognized with several awards, including the following:
Gary was actively committed to his Catholic faith and volunteered for many years at St. Patrick’s Parish and on the archives and records management committee of the Diocese of Victoria and the Sisters of St. Ann. At Mount St. Mary Hospital, he represented the Bishop and the Sisters as a member of the Marie Esther Society.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gary will be remembered for being a loyal, caring, selfless, and kind person who believed in a life of duty, integrity, and humility. He was proud of his agrarian roots in Langley, British Columbia and his Polish and Scottish ancestry. He felt deep love for his country, his province, his community, and, most of all, his friends and family.
After retirement, Gary and Irene travelled, gardened, and enjoyed many happy times with family and loved ones. His greatest joy was the arrival of Max Gary Kavan in 2020, the much-loved son of Annelies and Dan. Gary is survived by his wife, Irene; Annelies and Dan and grandson Max; his much-loved cousins Gail and Darlene; godson Matthew Isaac; and a wide circle of friends and family.
Donations in Gary’s memory are welcome to the BC Historical Federation Legacy Fund.
British Columbia Historical FederationPO Box 448, Fort Langley, BC, Canada, V1M 2R7Information: info@bchistory.ca
With gratitude, the BCHF acknowledges that it carries out its work on the traditional territories of Indigenous nations throughout British Columbia.
Follow us on Facebook.