The Maritime Museum of BC is on a Roll

The Maritime Museum of BC (MMBC) is busy negotiating a move to a Victoria Harbour location where it will be able to showcase its 35,000 marine-related objects and artifact collections to locals and tourists alike. The board is working with the Ministry of Transportation to obtain space in the Steam Terminal Building (the former CPR cruise building) with its classic architecture. Built in 1926, the Steamship Terminal will be the Inner Harbour location the museum has sought to occupy for decades.

The MMBC has also received a grant of $17,000 from Canadian Heritage’s Museum Assistance Program to digitize its collection of 35,000 ships’ plans and 2,000 charts and maps, the items most frequently requested by the public, researchers, historians and model builders. The grant will fund the purchase of a large-format scanner, which can also scan blueprints, artistic products and full-size newspapers. For the modest fee of $50 to $100, the scans can be emailed or printed for customers.

MMBC has received another grant of $25,000 to complete the restoration of the Dorothy, the oldest extant wooden sailboat in Canada. Built by shipbuilder John J. Robinson in 1897, she’s had 11 owners before being acquired by the MMBC. The most recent restoration of the 30-foot sloop, with its four-cornered gaff-rigged mainsail, was performed by Tony Grove on Gabriola Island. Further revamping is now taking place at Ladysmith under the leadership of wooden boat guru Robert Lawson and other craftspeople. Her relaunch will take place on May 27, when Ladysmith holds its annual maritime festival.

Finally, the museum has received a $1 million bequest from the estate of Cora Shaw. The donation will be held in the museum’s J.E. (Ted) Browne and Cora E. (Browne) Shaw Fund providing an endowment that will help operations, and the possible move and expansion plans.

Cora Shaw was a lifelong Victoria resident who died in 2022 at the age of 96. A UBC graduate, she was involved in community organizations, served as president of the University Women’s Club of Victoria and was a life member of the UVic Retirees Association. Her gift is the most substantial donation the museum has ever received.

—Marianne Scott