A Message from the Acting CEO

A MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING CEO

Dear Supporters,

In my last message to you, I wrote about the commitment of all of us at the Royal BC Museum to do better and to be more accountable to all people in British Columbia, as well as to continue the modernization of our facilities and practices. We are on a journey that will improve our offering to you and future generations, and will build on the major investment being made by the provincial government into our facilities.

We have now taken an important step forward in that process by closing the third-floor galleries to conserve the collection. This is the beginning of our journey to broaden the histories we share and to foster inclusivity, and it provides us the opportunity to modernize galleries and displays that have been in place for 50 years.

With the closure, which came into effect on January 2, the museum now has the opportunity to be inclusive of all people in modern British Columbia and ensure we are sharing the true richness of our province. All of our histories are important, and it is imperative that we represent a true diversity of the stories of the past. The new galleries will continue to include European settler history, and will broaden to bring in the histories of all communities, shared in their own voices, that have contributed to building what we today call British Columbia.

I have had many people reach out to me since the announcement regarding the third-floor closures, some to applaud the important steps that the museum is taking, others to share fond multi-generational family stories about visits to Old Town, the smells of HMS Discovery, and the sites and sounds of other galleries. It is our goal that when the new, improved and expanded galleries and exhibits open in the years to come, they will become even more treasured by families, whether they’re local or visiting.

The next steps in the process of renewing our galleries will include a comprehensive process of community engagement and outreach with individuals and groups across the province. This is imperative to developing new, inclusive, engaging, modern and immersive experiences for everyone to enjoy.

At the same time, museum staff are pleased and excited about the progress that is being made on the development of the new Collections and Research Building in Colwood. A competition for the design and construction of the building is well underway, and we will announce the successful firms in the summer of 2022.

This is an exciting time for the museum and the province, as the people who live in British Columbia work together to ensure that we are home to a museum that conveys our full histories for current and future generations.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Daniel F. Muzyka Acting Chief Executive Officer, Royal BC Museum