Royal BC Museum 2019 Fall Program Guide

ROYAL BC MUSEUM

PROGRAM GUIDE 2019 FALL/WINTER

FAMILY PROGRAMS ADULT PROGRAMS ALL AGES LECTURES GALLERY PROGRAMS EXHIBITIONS SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACCESSIBILITY PUBLICATIONS CONTACT US

FAMILY PROGRAMS WONDER SUNDAY

Fake Out

Included with admission or membership

October 13, 20, 27 I 1:00–3:00 pm

Bring the whole family and join us every Sunday for exploration, excitement and family fun.

Animals can be quite tricky as they strive to survive. Learn all about what they do and how they do it.

Maya 2.0

Playful explorations continue within the Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibition.

November 3, 10, 17, 24 1:00–3:00 pm

Chill Out

We don’t get much snow here in Victoria, but we can learn to relax and embrace the cold.

December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 1:00–3:00 pm

A Sleepy World

Don’t wake up the bear! Hibernation is important, and we’ll learn all about it.

January 5, 12, 19, 26 I 1:00–3:00 pm

Animals in Love

Find out about all of the surprisingly different ways that animals interact with each other.

February 2, 9, 16, 23 I 1:00–3:00 pm

People on the Go

Planes, trains and automobiles, oh my!

We look at the history and future of travel.

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 I 1:00–3:00 pm LEARN MORE

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FAMILY PROGRAMS Night at the Museum: Maya Family Sleepover

Inspired by the Maya exhibition, we’ll travel to the heart of the Meso-American rainforest—the birthplace of Maya culture.

Set up camp in the galleries, investigate archaeological mysteries, take part in hands-on activities, watch a late-night movie and more!

October 19 I 6:30 pm –9:00 am $80 per person GET TICKETS

BIG PLAY SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOP SERIES NEW Ya Little Animal

A new Saturday morning workshop series for early and young learners! Dive into the world of small (and often adorable) animals and explore our connections to them through hands-on activities in the galleries. Join us each week for a new adventure.

November 16, 23, 30 I 9:00–9:45 am $25 per session or $60 per series, per person Ages 3–5 GET TICKETS November 16, 23, 30 I 10:00–11:00 am $25 per session or $60 per series, per person Ages 6–8 GET TICKETS

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MEMBERS ONLY PROGRAMS Hello Exhibition!

NEW

Parents and care-providers: Have you ever wanted to have a tour just for you, so you can learn more about the galleries and share your learning with your little ones? This program for members gives you the chance. While you take a tour led by a Learning staff member, themed childminding will be provided for your kids. You get time up in the galleries to learn, kids are given a chance to play, and you all have lots to talk about on the way home.

$15 per family Childminding designed for kids 3–10 Registration required Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises October 15 I 10:00–11:00 am

MEMBERS GET ALL THE PERKS!

Get unlimited admission to our core galleries and feature exhibitions including Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises until December 31, 2019

Natural History gallery November 21 I 10:00–11:00 am

Wildlife Photographer of the Year February 14–March 29, 2020

Becoming BC gallery January 15 I 10:00–11:00 am

Orcas: Our Shared Future May 15–December 31, 2020

Wildlife Photographer of the Year February 24 I 10:00 am–11:00 am

And so much more!

First Peoples gallery March 20 I 10:00 am–11:00 am

JOIN TODAY

LEARN MORE

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CAMPS SPRING BREAK CAMPS Focus on Nature

Aspiring shutterbugs will develop their skills in photo composition and storytelling through hands-on experience. Campers will explore the Natural History collection and venture to Beacon Hill Park to capture dynamic nature shots as well as the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

March 16–20 and 23–27 9:00 am –4:00 pm $280 per person I Ages 7–11

Before- and after-camp care available

Mini Focus on Nature

While the older campers adventure into nature, the mini-campers will get a bit messy. We’ll discover strange and fascinating elements of the natural world and explore them creatively with paint and clay. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will be the starting point for this playful camp.

March 18–22 and 25–29 9:00 am –12:00 pm $140 per person I Ages 4–6 Before-camp care available

REGISTER TODAY

ARE YOU PART OF THE CLUB?

Become a Kids’ Club member today and receive • Your own membership card (ages six and up) • Unlimited admission to the core galleries

and feature exhibitions • Club Card to collect stamps and

earn cool prizes • Kids’ Club e-newsletter subscription • 10% discount on events and programs, including camps

JOIN TODAY *See website for details

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ADULT PROGRAMS

Parallel Play Childminding NEW

For select adult-focused events this year, we will be providing childminding as a support for families. The childminding will be hosted in the Royal BC Museum’s Learning Centre, and the activities will be related in an age-appropriate way to the theme of the adult event.

$15 per child Registration required Designed for kids 3–10 LEARN MORE

Making as Medicine: Indigenous Symposium

The third annual Indigenous symposium is a two-day workshop that includes four handson sessions facilitated by Indigenous artists, focused on tanning hides, traditional beadwork, Coast Salish knitting and cedar weaving, as well as a panel discussion with Indigenous artistentrepreneurs, who will share their experiences with the economy, cultural appropriation and establishing their careers along alternative pathways.

In partnership with the City of Victoria and the Indigenous Artist Entrepreneur Program

November 2 and 3 9:00 am –4:30 pm $35 per person GET TICKETS

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ADULT PROGRAMS MUSEUM CRASH COURSE NEW

Join us for exclusive access to experts, collections and objects designed to give you a hands-on experience and a deeper understanding.

Victorian Costume Design

In this crash course we dive deep into Victorian fashion with an expert costume designer.

Venture behind the scenes to see the highlights from our collection first-hand and create your own design inspired by your time at the museum.

Photography Camp for Adults

Unleash your inner wildlife photographer at our day-long workshop. You will learn how to take better photographs under the guidance of the museum’s own photographer and a professional wildlife photographer, both in the classroom and in the field. Suitable for beginners to advanced intermediates.

Check back for more details

October 5, 12, 19 I 1:00–5:00 pm $250 per person for the series

Cultural Connections

Immerse yourself in Indigenous ways of knowing with Indigenous cultural liaison Leslie McGarry as your guide. Leslie will take you through an introduction to the diversity of cultures, preand post-contact history and a look at where Indigenous people are today. Includes a visit to our Indigenous collections.

March 14, 21, 28 I 9:00 am –12:00 pm $180 per person for the series GET TICKETS

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ADULT PROGRAMS IT’S COMPLICATED: A DISCUSSION SERIES

This participatory discussion series tackles perspectives and definitions, upending assumptions to help us better understand ourselves and our community.

Free Parallel Play childminding available for most dates

Science and Belief

Is religion incompatible with science? How can we find a balance between faith and science, and should we even try?

September 25 I 5:15–7:00 pm

Death

Traditions and ceremonies around death continue to evolve. How have they changed, what is new and where do we go from here?

November 20 I 5:15–7:00 pm

Changing the World through Photography

How have photographs helped to shape public opinion, and when has misrepresentation muddied the waters of progress toward social justice?

January 22 I 5:15–7:00 pm

Trans Visibility

The International Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31. Celebrate transgender people and their courage and help raise awareness around the discrimination trans people still face.

March 25 I 5:15–7:00 pm

NIGHT SHIFT Halloween

We are thrilled to announce the return of Victoria’s most anticipated Halloween party, Night Shift. Experience an evening filled with incredible costumes, live music, DJs, special performances, photo-ops and so much more!

Get decked out and invite your friends for a party like no other.

October 26 I 8:00 pm –12:00 am $40* per person I 19+ Two pieces of ID required for entry *Plus applicable taxes and service fees

Vintage Valentine’s

This year we celebrate love, lust and everything in between at this vintage-inspired Valentine’s Day. Bring someone special and come dressed to impress.

February 14 I 8:00 pm –12:00 am $40 per person I 19+ Two pieces of ID required for entry

Pride

Show your colours and celebrate at our newest Night Shift event supporting Pride Week. Learn the history of pride, enjoy a drink with your friends and dance the night away.

July 4 I 8:00 pm –12:00 am $40 per person I 19+

Two pieces of ID required for entry

LEARN MORE

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ADULT PROGRAMS MUSEUM HAPPY HOUR NOW EVERY MONTH

Join us on the second Thursday of the month for themed events and activities for adults. Drinks and light fare are available for purchase. Events are limited to designated galleries and are not museum-wide.

$10 per person I 19+

Two pieces of ID required for entry Parallel Play childminding available for most dates

Home Brewed

Explore the history of brewing in BC along with members from the Campaign for Real Ale Victoria.

September 12 I 5:30–7:00 pm Old Town, Becoming BC gallery

Fake Out!

Don’t let Mother Nature pull a fast one. Find out about nature’s fakes.

October 10 I 5:30–7:00 pm Natural History gallery

Mindfulness

Re-centre yourself in preparation for the New Year.

January 9 I 5:30–7:00 pm Natural History gallery

History Ignite

Teachers, educators and history buffs will enjoy short and provocative Ignite presentations.

February 13 I 5:30–7:00 pm Off-site Parallel Play is not available

Strike a Pose

A photography-themed party in honour of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

March 12 I 5:30–7:00 pm Natural History gallery GET TICKETS

On the Home Front

Get into the swing of life on the home front with all of its rations, precautions and style.

November 14 I 5:30–7:00 pm Old Town, Becoming BC gallery

A Festive Non-Holiday Party Get together with friends without a Christmas tree in sight.

December 12 I 5:30–7:00 pm Natural History gallery

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ADULT PROGRAMS Fake Ghost Tours

Join amateur ghost hunters/identical twin brothers Abdul and Shawn for a 100 per cent accurate history of the Royal BC Museum. What mysteries await in Century Hall? What spirits prowl the shadows of Old Town? What secrets haunt the bathroom by the escalators? This tour will reveal all.

October 9, 10, 11 and 12 6:00, 7:30 and 9:00 pm $20 per person GET TICKETS

Curious Collections: A OnSite Program For Seniors

Discuss, share and learn using objects from the Royal BC Museum’s education collection during a private, facilitated one-hour hands-on session.

This program is for groups and should be booked with at least two weeks’ advance notice.

Distance Learning: Adult Programs

All you need is a computer with a camera, or high-speed internet connection, a screen and sound, and we can deliver an interactive, virtual learning experience to you. We can adapt any of our Digital Field Trips for your audience, or— dependent on staff availability—offer focused Q&A sessions with an archivist, scientist or historian. Suitable for seniors’ centres, libraries and other community groups.

$120 program $75 tour LEARN MORE Contact Liz Crocker, learning program developer, for more information

$10 per participant Maximum 10 per group

No charge for accompanying caregivers

BOOK NOW

Team-Building Workshop

Bring your team to the museum for a three-hour team-building workshop. Your group will go behind the scenes then up to a gallery before working in small groups to create your own mini-displays. This workshop will challenge your creativity, communication and team spirit.

$1,000 per group Maximum 20 participants BOOK NOW

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ALL AGES FIELDTRIPPERS

Join us for themed outdoor field trips led by museum staff and community collaborators.

Wear suitable footwear and be prepared for rain. No dogs, please.

By donation Suggested $5 per person

Life on Marine Debris

Explore the shoreline with natural history curators Dr. Henry Choong and Dr. Joel Gibson.

See how natural and human-made marine debris interacts with life in the marine and coastal environment. Optional: bring gloves and a garbage bag to help clean up the beach as we walk.

September 8 I 11:00 am –12:30 pm All ages Island View Beach Regional Park

Meet at the grassy area adjacent to the picnic shelter, by the parking lot off Homathko Drive

Walking Victoria’s Great War

Join Royal BC Museum Human History collections manager Paul Ferguson on a three-kilometre traipse about Victoria to discover this city’s connection to World War I.

November 9 I 11:00 am –12:30 pm Ages 12+ Royal BC Museum

Hidden History of Esquimalt Teahouse

Join Dr. Yasmin Railton of the Landscapes of Injustice project, Tsugio Kurushima from the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society and Paul Ferguson, Royal BC Museums Human History Collections Manager, as we walk and talk about Japanese Canadians in BC before and after the Pearl Harbor bombing and the effects of dispossession and internment on thousands of Canadians.

January 18 I 11:00 am –12:30 pm Ages 10 + Esquimalt Gorge Park Meet at the Tillicum Road entrance of the parking lot

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Lest We Forget: Remembrance Commemorations

Join us for performance-based presentations by musicians, singers and storytellers.

November 11 I 12:00–3:00 pm Included with admission or membership LEARN MORE

Meet near the bottom of the carillon, at the northwest corner of the museum grounds

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ALL AGES 13th Annual Carol-Along With the Carillon

Gather under the Netherlands Centennial Carillon with your fellow singers, family, friends and pooches for a one-of-a-kind carolling party.

Provincial Carillonneur Rosemary Laing will accompany the choir, and hot chocolate and cookies will be served to make the season bright. At the end of the 45-minute set, the carillon will be lit up for the holidays.

December 1 I 4:30–5:15 pm Free LEARN MORE

Father Christmas in Old Town

Visit with Father Christmas in Old Town, have your photo taken and share your holiday wishes.

December 6–8, 13–15, 20–22 11:00 am –3:00 pm Included with admission or membership Photos by donation: $5 suggested

Christmas in Old Town

Take in the sights and sounds of Christmas long ago. Visit the wood-cobbled streets lined with festive garlands and see the shops decked in seasonal finery.

November 15–January 9 10:00 am –5:00 pm Included with admission or membership LEARN MORE

Helmcken House Old-Fashioned Christmas

Step through the doors of the oldest house in BC still on its original site and experience what Christmas was like in Victoria more than 100 years ago. Decorations, music and first-hand accounts will take you back to Christmas past.

St. Ann’s Schoolhouse will also be open.

December 17–31 I 12:00–4:00 pm Included with admission or by donation LEARN MORE

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ALL AGES Early Shift: Reign in the New Year

On the last day of 2019, join us in the rainforest of the Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibition for a jungle party for the ages. Our annual family-oriented party will be a tropical frolic, with music, activities and games. We will be reigning in 2019 and ringing in 2020.

December 31 I 6:00–8:30 pm $24 per adult, $16 per youth, kids five and under are free GET TICKETS

Letter-Writing Week

THE SCIENCE OF GROWING OLDER IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM This five-part film series takes a neverbefore-seen look at the golden years in the animal kingdom, against the extraordinary backdrop of some of the world’s most magnificent wilderness areas.

Produced and directed by Ari A. Cohen and presented by the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada, in partnership with Rotating Planet Productions.

$5 per film, $20 for the series, per person

The New Year is a great time to make a resolution to slow down. What better way to do so than to put away your smartphone, sit down at our letter-writing booth and write a letter?

We provide the paper, the pens, the envelopes and even the stamps.

Episode 1: Longevity January 25 I 2:00 pm

January 2–11 I 11:00 am –2:00 pm Included with admission or membership

Episode 3: Power and Dominance February 1 I 2:00 pm

LEARN MORE

Episode 2: Reproduction January 28 I 7:00 pm

Episode 4: Wisdom February 4 I 7:00 pm Episode 5: Death February 8 I 2:00 pm GET TICKETS

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LECTURES Book Launch

ONCE WELL BELOVED: Remembering a BC Great War Sacrifice Join author Michael Sasges, retired journalist and former director of the Nicola Valley Museum, as he tells us of 12 men from the Nicola Valley who died soldiering in the First World War. Through them, we will meet the men, women and children of this distinctly British Columbian community.

November 7 I 7:00–8:30 pm Free

The book will be available for purchase at this event

LEARN MORE

Distinguished Lecture

An Isolated Stop on the Road of Power: La Corona, the Snake Kings and Altar 5 In 2018, Dr. Marcello Canuto, director of the Middle American Research Institute at Tulane University and co-director of the La Corona Regional Archaeological Project, led a team of archaeologists to new discoveries at the Maya site of La Corona, located in Petén, Guatemala.

A nearly 1,500-year-old carved altar, the oldest found to date at the site, presents new evidence for how a powerful kingdom known as the Kaanul dynasty began. See this significant monument currently on display in the Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibition.

November 27 I 7:00–10:00 pm $15 per person member price $40 per person non-member price

LIVE @ LUNCH

Join us on the first Wednesday (usually) of the month to find out what’s happening at the museum and archives.

By donation Suggested $5 per person

Maya Agriculture: Resilience and Contemporary Challenges

Lorenzo Magzul, a Maya from Guatamala, will address sustainable Maya agricultural practices from thousands of years ago and how they continue to thrive in the highlands of Guatemala.

Contemporary challenges like globalization and climate change are testing the resiliency of these practices.

September 4 I 12:00–1:00 pm

Speak for Wolf

Gary Allan, his wolf, Tundra, and Nuu-chah-nulth elder Randy Fred will explore what wolves can teach us about ourselves, one another and reconciliation.

Special date: September 18 12:00–1:00 pm

BC’s Mountain Dinosaurs

Dr. Victoria Arbour, curator of palaeontology, will speak about her recent research on new dinosaur discoveries in northern BC.

October 2 I 12:00–1:00 pm

Includes access to the Maya exhibition

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LECTURES Boeing on the BC Home Front Breaching the Peace Paul Ferguson, human history collection manager, will present the story of Boeing in BC, their vital World War II effort and their impacts on the community of Chilliwack during their time in the Fraser Valley.

Join award-winning journalist Sarah Cox for a powerful work of advocacy journalism revealing the costs of the Site C Dam project from the perspective of those trying to protect their land and their way of life.

November 6 I 12:00â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1:00 pm

December 4 I 12:00â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1:00 pm

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LECTURES Forests Without Trees: Hydroids and Their Role

Orcas

Special date: January 15 12:00–1:00 pm

April 1 I 12:00–1:00 pm

Indigenous Languages

Archivist Genevieve Weber will discuss a new addition to the BC Archives.

Dr. Henry Choong, curator of invertebrates, will provide an introduction to hydroids and their ecology and present highlights of hydrozoan research.

February 20 is International Mother Languages Day. Lucy Bell, head of Indigenous Collections and Repatriation, will speak about Indigenous language initiatives in British Columbia.

February 5 I 12:00–1:00 pm

Discover the stories and specimens that will be featured in the museum’s upcoming exhibition, presented by head of Learning Janet MacDonald, head of Exhibitions Michael Barnes, and Dr. Gavin Hanke, curator of vertebrates.

Oblates

May 6 I 12:00–1:00 pm LEARN MORE

Women’s History Month

Join invertebrates collection manager Heidi Gartner, curator of history Dr. Tzu-I Chung, and repatriation specialist Lou-Ann Neel to hear stories about amazing women collectors and creators in British Columbia.

March 4 I 12:00–1:00 pm

Royal Museum Shop Your purchases support the Royal BC Museum Royal BC Museum members and IMAX season pass holders receive 10% off all purchases with membership card or online coupon code: member SHOP NOW

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LECTURES

FRIENDS OF THE BC Behind the Scenes at the ARCHIVES LECTURE SERIES Provincial Archives: The Join us on the third Sunday of every month for Women Who Did the Work lectures connected to the BC Archives and the history of the province.

Free for Friends of the BC Archives members, $5 per person for non-members, payable in cash at the door

Against the Current: The Remarkable Life of Agnes Deans Cameron

Guest Speaker: Cathy Converse Agnes Deans Cameron (1863–1912) was one of the 150 most significant individuals in the history of BC, according to the Vancouver Sun. Join guest speaker Cathy Converse as she shares some of the funny incidents, discoveries and challenges she faced during her research.

September 15 I 2:00–3:00 pm

Guest Speaker: Dr. Patricia Roy The names of the men who were provincial archivists and librarians—the roles were usually combined—are well known. Yet women such as Alma Russell, Madge Wolfenden, Marjorie Holmes and Muriel Cree all had long careers in the institution. Join Dr. Patricia Roy, professor emeritus of history at the University of Victoria to hear their stories.

October 20 I 2:00–3:00 pm LEARN MORE

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GALLERY PROGRAMS Hands-on in the Galleries

Check out our ongoing activities and the “closer look” stations located throughout our galleries, hosted by our knowledgeable volunteers.

Included with admission or membership

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Experience the working environments of our talented researchers and staff. Tours are limited to 10 people. Destination Canada has identified these amazing tours as a Canadian Signature Experience.

Included with admission or membership LEARN MORE

Gallery Tours

Join us for engaging volunteer-led tours through our permanent galleries and learn about the fascinating natural history and human history of BC.

Included with admission or memebership

STAFF-LED TOURS

If you want to explore even further, book a special staff-led tour of the galleries.

$80 per group of 10 $10 per person for additional guests

Home Is Where the Heart Is Explore histories of immigrant communities in BC and their immense contributions to the development of the province and nation. Uncover complicated narratives of settlement, intercultural communication and historical wrongdoings represented (or not) in the museum’s galleries.

We’re All in This Together

BC is home to an incredible abundance of plants and animals, but why do we have a wider variety here than in other parts of Canada? Embracing both scientific and cultural perspectives, we explore the reasons why and how our quickly changing planet will continue to impact that diversity.

LEARN MORE

LEARN MORE

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FEATURE EXHIBITIONS Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises

Discover a powerful culture that rose in the tropical rainforests of Central America thousands of years ago. Explore Maya identity from ancient times to the present day and see how science and belief have shaped the Maya world.

Celebrating UNESCO’s Year of Indigenous Languages, the exhibition will highlight 30 Maya languages spoken today.

Experience the resilience and genius of Maya art and culture at this remarkable exhibition, presented in North America for the first time.

Works—some never before shown outside Guatemala—include elaborate incense burners, striking jade-and-gold jewellery, and an astonishing three-metre-long sculpture of a man with jaguar attributes.

GET TICKETS

EXHIBITION ON UNTIL DEC 31, 2019 < GO BACK TO INDEX

FEATURE EXHIBITIONS Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in BC In 2019, UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages, we invite you to learn more about the state of Indigenous languages in BC in this groundbreaking interactive exhibition.

Language is a powerful, potent marker of identity and culture. Think about the emotional resonance of the term “mother tongue”—the languages we grow up with are our kin, nourishment and birthright. BC is one of the planet’s most linguistically diverse regions. From a global perspective, it’s known as a linguistic hotspot because of the diversity and vitality of the First Nations languages in BC, 34 of which are showcased in this exhibition.

Through interactive stations, original First Nations artwork, video, audio and live engagement, Our Living Languages provides visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the history of disrupted languages in BC, the complexity of these languages, and the people–and entire communities – who are working tirelessly to document and revitalize them.

GET TICKETS

In partnership with

Sponsored by

EXHIBITION ON NOW < GO BACK TO INDEX

FEATURE EXHIBITIONS Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Experience the wonders of nature through the lenses of awardwinning photographers from around the world. Now in its 55th year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition showcases a global selection of outstanding nature photography. Each photo is presented in a huge backlit display with a caption exploring the image’s compelling story. Travelling from London’s Natural History Museum, this exhibition takes viewers on a visual journey around the world, bringing the talent and vision of each photographer closer to all who visit. The images evoke a wide range of emotions but are always visually stunning and thought-provoking. A family favourite.

GET TICKETS

EXHIBITION OPEN FEB 14–MAR 29, 2020 < GO BACK TO INDEX

FEATURE EXHIBITIONS Orcas: Our Shared Future

Dive deep into the stories and science that surround the magnificent orca, spirit of BC’s wild coast and apex predator of all oceans. Follow the currents of ecological activism, popular culture and Indigenous thought to gain a new appreciation of these sophisticated animals, long feared in Western cultures as “killer whales.” Discover the complex social structure of orca society and reflect on the surprising consequences of captivity.

Learn which orca populations are thriving and which are at risk, and surface with a new understanding of how orcas and humans are inextricably connected: we are all a part of nature, not apart from nature.

GET TICKETS

EXHIBITION OPEN MAY 15–DEC 31, 2020 < GO BACK TO INDEX

ONLINE EXHIBITIONS Research Portal

Did you know that our researchers are involved in dozens of ongoing research projects, often with colleagues from around the world? Research is key to our mission at the Royal BC Museum. We produce original research grounded in our extensive collection of more than 7,000,000 specimens, artifacts and cultural objects. The online research portal showcases featured articles, publications and projects by museum staff.

SEARCH NOW

Learning Portal

Discover BC through the lens of the museum and archives’ extensive collections, research, staff and partners. The Learning Portal is a dynamic and intuitive online resource designed to engage learners of all ages. Featuring spectacular audio and video, captivating images and compelling articles, the Learning Portal encourages imagination, engagement and curiosity.

Staff Profiles

Ever wonder who’s working behind the scenes at the Royal BC Museum? The Staff Profiles website will introduce you to the faces behind different roles. Featuring staff bios and research highlights, our profiles showcase the hard work, dedication and accomplishments of our amazing team.

READ NOW

BC Archives

Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or a student researching your first project, the Royal BC Museum’s archives have the resources and staff to point you in the right direction. Visit our online collections to access more than 135,000 digital objects including maps, photographs and paintings, and order reproductions from the archival collections for personal or research use.

EXPLORE NOW

FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY

Blog

One of the newest features on our website is the Royal BC Museum blog, a virtual cabinet of curiosities highlighting our collections, archives, activities and people. Our blog is updated frequently with the latest museum events, news, guest experiences and more.

Check in regularly to see what’s happening here at the museum and in our community!

READ NOW

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SCHOOL PROGRAMS Indigenous Governance and Parliamentary Democracy

The Royal BC Museum and the Parliamentary Education Office at the Legislative Assembly of BC have partnered over the last few years with a successful school program called Governance and Beyond. This program gives space to explore both the Royal BC Museum and the BC Legislature while developing a better understanding of Indigenous governance and parliamentary democracy. This day will explore the big ideas of the program and some methods of application in the classroom.

November 19 I 8:30 am –2:00 pm $75 per person

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR EDUCATORS Arts and Culture Beyond the Classroom

The Greater Victoria Public Library, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Maritime Museum of BC and the Royal BC Museum are pleased to offer a free day of professional development. Each institution will have experts on hand to provide educators with practical tools and ideas they can use in the classroom or in the community.

Historical Thinking Winter Institute

The Royal BC Museum, the Historical Thinking Project, and Canada’s History are collaborating on the second annual Historical Thinking Winter Institute. This two-day opportunity will involve workshops, learning activities and small group discussions to enrich your teaching practice.

February 14 I 10:00 am –4:30 pm February 15 I 9:00 am –3:30 pm $175 per person for both days LEARN MORE

October 25 I 9:00 am –3:00 pm Free I Registration required

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SCHOOL PROGRAMS LEARNING LABS

Learning Labs are inquiry-based and staff-led, investigating big ideas with the galleries as a backdrop.

$99 per class

Governance and Beyond

Explore the different methods of governance, beginning with Indigenous ways of knowing and being. This lab starts at the Royal BC Museum and finishes at the Legislative Assembly of BC. In partnership with the Parliamentary Education Office.

Fridays, October through March 10:00 am –2:30 pm Designed for grades 3–7

From the Beginning: Origin Stories and Indigenous Culture

Through art and belongings, students will explore stories of connection to the earth, interconnection through families and clans and the role of oral and visual storytelling and teachings.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades 4–12

Gold Rush: Photography and Memory

In this lab we will look at how we read photographs and how that process can help us better understand history. We will incorporate historical thinking concepts such as Change and Continuity and Historical Perspectives. It will be presented primarily in the gold rush displays of the Becoming BC gallery.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30pm Designed for grades 3–7

The Numbers of Nature Fill your tank with some of Victoria’s tastiest grub at the Royal BC Museum’s back courtyard. Enjoy an amazing selection of food trucks, then stay and enjoy our welcoming eating area.

Truck on over soon!

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“Change is the only constant in BC’s natural history,” Our Natural History gallery clearly illustrates the concept. In this lab we establish connections between mathematics and science.

Students will learn about mass extinctions, climate change and biodiversity, and are reminded that life in BC and on the planet has been shaped and changed by processes in constant motion.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades 2–7

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SCHOOL PROGRAMS Predator Versus Prey: The Case of the Cougar

This introduction to predators and prey of BC has a special focus on the relationship between cougars and humans. Students will discover what makes a successful hunter, how animals protect themselves from predation and how humans complicate food webs and predatorprey relationships.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades 2–7

Exploring BC Through the Past, Present and Future

This lab focuses on the curricular competencies of continuity and change, as well as historical evidence. We will examine and handle BC artifacts, explore the museum and think about what these artifacts might be like in the future.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades K–3

Simple Machines

Through an introduction to simple machines found within the gallery, students will be able to identify the six basic simple machines and explain their uses. Students will also be able to make connections between what they have seen in the gallery and what can be found in their own classrooms and homes.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades 3–6

Reading an Object

In this lab students explore the meaning and purpose behind museums. Old Town (in the Becoming BC gallery) will provide a window into the past. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and think critically about the importance of heritage and the role of preservation in nurturing an understanding of the past.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades K–12

Ethics: Dialogue and Debate How do you tell right from wrong? In this lab, we engage in ethical dialogue, using the museum’s core galleries to understand how we can make ethical decisions in our everyday lives. Focusing on understanding ethics through discussion and debate, we address topics like Truth and Reconciliation, pipelines, environmental stewardship, and representation in museums and beyond.

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm Designed for grades 4–12

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SCHOOL PROGRAMS The Ceremonies and Science of Seasons

Let’s Talk

October through April 10:00 am –12:00 pm and 12:30–2:30 pm

October to May

This lab explores the social studies and science of the seasons with a focus on Indigenous perspectives. How did Indigenous People view the 13 phases of the moon in a lunar cycle? When is it safe to harvest the bark of a cedar tree?

Why do frogs signify the arrival of spring? These questions and many more will be addressed.

Designed for grades K–3

This learning lab is up to you. Give us a sense of what you want, and we’ll work with you to create something that fits your class’s needs.

If your class is visiting from outside Greater Victoria, we can provide an introduction to the museum and behind-the-scenes access, while leaving plenty of time for open exploration of the museum.

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SCHOOL PROGRAMS HOME LEARNERS SERIES Archaeology of Rainforests

In this fall home learners block, we will explore the many difficulties encountered by archaeologists studying Maya ruins in the damp and densely forested environment of the rainforest. Home learners will have the opportunity to discover topics such as underwater archaeology and conservation, and to continuously test their knowledge through experimental archaeology.

November 18, 25; December 2, 9 10:00 am –12:00 pm $75 per participant for four sessions

What a Disaster!

With 660 million years of shifting earth and changing climate, BC has a long and rocky history, full of natural disasters. Through exploration and experimentation, this spring home learner’s series will investigate historical and contemporary natural disasters, as well as the earth mechanics behind them.

February 17, 24; March 2, 9 10:00 am –12:00 pm $75 per participant for four sessions

Digital Field Trips

Can’t get here in person? No problem. We offer Digital Field Trips for classrooms to make connections with our collections and the work of the museum in conjunction with BC school curricula. These programs are live, interactive, virtual learning experiences. All Digital Fieldtrips include pre- and post-visit support.

LEARN MORE Contact Liz Crocker, learning program developer, for more information

Inquiry Guides

Resources for students, teachers and chaperones are available for use during selfguided visits to the permanent galleries.

Age-appropriate activities and guides help students take a closer look at the museum while connecting to big ideas and themes learned in the classroom. Selfguided resources are available for the core galleries, and special exhibitions and are scaled for grades K–2, 3–7 and 8–12.

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ACCESSIBILITY Greater Victoria Public Library Culture and Recreation Pass

Every year the Royal BC Museum provides 20 complimentary family memberships to the Greater Victoria Public Library for the Culture and Recreation Pass program. Memberships are available on loan for a week to anyone with a Greater Victoria Public Library card.

Leisure Assistant’s Pass

With presentation of a Leisure Assistant’s Pass (provided through Recreation Integration Victoria), an assistant accompanying a person with a disability receives complimentary admission to the museum.

Indigenous Peoples

The Royal BC Museum acknowledges its location in the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum).

Visitors identifying as Indigenous receive complimentary access to the museum during regular operating hours. Please see the admissions desk for more information.

School Programs

The Royal BC Museum is an institution that values a sense of discovery and nurtures a community of learners. Exchange and dialogue form the foundation of the Learning department here at the Royal BC Museum. Our offerings are tailored to students and teachers with a range of interests in content and museum engagement, from guided school tours to selfguided inquiry sheets and from professional development day offerings for teachers to gallery animation stations. We accept bookings for BC school groups Tuesdays through Sundays.

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Outreach Kits

Can’t make it to the Royal BC Museum?

Let us come to you. Collections and resources for schools, community groups and seniors are available for loan.

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PUBLICATIONS Indigenous Repatriation Handbook

Jisgang Nika Collison, Sdaahl K’awaas Lucy Bell, Lou-ann Neel

Great Expectations

Reflections on Museums and Canada Jack Lohman

$14.95

$29.95

This handbook, the first to be created by and for Indigenous people, provides practical information that will enable Indigenous language and cultural groups to carry out the process of repatriation in ways that align with the cultural traditions of their communities.

Each essay in this collection emphasizes drivers of change in museums: globalization, society, authenticity and technology. Each raises anew older themes: information versus knowledge, diversity and plurality, modes of perception, and insularity. What emerges is a new way of being a museum that is outward-looking and global.

Henry & Self

Once Well Beloved

$22.95

$17.95

At 33, Sarah Crease left her home in England for a farflung outpost of the British Empire. The journals, letters and artwork she created over the next half-century offer a rich window into the private life of an English colonist in British Columbia.

In the town of Merritt, in BC’s Nicola Valley, stands a cenotaph in memory of 44 men who died in the First World War. Twelve are the subject of these pages— and through them we meet people of the Nicola Valley and learn the history of a distinctly British Columbian community.

By Snowshoe, Buckboard and Steamer

These books and many others are available at the Royal BC Museum publications shop or at your favourite bookstore.

An English Gentlewoman at the Edge of Empire Kathryn Bridge

Women of the BC Frontier Kathryn Bridge

$19.95

Remembering a BC Great War Sacrifice

by Michael Sasges

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The women in this book were trailblazers.

On the wagon roads and river boats of nineteenth-century BC, they found risks, opportunities and freedoms far beyond those familiar to their more settled contemporaries.

This book tells four extraordinary stories of life on the unruly edge of empire.

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CONTACT US Royal BC Museum 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9W2 250-356-RBCM (7226) Toll-free: 1-888-447-7977 royalbcmuseum.bc.ca reception@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Support us

A donation to the museum and archives is an investment in British Columbia. The Royal BC Museum has an annual funding gap of 24%. Donations help us fill this gap so that British Columbians can benefit from our collections and research.

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Please see website for the most up-to-date information. Prices do not include applicable taxes. Regular admission applies to the museum galleries and IMAX theatre unless otherwise noted.

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