British Columbia

Royal BC Museum looking for facelift

The Royal BC Museum is launching a province-wide consultation today, asking British Columbians to have their say in the future of the 125-year-old institution on Victoria's inner harbour.

First community consultation will take place at the museum Saturday

Main entrance of the Royal British Columbia Museum, in Victoria’s inner harbour. (H/Wikipedia)

The Royal British Columbia Museum is launching a province-wide consultation today, asking British Columbians to have their say in the future of the 125-year-old institution on Victoria’s inner harbour.

Chief Operating Officer Angela Williams says the museum needs a major revamp.

"The first problem with the museum? Just finding your way inside, to see the woolly mammoth and totem poles. [With] first-time visitors, I really do see the confusion when they first come into the facility, because they’re not really sure where they should go next," she said.

Williams also said the museum will need a new building to house the archives, which are now stored below sea level.

"I would like for people when they come into the museum and come into the archives, that they have this absolutely 'wow' moment. That they go, 'there is something absolutely amazing here behind those doors.' Right now you don't get that 'wow' moment, unfortunately," she said.

The first community consultation is at the museum today. The team will then head to Vancouver and across B.C. in the coming weeks.

They museum is hoping to draft a master plan by the fall.

Upcoming community consultations

For more details, follow the royalbcmuseum.bc.ca link in the list on the left of this page

  • June 22, 2013 –  Victoria, B.C.
  • June 25, 2013 – Vancouver, B.C.
  • July 5, 2013 – Prince George, B.C.
  • July 6, 2013 – Kamloops, B.C.
  • July 7, 2013 – Kelowna, B.C.
  • July 8, 2013 – Fort Langley, B.C.
  • July 10, 2013 – Richmond, B.C.

With files from CBC’s Catherine Rolfsen