We get it: the need to buy a timed ticket to visit the Royal BC Museum main galleries can sometimes get in the way of summer spontaneity. (But don’t forget: tickets are available online one week in advance and you really don’t want to miss Wildlife Photographer of the Year before it closes on Sept. 7!)
Meanwhile, here’s a suggestion to satisfy your museum fix on the spur of the moment—and for free: a drop-by visit to take in A Tale of Two Families: Generations of Intercultural Communities and Family Lessons, a new micro-exhibition located in the Pocket Gallery on the museum’s main level.
It’s a timely tale, highlighting themes of cultural inclusion and resilience through the stories of two families—one Chinese Canadian, the other French Canadian—who built lasting legacies in BC from the time of the gold rush era, which began in 1858.
Developed by the museum’s history curator Dr. Tzu-I Chung, the powerful display follows the generational narrative of the Louie-Seto and Guichon families through many challenging periods, including the Great Depression and the Chinese exclusion era, to reveal the transformative power of education, community bonds, hard work, and human kindness.
The exhibition fills a significant gap in BC’s historical accounts: due to historical exclusion and colonial record-keeping practices, few non-Indigenous families from minority groups can trace their family histories across multiple generations. The exhibition offers a rare record of generational continuity from the gold rush to present day, along with lessons for cultivating diverse and resilient communities.
Many BC residents will know the name Guichon, as the Hon. Judith Guichon, from BC’s ranching community, served as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, from 2012 to 2018. The Louie family is renowned for operating several significant businesses in western Canada, including IGA supermarkets and London Drugs.
Check out A Tale of Two Families until Nov. 2, 2020, and consider enriching the experience with a free visit to the recently launched pop-up exhibition in Victoria’s Fan Tan Alley: Peering into the Past: Celebrating Canada’s Oldest Chinatown.
The partnership between the Royal BC Museum, the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society, and the Salient Group showcases the extraordinary impact of BC’s Chinese community on local history and beyond.
Helijet is a proud sponsor of the Royal BC Museum Pocket Gallery.
Learn more about our Covid-19 health and hygiene protocols, and remember: timed tickets are available one week in advance! No tickets are necessary to view the Pocket Gallery on the main level, however only one visitor may enter the gallery at a time. Because capacity is limited in the Glass Lobby and Clifford Carl Hall, you may have a brief wait to enter the museum, particularly when IMAX patrons are moving in and out of the theatre.
