A commentary by an architectural historian who served two terms on Victoria council and was a co-chair of the Provincial Capital Commission.
The joint announcement by the chiefs of Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations and Angus Matthews, chair of the Maritime Museum of B.C. board, regarding their plans for a new harbourfront museum and welcome centre was truly inspiring.
Together they sketched an ambitious opportunity to bring together the histories of the First Nations and settler communities to build a new collaborative story that can be told to both ourselves and our visitors. They have chosen to call it “The Future of History Project.”
In doing so they have offered a vision for moving to the next stage of reconciliation.
It was also encouraging to note that the group had done their homework. The project website contains statements on support from a wide network of significant community leaders ranging from Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination to Victoria, to Christina Clarke, executive director of the Indigenous Prosperity Centre.
Faced with raising the projected $38.5 million cost they also unveiled a Council of Navigators, an impressive list of community philanthropists and influencers to be headed up by Murray Farmer, including the likes of David Black as well as Dave Obee of the Times Colonist.
While I noted the launching event featured the inevitable aspirational sketches of the facility, the scheme also demonstrated some serious due diligence.
Given that the welcome centre could be built anywhere on the coast then floated in, and the museum portion would use the existing historic CPR Steamship Terminal, costs should be containable.
The budget also seems scaled to Victoria’s size and capacity. Pedestrian traffic flow from the new joint Clipper and Black Ball ferries terminal should ensure a solid visitor revenue flow.
Finally, the project would address a critical missing piece in Victoria’s heritage assets identified by members of the Victoria World Heritage project when recently examining the feasibility of nominating Victoria for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was the need for dedicated facilities to present and interpret both the First Nations and settler heritage of the region.
This project deserves the enthusiastic support of all Victorians. And take note, Royal British Columbia Museum.
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