Royal BC Museum

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Royal BC Museum Inspiring curiosity through shared stories, nature, history and culture. BC’s provincial museum. The museum was founded in 1886; the archives in 1894.

The Royal BC Museum Corporation is one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world. In 2003 these two organizations integrated to become British Columbia's combined provincial museum and archives, collecting artifacts, documents and specimens of BC's natural and human history, safeguarding them for the future, and sharing them with the world. Through research and education, we strive to broaden understanding about our province and inspire curiosity and wonder. We are passionate about sharing British Columbia's story with the millions of visitors who walk through our doors and explore our web site each year. Our archives, exhibits and galleries change and grow as our understanding grows, and we endeavour to share our knowledge in original and exciting ways. Each exhibit and gallery tells important stories about British Columbia and provides an engaging and thought-provoking window on the province's past, present and future. Our archives provide a treasure trove of information for researchers and genealogists through the stories that are preserved here.

For thousands of years, the lands and waters of Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Island have sustained generations of Coast Salish peop...
10/16/2026

For thousands of years, the lands and waters of Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Island have sustained generations of Coast Salish peoples. Today, archaeological research is revealing more about this history and helping communities work together to protect Indigenous heritage.

On October 22, join us at the Royal BC Museum for a free talk exploring the Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeology Project, featured in our current exhibition, The Island in the Middle of Everywhere.

Hear from Ogwi’low’gwa Kim Recalma-Clutesi, Matriarch and Knowledge Holder from Qualicum First Nation; Sean Markey, Dean of the Faculty of Environment at Simon Fraser University; and Dana Lepofsky, Distinguished Professor of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University.

Together, they'll share how archaeology, Indigenous knowledge and community collaboration are informing conversations about cultural heritage, land use and reconciliation.

📅 Thursday, October 22 | 6 PM
📍 Royal BC Museum, Conference Hall
🎟️ Free admission | Registration required

Space is limited. Reserve your seat now > https://rbcm.ca/event/the-xweetay-lasqueti-archaeology-project/

The Island in the Middle of Everywhere is on display at the museum until January 10, 2027. The exhibition was co-curated by the Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeology Project and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, part of Ingenium, Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation.

📷 Image: Archaeologist Dana Lepofsky excavating a clam garden on Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Island. Photo: Michelle Munkittrick.

The Royal BC Museum is pleased to announce that Jennifer Bonnell’s Stewards of Splendour: A History of Wildlife and Peop...
10/14/2026

The Royal BC Museum is pleased to announce that Jennifer Bonnell’s Stewards of Splendour: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia received an honourable mention in the biography and history category of The Wildlife Society’s 2026 Publication Awards.

Stewards of Splendour explores the history of wildlife management in British Columbia, from pre-contact Indigenous land stewardship to the present day, tracing the roles of scientists, First Nations, hunter-conservationists and naturalists in shaping conservation practices and the ongoing opportunities and challenges for protecting the province’s remarkable biodiversity.

"From a local and global perspective, the plants and animals of British Columbia are a gift. Exploitation for profit could have destroyed much of this heritage were it not for the hard work and dedication of a small group of people in the nick of time. This book thoroughly recounts the struggles and important victories to preserve and protect this heritage." – Robert Bateman

Buy it here: https://shop.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/product/stewards-of-splendour-a-history-of-wildlife-and-people-in-british-columbia/

More information about the prestigious win: https://wildlife.org/tws-announces-2026-wildlife-publications-awards/

This year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Adult Grand Title-winning image, The Aftermath, by Federico Veronesi captu...
10/13/2026

This year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Adult Grand Title-winning image, The Aftermath, by Federico Veronesi captures a rare and moving moment of an elephant carrying its dead calf. At a time when nature is under more pressure than ever before, this exhibition reminds us of what is at stake and what is worth protecting.

Immerse yourself in powerful images that capture hidden animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world starting February 12, 2027, as WPY comes to the Royal BC Museum.

Travelling from London’s Natural History Museum, this exhibition illuminates the intricate beauty of our planet while highlighting global efforts to conserve the natural world.

https://rbcm.ca/exhibition/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2027/

10/12/2026

There’s still time to discover the wonders of ancient Egypt! ✨

Explore more than 250 artifacts, from intricately decorated coffins and jewellery to everyday objects, in Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life at the Royal BC Museum.

Through immersive sights, sounds and scents, discover the fascinating beliefs, rituals and traditions that shaped life and the afterlife in ancient Egypt.

We're open today, with regular hours from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Plan your visit > https://rbcm.ca/ancient-egypt-a-life-beyond-deat

Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life is produced by MuseumsPartner, in cooperation with the Moesgaard Museum, Denmark. The exhibition was curated by Pauline Asingh, head curator at the Moesgaard.

What can plants teach us about culture, connection and the land?Join us on October 13 for the launch of Plant Teachings ...
10/09/2026

What can plants teach us about culture, connection and the land?

Join us on October 13 for the launch of Plant Teachings from My Auntie: Gathering Coast Salish Plants for Medicine, Textiles, Nourishment, and Ceremony.

Authors Nancy J. Turner, renowned ethnobotanist, and Geraldine Manson, Coast Salish knowledge keeper, will share stories and insights from their new book, exploring the cultural significance of plants and the importance of passing knowledge between generations.

The evening will include a conversation with the authors, audience Q&A, and an opportunity to meet the authors and have books signed.

📅 Tuesday, October 13 | 5:30–6:30 PM (doors at 5 PM)
📍 Royal BC Museum, Conference Hall
🎟️ Free admission

Presented in partnership with New Society Publishers.

Learn more > https://rbcm.pulse.ly/91qlk0lwba

Who Doesn’t Love a Prequel? The Wonders of Prehistoric EgyptBefore pharaohs, before hieroglyphs, before the great monume...
10/05/2026

Who Doesn’t Love a Prequel? The Wonders of Prehistoric Egypt

Before pharaohs, before hieroglyphs, before the great monuments that define ancient Egypt, there was a world that still puzzles Egyptologists today.

Join PhD Candidate Katlin Long-Wright for a fascinating journey into Prehistoric Egypt, exploring how people lived thousands of years before the rise of kings and kingdoms.

Your ticket also includes access to explore Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life.

📆 Thursday, October 15 | 7–9 PM
📍 Conference Hall & Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life exhibition, Royal BC Museum
🎟️ $25

Limited seats available. Book now > https://rbcm.pulse.ly/hxpzmnkaxp

Today, on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour Survivors, their families and communities, and the childr...
09/30/2026

Today, on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour Survivors, their families and communities, and the children who did not make it home.

We are grateful to everyone who gathered with us yesterday, and earlier this week, in reflection and respect. Our thanks to Terri Barnhard, Cecilia Dick, Erynne Ine'wa, Krystal Cook, the Kwakwaka'wakw Culture Group, Songhees Dancers, Micdally Xaayda Naay, Nisga'a Dancers and Victoria Orange Shirt Day for sharing their voices, knowledge, stories and traditions.

Truth and reconciliation are ongoing commitments, and we remain dedicated to doing this work with care, humility and accountability.

Ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, join us at the Royal BC Museum on September 29 for a day of trut...
09/25/2026

Ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, join us at the Royal BC Museum on September 29 for a day of truth telling, reflection and celebration of Indigenous cultures.

Through talks, performances and community programming, visitors are invited to deepen their understanding of the histories and ongoing impacts of residential schools while honouring the strength, resilience and living cultures of Indigenous Peoples.

🧡 September 29
📍 Royal BC Museum
🎟️ See full schedule > rbcm.ca/event/truth-and-reconciliation

09/25/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening of the Climate Change Gallery on September 11.

It was a celebration of partnership and collective action. We are grateful to the many organizations, advisors, contributors, and community members whose dedication helped bring this refreshed gallery to life, and to all who came together to mark this special occasion with us.

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, IMAX® Victoria is offering free screenings of the accla...
09/23/2026

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, IMAX® Victoria is offering free screenings of the acclaimed documentary Sugarcane at 5 PM on September 26 and 27.

Directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, Sugarcane is a powerful and compassionate documentary that explores the impacts of the residential school system and honours the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities.

Winner of the U.S. Documentary Directing Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Sugarcane offers an important opportunity for reflection and learning as we approach September 30.

We are also grateful to welcome Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray from Victoria Orange Shirt Day, who will be on-site before the film with shirts available for purchase and an opportunity for conversation.

📅 September 26 & 27
🕛 5 PM
📍 IMAX® Victoria at the Royal BC Museum

Register for tickets > https://imaxvictoria.com/movies/

Address

675 Belleville Street
Victoria, BC
V8W9W2

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