New Westminster will spend half a million dollars to tell the city's story in a compelling and interactive way.
Museum space in the future multi-use civic facility on Columbia Street will include a permanent exhibit that tells the "New Westminster story." Last spring, the city awarded a contract to Public Architecture + Communication Inc., which has been working with staff from New Westminster Museum and Archives to develop this story and to create design and construction drawings for the permanent exhibit area in the museum.
A staff report states that the city's story will be conveyed in chronological order and the museum will be divided into seven distinct galleries dealing with New Westminster's history. History to be told in the museum includes: 8,000 BC to First National settlements and European contact; Gold Rush and founding of city by Royal Engineers; history of May Day celebrations and railway; Great Fire of 1898; transportation; and post-war boom to Expo '86. Gallery 7, which is the final gallery in the exhibit, will feature flexible display space for contemporary exhibits that explore current issues in New Westminster because the city's story will continue to unfold.
On Monday, council adopted the design plan for the permanent exhibit area of the museum, which will have 4,753 square feet of permanent exhibit space in the multi-use civic centre.
"It's a teaching museum, it's not just the type of museum where you stand and look," said Coun. Betty McIntosh. "It's much more involved."
McIntosh said the museum will include static displays, as well as child-friendly offerings.
"It's meant to be interactive," she said. "I think it will be a really exciting place to visit. It's going to be the type of museum you can go back to again and again and again."
The museum will be located on the third floor of the building, along with the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, an art gallery and a temporary exhibits gallery, and theatre space.
"I think it's the kind of facility we will be really proud we have got it," McIntosh said. "It's is going to be Class A - it's the best class of museum you can ask for."
A staff report stated that preliminary estimate suggested it would cost about $570,000 to outfit the museum's interior, but recent cost estimates have indicated it could be closer to $500,000.
