Blog & News

From the Museum of Surrey:

"Many Canadians take pride in the history of the Underground Railroad. They celebrate that Canada, specifically what is now Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes, was the destination for freedom‐seeking enslaved Africans fleeing slavery in America. But Canada also has its own untold, dark history of slavery. 

The Transatlantic Slave Trade spanned 400 years with more than 12 million African people held in bondage. In Canada, the system of racial chattel slavery was introduced by the French in the 17th century. The term “chattel slavery” relates to the fact that enslaved people are treated as commodities or resources to be traded and/or sold. This chattel slavery was a dehumanizing and violent system of abuse and subjugation. Importantly, Europeans viewed slavery in racist terms. Indigenous and African peoples were seen as less than human. White supremacy justified the violence of slavery for hundreds of years. 

Canada’s economy and infrastructure was built using chattel slavery; and the fruits of this unpaid, brutal labour are still enjoyed across the nation today. Reparations is a term which signifies righting a wrong and undoing harms of the past. While this is an expansive effort in the U.S., Canada falls far behind. In this conversation we are asking: Why isn’t making reparations a wide-spread effort in Canada? What reparations, if any, are being made in Canada to Black communities? How would reparations support Black communities? Could these reparations build equity and bolster the economy as a whole? Start the conversation with Dominique Jacobs regarding Reparations in Canada. 

When: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – 12:00-1:00pm 
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams  
Cost: Free 
How to Register: Call/Email the Museum of Surrey: 604-592-6956 or museum@surrey.ca  

More About our Speaker: Dominique Jacobs 

Dominique Jacobs (she/her) was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Her family fled persecution from the apartheid regime to migrate to Canada in the 80s. She holds a degree in Professional Communications and has over 20 years of vast experience as a Communications Professional, having worked in both Canada and South Africa.  

Dominique contributes to community non-profits, particularly expanding engagement by developing a strong brand voice and identity. Through her Communications consulting business, she supports organizations interested in social and climate justice, anti-racism and anti-oppression practices.  

In collaboration with AACCCS (African Arts and Culture Community Contributor Society), Dominique facilitated anti-racism engagement sessions for BC Black communities. The report she wrote for the Ministry of the Attorney General, based on the sessions, was used to build BC’s new Anti-Racism legislation. At present, she is leading the communications strategy for the Black in BC Leadership Summit through AACCCS and is building an environmental steering committee for bioregional cooperation in the Westshore communities."

From the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre:

"In our 25th anniversary year, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) celebrates the vibrant and diverse artistic expressions of Japanese Canadians with the "Umami: Savouring Artistic Nikkei Identity" exhibition from February through September in the Karasawa Gallery.

Just as “Umami” represents the complex layers of flavour in cuisine, this exhibition delves into the depth and richness of Nikkei artistic identity. Featuring a diverse range of artists, from emerging to established, including Japanese Canadian Legacies Art fund awardees. From traditional to contemporary art practice, the Umami exhibition shares the rich essence of our Japanese Canadian creative community.

Anchoring the exhibition is the interactive and thought-provoking Kintsugi installation by Annie Sumi and Brian Kobayakawa. This contemporary multimedia piece, inspired by the traditional Japanese art of mending ceramics with gold, conceptually mends broken and shattered experiences of what it means to be Canadian of Japanese ancestry. It utilizes a Singer sewing machine that survived the era of Japanese Canadian internment and dispossession. By manually manipulating the machine, visitors can activate original music and spoken word, creating a unique and moving experience.

Part 1 of the Umami exhibition also showcases the work of Todd Inouye, Ken Mizokoshi, and Wendy Tanaka, each offering unique perspectives on the Japanese Canadian experience through their distinct artistic styles. Inouye's work focuses on materiality and healing. Mizokoshi takes an archival approach to photography. Tanaka combines portraiture of both family members and treasured objects. Inouye, Mizokoshi, and Tanaka will be in attendance at the Exhibit Opening + Artists’ Conversations on February 13.

Experience the Umami exhibition and explore the rich tapestry of Nikkei artistic expression. Visit the NNMCC from February to September 2025.

Part 1: Feb 8 – May 17, 2025

• Todd Inouye

• Brian Kobayakawa & Annie Sumi

• Ken Mizokoshi

• Wendy Tanaka

Part 2: May 27 – Sept 27, 2025

• Molly JF Caldwell

• Yoshiko Hirano

• Marlene Howell, Bryan Kobayakawa & Annie Sumi

• Vivien Nishi

• Reiko Pleau

Supported by the Province of British Columbia and the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society."

The Vancouver Art Gallery invites visitors to delve into the mystical landscapes of British Columbia through Emily Carr: Navigating an Impenetrable Landscape, a year-long exhibition celebrating one of Canada’s most renowned artists. Running from January 25, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the exhibition presents over 20 of Carr’s renowned forest paintings, offering an exploration of the spiritual and physical interplay within BC’s rainforests.

Carr’s work, deeply rooted in her reverence for nature and influenced by European Modernism, transformed how British Columbians see their environment. Known for their vivid depictions of the dense coastal rainforests, Carr’s paintings often capture the beauty and mystery of our natural spaces, simultaneously inviting viewers into their depths and keeping them at bay.

Read the full article here.

Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Society will take over operations of Fort Steele Heritage Town on April 1.

The organization has a six-year contract and will assume management of the heritage attraction from the Friends of Fort Steele Society, which has been operating it since 2004.

Read more in the Cranbrook Townsman.

On Saturday, February 8, Mayor Eric Woodward, together with members of Council, and the Fraser Valley Regional Library, will be celebrating the grand opening of salishan Place by the River, the Township of Langley’s new arts, culture, and heritage centre in Fort Langley.

Attend the public open house at salishan Place by the River and also celebrate the opening of the new Fort Langley Library.  Learn about the plans for salishan including programs, services, and the phased opening of the museum and its exhibits in the coming months.

• Saturday, February 8 from 12:30 to 4:00pm
• 23430 Mavis Avenue
• Free admission.

For more information on salishan Place by the River visit tol.ca/salishan.

Emily Carr (1871–1945) intended to call this collection of stories written in the last two years of her life (1943–1945): Hundreds and Thousands. That title was used though, in 1966, for the publication of selected passages from Carr’s journals.

Ann-Lee Switzer discovered the stories in the BC Archives of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Five previously unpublished stories have been added to the collection first published in 2007. Nearly thirty of Carr’s original illustrations are also included.

Read the full review here.

From the Friends of the British Columbia Archives:

"We are excited to announce our first event for our 2025 Speaker Series!

Join us on February 9th for Chris Arnette's talk on Nɬʔkepmx resistance through rock art. Chris Arnett is an archaeologist and heritage consultant. He has worked with First Nations communities, including Tsleil-Waututh, Lil’wat, Nlaka’pamux (Lytton and Kanaka Bar), Upper Similkameen, Gitgat’a, and Maori (Ngāi Tahu) on rock art research since 1985. He lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia."

Learn more and register here.

Join Natasha Fairweather, the Project Manager at the BC Labour Heritage Centre, for this virtual walking tour of sites in Vancouver with a significant women's worker history, highlighting some of the job actions leading to progress on women's equality in the workforce.

Watch the full video here.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is marking Black History Month with Celebrating Black Futures, a month-long programme dedicated to exploring art, music, literature, and film through the lens of Black culture and creativity. Organized in collaboration with partners such as Artspeak, Nooroongji Books, Space Lab, the Vancouver International Film Festival, Vancouver Black Library, and We the Roses, the programme celebrates Black contributions while fostering dialogue and inclusion.

Read the full article here.

On January 13th 2025, historical societies from across Canada met again.

The following societies participated: Société historique du Canada / Canadian Historical Association (SHC/ CHA); Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française (IHAF); Fédération Histoire Québec (FHQ); British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF); Newfoundland & Labrador Historical Society (NFLHS); Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society (RNSHS); Ontario Historical Society (OHS); Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society (SHKS); Historical Society of Alberta (HSA); Yukon Historical & Museums Association (YHMA); New Brunswick Historical Society (NBHS); and Réseau du patrimoine et de l’histoire francophones et acadiens du Canada (RPHFAC). Histoire Canada / Canada History sent its regrets

The group discussed their plans for the upcoming year, including potential meetings and the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion within their organizations as well as in historical narratives. They shared their efforts to increase diversity, such as publishing special editions of publications or collaborating with other organizations. The conversation ended with a proposal of two main actions to continue their contribution to the national conversation on diversity, a panel discussion and a shared report presenting their different initiatives.