The current transformation of the North Vancouver waterfront is an exciting development for everyone on the North Shore. And when the New Museum at the Shipyardsis opened on the site of the historic Pipe Shop building it will be so much more than just a place to look at artifacts and archives in glass cases.
With $2.2 million from the Federal government, and enthusiastic support from the community, the New Museum is planned to be an integral part of that rebirth. It will be an exciting people place which will add to the attractiveness and success of a new gateway to our community.
When the Federal government support was announced former North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton said the project would result in a new museum that has an improved ability to collect and interpret display pieces, as well as “triple the exhibition and programming areas while maintaining the integrity of the Pipe Shop which was built in 1940.”
The business plan for the New Museum shows annual attendance is projected to be over 60,000. And a recent professional economic impact assessment showed the New Museum would deliver significant and positive economic impact for the community.
“The New Museum at the Shipyards is yours! You can make history by giving it a new home.”
The City of North Vancouver has supported the project through a matching gift commitment of $5 million. So your contribution – large or small – will be matched dollar for dollar by the City.
So this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to show, in a very real way, how much you care about your community.
“When it opens in 2017, the New Museum at the Shipyards will be a new-concept place where historical experiences and stories are presented and experienced in unique ways,” said Museum Campaign Chair, Don Evans.
With the generous support of the Federal government, the City and many corporate and individual donors, the campaign is now well on the way to its $10 million goal.
A fundraising deadline of December 31, 2015 has been set by the City of North Vancouver and so increased community support is needed now in order for this exciting project to go ahead.
In acknowledging the current and future support, NVMA Director Nancy Kirkpatrick said, “This community support will help create an innovative, new heritage facility in the heart of where we live. With the opening of the New Museum at the Shipyardsin 2017 – Canada’s 150th anniversary – history will find a new and nurturing home on North Vancouver’s vibrant waterfront.”
Built with hands on, leading edge technology, Kirkpatrick said it will set a new standard for exploring our history. “The new Museum will generate economic benefit for the entire community and encourage audiences of all ages to visit again and again”.
There is little doubt that parents and teachers will take full advantage of the new cultural gem in our midst and make sure children and youth from all across the North Shore and beyond are given the opportunity to learn about the history of their community as it comes alive for them within the walls of the New Museum at the Shipyards.
And rather than being confined to the walls of just the Shipyards site, exhibits will be designed to be shared in public buildings across the North Shore. Frequently refreshed, they will expand the reach of the New Museum.
With special galleries where children can learn and play, the New Museum will be a place where visitors young and old can see, understand and contribute to the ongoing history of one of the most significant communities in British Columbia.
One enthusiastic North Shore supporter is keenly aware of that significance. After immigrating to Canada, he spent much of his working life toiling in the still thriving Shipyards. “As I learned from those days, the New Museum is not just about the history of the Shipyards, it’s about the whole history of the North Shore, from the indigenous First Nations to us living here today,” he said.
And it’s not just about the past. As Kirkpatrick added, “Museums are places where history connects to people’s present-day interests and experiences. The result will be a cultural attraction that showcases who we are as a community, blending the best of the old and new with hands on, interactive exhibits and signature artifacts.”
If you would like to know how you can help open the door to this exciting New Museum at the Shipyards, you can do so through its website at www.nvma.ca or you can contact Don Evans or Nancy Kirkpatrick .
