Latest News
More than 55,000 visitors saw the restored Steveston tram last year.
Photo by Chung Chow
Heritage programs aim to bring history to life
A common refrain among students is that “history
is boring.”
They argue that the classes are dull and
unrelatable.
But just as students tend to learn better
when classes are more interactive, bringing history to life also makes it more
interesting.
That’s long been a priority for Richmond’s
museum and heritage services. In 2018, ongoing efforts to engage the public led
to a new focus on place-based cultural tourism initiatives, including the
launch of the Steveston Heritage Experience Tour and Winter in the Village.
Several new initiatives are also planned in
2019, including the creation of a brochure for all heritage sites in Steveston
and a passport program to connect the sites, said Marie Fenwick, manager,
Museum and Heritage Services.
In addition to a detailed year-in-review,
museum and heritage services also presented a stellar video to city council
April 8 highlighting programs in 2018. It was crated in the city’s media lab.
Key highlights in the staff report include:
• Majority of visitors had positive
experiences at Richmond museums and heritage sites, with 87 per cent of
respondents to a visitor survey rating their experience four out of five or
higher;
• A new focus on place-based cultural tourism
initiatives, including the launch of the Steveston Heritage Experience Tour and
Winter in the Village;
• Volunteers contributed over 22,000 hours
throughout the city’s museums and heritage sites including the new Artefact
Avengers—specially trained volunteers who assisted with the specialized work
related to the city’s artefact collections;
• The 11th annual Doors Open Richmond
attracted 15,000 visitors who explored 41 sites;
• The 16th annual Richmond Regional Heritage
Fair where 500 students presented 100 projects celebrating various topics in
Canada history;
• The Grand Prix of Art returned with 150
artists plein air painting throughout Steveston Village;
• London Heritage Farm continued to be
popular for weddings, teas and community events;
• Restoration of the Steveston Tram was
completed, and the site welcomed over 55,000 visitors.
Piloted in 2018, Winter in the Village helped
boost visitors to Steveston outside of the peak summer months. The program
featured more than 25 free or low-cost family activities through November and
December.
A new program was also introduced at the
Richmond Olympic Oval. The Olympic Experience led to a 10 per cent increase in
visitors, with over 34,000 people taking in the interactive attraction.
2 Hours of free financial consulting
Jai Xin Planning Ltd.
C$120.00 C$0.00
Use any of our home staging service and get a second month rental for free!
MiiX Interiors
C$500.00 C$0.00
Get 10% off any order
Phantom Screens Lower Mainland
C$200.00 C$180.00
