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This skateboarding photo tells one of the fascinating stories at the Richmond Museum’s Maple Road Experience exhibition.
Photo courtesy City of Richmond
Richmond Museum explores the city’s Skateboarding Roots with The Maple Road Experience
Published 2:23 PDT, Tue September 16, 2025
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The Richmond Museum is rolling out a slice of Canadian skateboarding history with its newest exhibition The Maple Road Experience. Co-curated with Kolby Harris, the exhibit celebrates world champion freestyle skateboarder Kevin Harris and the extraordinary story of how a backyard half pipe on Maple Road in Richmond became the birthplace of a skateboarding community.
Opening Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m., The Maple Road Experience invites visitors to dive into the 1970s to 1980s world of skateboarding, where Harris’ parents embraced their son’s love for a then-counterculture sport, and welcomed local — and international — skaters to their home-built ramp. What began as one boy’s dream grew into a community hub that launched careers and lifelong friendships, and put Richmond on the map for the skateboarding culture.
The exhibition highlights Harris’ remarkable journey as Canada’s first professional skateboarder, from the legendary Richmond Skate Ranch to Concrete Powder Magazine, the country’s first skateboard magazine, and his ongoing work through Ultimate Skateboard Distribution. Visitors will explore how one family’s belief in something different created a ripple effect that continues to shape skateboarding today.
The exhibition’s Hands-on, interactive elements immerse visitors in the culture of skateboarding, including vintage boards, rare photos, and video footage that bring the iconic Maple Road ramp back to life. Guests will also experience the thrill of stardom through Harris’s eyes as he traveled the world with Powell-Peralta’s infamous Bones Brigade.
"This exhibit tells a powerful Richmond story—one of innovation, passion, and community," says Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "Kevin Harris' journey from Maple Road to the world stage is not just a story of personal achievement, but a testament to the kind of spirit that makes our city extraordinary."
"When I look back, it's not just about skateboarding," says Kevin Harris. "It’s about what happens when people come together around something they love. My parents gave us that chance, and it changed lives—including mine. I hope this exhibit inspires others to support the passions that bring people together."
The Maple Road Experience runs Sept. 20, 2025 to Aug. 16, 2026 at the Richmond Museum, located in the Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Admission is by donation.
For more information about the Richmond Museum, visit RichmondMuseum.ca
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