Instead of worrying about the future this summer, take a step into the past at the Burnaby Village Museum completely free of charge. The museum reopened for spring break in mid-March charging no admission fees. For the same price, the museum will be opening its doors again on May 1 but instead of being only open for a week, the 1920s town will be open to guests until September 6.
While the village’s 109-year-old C.W. Parker carousel remains closed, there are plenty of other activities and exhibits to check out. For instance, there’s the newly renovated Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. Herbalist shop where visitors can discover the role Chinese medicine has played in shaping communities like Burnaby.
Returning to the museum as this year’s feature exhibit is Across the Pacific, featuring stories, photographs and artifacts illustrating the history and legacy of Chinese Canadians in Burnaby. The exhibit is presented in three written languages – English as well as traditional and simplified Chinese – and includes audio components featuring several Cantonese dialects.
But that’s not all there is to see:
- Visit the Jesse Love Farmhouse to experience a historic family home
- Learn about schooling in early Burnaby at Seaforth School
- Find out what a blacksmith does at Wagner’s Blacksmith Shop
- Explore the evolution of steam power and its impact on today's machinery at the Steam Shed on Tuesdays
- View the Interurban Tram Car #1223 in the Tram Barn
- Visit the Learning House where Indigenous Educators share their knowledge of Coast Salish history and culture
- Treat yourself at the Ice Cream Parlour (limited to-go menu items, contactless payment only)
- Shop for unique, historical finds and sweet treats at the Carousel gift shop (1 household allowed in the gift shop at one time, contactless payment only)
There’s also a summer scavenger hunt for a self-guided educational adventure through the village.
Advance online reservations to tour the village are required, visitors are required to select a specific entrance day and time in order to maintain gathering limits. Visitors without reservations will be permitted entry only if there is space available. Online reservations for summer will open on Monday, April 19 at 9 a.m.
At this time the museum has set a maximum of six people booked per reservation request and those six should be visiting with their household or core bubble.
For more information check out the Burnaby Village Museum website.
- With files from Chris Campbell
