Royal BC Museum and City of Victoria partner on new accessible pilot program

VICTORIA, BC —Starting this month, the Royal BC Museum has partnered with the City of Victoria to roll out a new pilot program aimed at increasing accessibility to the museum by providing complimentary admission to individuals and families facing financial limitations.

“The Royal BC Museum’s mandate is to be a place for all people of British Columbia,” said Tracey Drake, Acting CEO, Royal BC Museum. “Launching this essential community program aligns strongly with our mandate and more importantly, creates further accessibility to spark the minds and imaginations of future generations of museum goers.”

The pilot is called MyMuseum, and gives a free museum admission ticket to each new member of the City of Victoria’s Leisure Involvement for Everyone (LIFE) program, providing the opportunity for more families to make museum memories together.

“The Royal BC Museum is a place where visitors create new memories and expand their knowledge,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “MyMuseum ensures that the diverse and rich history of British Columbia is accessible to more people, and is an opportunity to explore, understand, and connect with our collective past.”

The LIFE program has been running for over 25 years and has a combination of credit and free drop in visits for eligible low-income individuals and families to use towards recreational programs and services within the City of Victoria.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the RBCM to unveil MyMuseum, an initiative which reflects our commitment to fostering inclusivity, ensuring that everyone in our community has the opportunity to explore and enjoy the rich offerings of the Royal BC Museum,” said Marianne Alto, Mayor, City of Victoria. “By providing complimentary admission to individuals and families through their LIFE program participation, we hope to reduce barriers and make the museum a place where cherished memories are created by all.”

“We all want people in B.C. to live a life of dignity, with the services and supports they need,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “Through our partnership with the Royal BC Museum and City of Victoria, low-income people and families will get complimentary tickets for the museum’s recreational programs and services.”

MyMuseum is part of the Creating Connections Initiative by the Royal BC Museum offering an array of programs with the intent of fostering inclusivity and accessibility.

The Creating Connections Initiative includes:

• For registered schools across the province, the museum offers free admission, self-guided tours. Other learning programs offered include in-person and virtual enriching learning programs for visitors of all ages and interests, many of which are free to attend.

• As part of the commitment to create a welcoming space where Indigenous people can connect with their heritage, explore exhibits and share their stories, the museum offers free access to Indigenous people.
• The museum participates in the Canoo Cultural Access Pass program, which offers new Canadians complimentary access to visit the museum.

To learn more about these programs and other additional information visit Creating Connections Initiative | Royal BC Museum and Archives.

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About the Royal BC Museum: The Royal BC Museum explores the province’s human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding of BC, and provides a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Located in Victoria on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations), we are a hub of community connections in BC—on-site, off-site and online—taking pride in our collective histories.

For information about visiting the Royal BC Museum, visit: Plan Your Visit