Cumberland Museum and Archives

09/29/2026

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30

The Cumberland Museum & Archives will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30, in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

September 30 is a day to honour the children who never returned home, Survivors of residential schools, and their families and communities. It is also an opportunity for all of us to listen, learn, reflect, and consider our ongoing responsibilities toward truth and reconciliation.

We invite our community to take time to learn from Indigenous voices and to explore the history and lasting impacts of the residential school system.

Resources for learning and reflection:
🧡 Government of Canada – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The Cumberland Museum & Archives will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30, in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

🧡 National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
The NCTR provides educational resources, archival materials, Survivor statements, and opportunities for learning about the history and legacy of residential schools.
https://nctr.ca

🧡 Truth and Reconciliation Commission – 94 Calls to Action
The Calls to Action provide a framework for individuals and organizations to understand and work toward reconciliation. The NCTR provides access to the report and Calls to Action.
https://nctr.ca/about/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-of-canada-calls-to-action/

🧡 Truth and Reconciliation Week 2026
The NCTR offers free educational programming and resources for students, educators, and the broader community.
https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/past-years/truth-and-reconciliation-week-2026/

🧡 Government of Canada – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Activities
A listing of community activities taking place across Canada throughout September and on September 30.
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation/list-activities.html

Every Child Matters.

09/22/2026

Join us for a special community screening of Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams, a powerful and beautifully crafted stop-motion film.

Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams
22:07 Minute Stop-Motion Animation

Created by Spotted Fawn Productions in collaboration with the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society

📅Sunday, September 27
📍Cumberland Museum & Archives | 2680 Dunsmuir Ave
⏱️4:00PM
All Ages Film Screening, Free Entry.

Come together with our community for this meaningful film and an opportunity to learn, reflect, and honour the memories of those affected by residential schools.

Learn more about Spirit Bear and Truth and Reconciliation through resources from the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society.
Full Event Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/19fvpKqzVx/

09/18/2026

How do you envision sharing your community’s local legacies?

On September 24th, we are hosting this Community Engagement Session.
To register, reach out to [email protected]

📅 September 24
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM
ONLINE MEETING

One of the first people to explore Forbidden Plateau was Maryland-born gold prospector and coal miner John Henry Brown. Brown first arrived in Canada in 1886, and lived in Nanaimo, Seattle, Kansas, Victoria, and Missouri before settling permanently in Cumberland in 1909. A skilled storyteller, Brown named several mountains and lakes in Strathcona Park, where he spent his summers. Brown lived in Cumberland until his death at age 91 in 1960

Image: John Henry Brown and a dog in the 1950s. C180-002

08/30/2026

It’s Ben’s last day at the museum!

If you've visited us recently, you'll be familiar with Ben's great sense of humour, knowledge of history, and his warm welcome for every visitor.

Behind the scenes, Ben also made a huge contribution to our collections, digitizing thousands of accession records from the museum’s early years, 1981–1989. His work is helping preserve these important records and making them much easier for staff and researchers to find in the future.

A huge thank you to MP Gord Johns and the Canada Summer Jobs program for supporting local youth employment and making it possible for us to welcome Ben to the museum this summer.

See what the museum looked like in 1981, when these records were written!

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08/28/2026

How do you envision sharing your community’s local legacies?

The Cumberland Museum & Archives is creating a permanent interpretive panel that will share stories of the Black community in Cumberland, B.C.

We’re beginning this project with a community engagement session to open dialogue about how we can meaningfully honour and share local Black legacies.

📅 September 24
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM
ONLINE MEETING

Participants will be remunerated $100 for taking part in the community engagement session.

Interested in participating or learning more? Please contact [email protected].

We welcome community members who would like to contribute their perspectives, stories, knowledge, and ideas to this important project.

More Information: https://bcblackhistory.ca/
Image Credit: Cumberland Museum and Archives

C180-005: Portrait of a Black man
MLA Rosemary Brown with Michelle and Rico Williams, 1988
C180-004: Portrait of Mrs. White

08/28/2026

08/07/2026

🌲 CLOSING AUGUST 16! 🌲

There’s still time to visit Cumberland Forest Reflections: 25 Years of the Cumberland Community Forest Society — but the countdown is on!

This special Collaboration Studio exhibition brings together stories, artwork, archives, and community memories reflecting on 25 years of the Cumberland Community Forest Society and the incredible role the forest has played in our community.

🌟 A huge thank you to Christina Jones and Meaghan Cursons, the exhibition curators, and to the Cumberland Community Forest Society for helping us create a space that celebrates the history, passion, and community action behind Cumberland’s forests.

🌿 Want to learn more about the exhibition?
Visit the Cumberland Museum & Archives exhibition page: https://cumberlandmuseum.ca/activities/cumberland-forest-reflections-25-years-of-the-cumberland-community-forest-society/

🌲 Want to learn more about the Cumberland Community Forest Society and how you can support their work?
Visit the Cumberland Community Forest Society: https://www.cumberlandforest.com/

And as one exhibition closes, another chapter begins… Keep an eye out for a new exhibition opening at the museum this September!

We hope to see you at the museum before Cumberland Forest Reflections comes to a close.

07/28/2026

📢 Mini Museum Explorers Update

Our final Mini Museum Explorers session has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.

We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding. 💙

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages over the next few weeks for the new session date, plus updates on future Mini Museum Explorers and other family-friendly programs.

Thank you for exploring with us—we can't wait to see you again soon! 🏛️✨