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Maritime Museum of BC


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#221 aastra

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Posted 01 February 2019 - 06:40 PM

 

...and is full of folks all summer long ... folks who are looking for museums and stuff to take their kids to while visiting Victoria?

 

(imagine a really good impression of VHF's voice* when you read the following)

 

The museum was located in Bastion Square before. Folks and their kids weren't bothering to go inside. Why would they bother this time around?

 

*very high-pitched & grating, sort of like a half-human/half-weasel monster.

 

FYI: Don't shoot the messenger (me, aastra). I was a booster of the Maritime Museum back in the day.



#222 Mike K.

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Posted 01 February 2019 - 06:53 PM

Is a multi-million dollar Maritime Museum absolutely necessary when the RBCM has a major redevelopment plan in the works, and one that is likely to actually accrue significant federal and provincial monies? The Maritime Museum should become a part of that plan, or even revive it since its gone a little stale.

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#223 Nparker

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Posted 01 February 2019 - 07:01 PM

Is a multi-million dollar Maritime Museum absolutely necessary when the RBCM has a major redevelopment plan in the works...

And what exactly IS the status of the RBCM's plans? It's been crickets for years now.



#224 Rob Randall

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Posted 01 February 2019 - 08:56 PM

And what exactly IS the status of the RBCM's plans? It's been crickets for years now.

 

Exactly nine years have passed!

 

https://web.archive...._Brochure_N.pdf



#225 Rob Randall

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Posted 01 February 2019 - 08:57 PM

The RBCM redevelopment plan now qualifies to be included in the Old Town exhibit.

 

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#226 Cassidy

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Posted 02 February 2019 - 06:35 AM

The RBCM has been begging for money for decades ... and hasn't received a penny.

Their dreams and aspirations are just as "pie in the sky" as the Maritime Museums are if one must think that way, and compare the two.

Incorporating the two isn't a bad idea, although the proposed RBCM expansion(s) was for their own needs, and would have to be far larger than anything proposed to date in order to accommodate the Maritime Museum collection in addition to their own. I can't see that ever happening.

The Maritime Museum focuses exclusively on maritime activities and history on the West coast of Canada, and the RBCM focuses on the history of the entirety of B.C. ... so their mandates are quire different.

 

I would posit that the question really needs to focus on whether residents of the region feel that a National Maritime Museum would be a good thing for Victoria.

I would propose that the answer is "yes, it would be a very good thing for Victoria".

 

As for attendance in a new facility compared to attendance in the past (and even now at Nootka Court), museum customers are brought in by the quality of the exhibits, and the effectiveness of the museums general message. Done properly, a National Maritime Museum would no doubt bring people to Victoria, as well as become a passive destination for those tourists seeking a broader "Victoria" experience.

 

I noted in a post some months back that the Maritime Museum is an incredibly worthy group ... but that their long term aspirations require far more money and resources than they have available. The contents of their collection, and their general "message" is a powerful component in the marine history of Canada, and deserves more support from levels of government than they currently receive.


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#227 Mike K.

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Posted 02 February 2019 - 08:19 AM

If the RBCM can’t get money, as you say, then it seems like a moot point trying to justify that the martitime museum will get money.

The museum’s collection should be within the RBCM. It doesn’t need its own bazillion dollar facility.

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#228 Jackerbie

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Posted 05 February 2019 - 08:33 AM

Is a multi-million dollar Maritime Museum absolutely necessary when the RBCM has a major redevelopment plan in the works, and one that is likely to actually accrue significant federal and provincial monies? The Maritime Museum should become a part of that plan, or even revive it since its gone a little stale.

 

Also consider that the Vancouver Maritime Museum will be relocating to a Concord Pacific development in Coal Harbour. Apparently Renzo Piano has signed on as the project architect. That plan is a ways out though, looking at 10 years optimistically.


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#229 Cassidy

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Posted 05 February 2019 - 05:31 PM

If the RBCM can’t get money, as you say, then it seems like a moot point trying to justify that the martitime museum will get money.

That pretty much sums it up.

There is little if any public money available in Western Canada at any level for perceived "fun" things like museums, new theatres, and outstanding public spaces.

 

There simply isn't the will at the Federal level, with all the Fed money going to Toronto and Quebec. 

And the truly monied donors just aren't interested in anything that isn't world class, and preferably in Toronto.

 

If you've ever been in that tall building right beside the RBCM, you'd have seen the parts of their collection that aren't on public display, and you'd have seen that building literally bulging at the seams with those unseen artifacts. Every square inch of that building has got "something" on it or in it.

 

I just don't see the RBCM ever taking on another museums collection, Maritime or otherwise ... especially when they've literally not got room currently for the collection they already own.


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#230 AllseeingEye

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Posted 05 February 2019 - 09:09 PM

To see how a real maritime museum functions and the type of facility it should ideally reside in, one has to look no further than the maritime museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, a purpose-built facility specifically to house invaluable national and historic museum artifacts, and is the largest maritime museum in the country.

 

This is how it should be done, and note it is on the waterfront, where a maritime museum ought to be:

 

https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/

 

Victorians, and especially those who get into a tizzy about any proposed development on our own precious waterfront should note that Halifax - which is a lot older than Victoria with infinitely more history - had zero issue building a modern, contemporary facility to accommodate much of Canada's maritime heritage. And imagine that - it looks great!

 

Having been there twice I can tell you it beats the hell out of trying to shoehorn the invaluable remnants of our own Pacific Northwest maritime history into a cramped 100 year old ex-jail that is neither seismically nor spatially up to the task.

 

One would hope the NDP would consider stealing a page out of the Liberal handbook: since the premier and many of his senior lieutenants are from this area, look into what it would take to kick in the requisite funding.

Funny how other places can 'get it done' but too often Victoria plays the role of bridesmaid yet rarely the bride. 

 

We have a left-leaning city council: for heaven sake comrades have backroom conversations, if you have to meet after midnight on a weekend on the third floor stacks of the UVic library in the "Socialism Rules!" section, with your left-wing provincial counterparts and convince them to help out and just get it done.

 

That the capital city of the third largest province in the country, a tourist gem attracting close to 4 million people annually, and representing over 150 years of local, regional and national maritime history - both commercial and military - has to go begging for funding in wholly unsuitable quarters while Vancouver for example got $500 million bucks for a stadium roof, is beyond surreal......its the Twilight Zone.


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#231 Nparker

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Posted 05 February 2019 - 10:04 PM

...That the capital city of the third largest province in the country...has to go begging for funding in wholly unsuitable quarters while Vancouver for example got $500 million bucks for a stadium roof, is beyond surreal......its the Twilight Zone.

Sometimes you just have to accept that you're the red-headed stepchild and make peace with that

(no offense to red heads or step children intended)



#232 Mike K.

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 07:06 AM

It’s all about industry.

Victoria has none, literally (our biggest employer is government, municipal, provincial, federal and military). Our biggest private employer is what, a grocery store chain? Vancouver is the engine of this province and to keep the engine firing on all cylinders the province needs to invest. It’s a real drag but that’s the reality.

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#233 Bob Fugger

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 11:57 AM

That the capital city of the third largest province in the country, a tourist gem attracting close to 4 million people annually, and representing over 150 years of local, regional and national maritime history - both commercial and military - has to go begging for funding in wholly unsuitable quarters while Vancouver for example got $500 million bucks for a stadium roof, is beyond surreal......its the Twilight Zone.

 

What is surreal is that you can't get your head around the state of affairs, here.  It's really rather simply explained.  Here you go: 

 

BC Liberal Government: "There's no point in investing infrastructure dollars in Victoria, they'll never vote for us, no matter what we do.  We're better off spending those tax dollars in swing ridings that we already have and need to keep."

BC NDP Government: "There's no point in investing infrastructure dollars in Victoria, they'll always vote for us, no matter what what we do.  We're better off spending those tax dollars in swing ridings that we don't already have and can probably get."

 

And that's (southwestern) BC politics for you in a nutshell.


Edited by Bob Fugger, 06 February 2019 - 11:58 AM.


#234 Torrontes

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 02:12 PM

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, in Falmouth, is a great example of what can be done: https://nmmc.co.uk/

 

It is interesting for both kids and adults (I qualify in both categories) and is a major tourist attraction. I highly recommend it (as my Avatar would attest). Yes, it is located on the water, as our Maritime Museum should be.

 

There are lots of maritime industry companies operating in B.C., big and small, so why hasn't a campaign been started to sign them up? Perhaps it has. You only have to take a read through the latest copy of Western Mariner magazine to see the extent of such activity. Once politicians see industry getting aboard (excuse the pun), then it's much easier to twist arms for funding.



#235 Jackerbie

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 02:44 PM

Despite having the more grandiose title, Victoria's Maritime Museum of BC will be competing with the Vancouver Maritime Museum for funding dollars. One is in a heritage building in Bastion Square, the other will likely be in a purpose-built, starchitect-designed waterfront space in Coal Harbour (if the plan comes to fruition). Where do you think the industry money is going to go?


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#236 Jackerbie

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 02:46 PM

It's the exact same thing with the Victoria Art Gallery. They're desperate for funds, meanwhile the Vancouver Art Gallery just got a $40M donation, and has $85M in private donations for the new building to date. 



#237 Nparker

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 02:48 PM

To be fair, perhaps the local MM promoters can finagle a few public dollars for some feasibility studies. We are good at studies; so good in fact I think the CRD should hire a Regional Director of Studies (at no less than $125,000 year).



#238 Jackerbie

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 03:18 PM

^ You're encroaching on NDP territory there, methinks. Best to double up and have a Ministry position, too



#239 Nparker

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 03:25 PM

You make a good point Jackerbie. To be on the safe side, maybe it would be best to have 13 different Directors of Studies (one in each municipality) who never communicate with each other - except when they fly to Miami for the annual Studies Directors Conference.



#240 LJ

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Posted 06 February 2019 - 07:44 PM

Would Ogden Point be big enough to house a decent maritime museum?


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