General Museum Tour
The program starts with a tour of the newly-renovated museum, highlighting a variety of topics relating to 20th century British Columbia, including coal mining, labour history, immigration, Japanese internment, and Chinese exclusion. This tour includes a guided walkthrough of our current special exhibitions. (30-45 min – indoor) $6 per student
Estimated Time: 30 – 45min – indoor
Cost: $6 per student
Featured Exhibition Tour: A Seat at the Table
A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia is an award-winning exhibition that explores historical and contemporary stories of Chinese Canadians in BC and their struggles for belonging. Younger students will be introduced to topics such as Chinese immigration in Canada, Chinese food culture and community building. This program can be combined with the Chinatown tour, the Chinese & Japanese Cemetery tour, or the Film Workshop: Letters From Home. (45 – 60 min) $6 per student
Estimated Time: 30 – 45 min – indoor
Cost: $6 per student
Film Workshop: Letters From Home
Born and raised in Cumberland, filmmaker Colleen Leung recounts her upbringing and her struggles with belonging. After visiting China in her teens, Colleen discovers that her grandfather had a wife and children he left behind. This film follows her journey from Cumberland to China and back again.
Students will be introduced to topics such as the Head Tax, the Exclusion Act, and how discriminatory legislation impacted individual families in Cumberland.
Estimated Time: 30 – 45 min – indoor
Cost: $6 per student
Self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour will provide educators with a scavenger hunt to allow students to engage in independent exploration of the museum. A variety of scavenger hunts are available depending on the age/grade of the participants.
Estimated Time: 30 min – indoor
Cost: $2 per student
Chinese & Japanese Cemetery Tour
For this tour, visitors and students will have an opportunity to reflect on the lives of the Chinese and Japanese residents buried at the cemetery. Students will learn about Chinese and Japanese burial practices in the diaspora and the importance of the site in the history of Cumberland.
Estimated Time: 30 – 45 min – outdoor
Cost: $8 per student
Chinatown
Learn about Cumberland’s former Chinatown with a guided outdoor tour of Coal Creek Heritage Park. This tour will focus on the history of Chinatown and its residents in the story of Cumberland, including cultural and other significant contributions made by individuals and groups. This tour can be combined with A Seat at the Table or the Film Workshop: Letters From Home.
Estimated Time: 45 min – outdoor
Cost: $8 per student
Coal Creek Historic Site – Chinatown & Japanese Town
Walk through the former Chinatown & No.1 Japanese Town sites in what is now Coal Creek Heritage Park. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the formally thriving townsites while we discuss their rise and fall. Visitors will also get the chance to learn about some of the contributions the former community members have made to honour their hometowns.
Estimated Time: 60 min – indoor
Cost: $8 per student