Britannia Village Opening Day & Beaucoup Bakery Giveaway
Over the last two decades, Britannia Beach has been undergoing an renewal, which began with the mine site, and now Britannia Village will be opening as a new community and destination along the Sea to Sky Highway. The grand opening celebrations of the residential and commercial complex, just south of Squamish, will take place on August 23rd, and everyone is invited to join the festivities.
Opening Day | Story | Village | Enter to Win!
Britannia Village Opening Day
- Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Location: 101 Church Street, Britannia Beach
- Free to attend
Along with the official opening ceremony, the day will include live music, games, face painting, and giveaways and it will be the perfect opportunity to explore this unique and storied place.
About the Britannia Beach Area
The Britannia Mine operated from 1904 to 1974 and was once the largest copper mine in the world. Over its 70-year history, more than 60,000 people from over 50 countries lived and worked in this remote and self-contained community in Britannia Beach.
Back in 2010, the National Historic Site (Mill # 3) and museum area reopened under a new brand with updated attractions, with the popular BOOM! show opening in 2019. In 2017, Macdonald Communities commissioned an Archaeological Overview and Assessment as part of the First Nations consultation process for the Britannia redevelopment project. This report was authored by Squamish Nation archaeologists, providing meaningful insights into the pre-colonial history of the Britannia area in the context of the larger Howe Sound ecosystem.
Britannia Village is final step in of 20-year project to renew the Britannia Mine site.
“The grand opening of Britannia Village marks the fulfillment of a dream which began 20 years ago,” says Robert Macdonald owner and founder of the Macdonald group of companies. When they acquired 10,000 acres at Britannia Beach including 200km of Britannia mine shafts and tunnels back in 2005, the site was leaking three tons of copper into Howe Sound per day. Working with the provincial government, there was a substantial effort to cleanup the mine’s environmental impact which sparked the remarkable environmental renewal of the Átl’ka7tsem / Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.
“Over the following years, we rebuilt the existing neighbourhood and added 100 new homes and 73 new townhouses. These developments, crowned by the opening of Britannia Village, have brought Britannia Beach back to life. I consider the restoration of this historical and ecological zone in Howe Sound to be the most important thing I have done in my long life of development,” adds Macdonald.
A Renewed Village
This new village area (across the street from the mine) has nine restored historic mine town buildings, from the church and schoolhouse to the old movie theatre, with an exciting and growing range of shops, restaurants, and services like: Autostrada Oyster Bar & Grill, Copper Beach Kitchen & Bar, Beaucoup Bakery, Copper & Fern Boutique, Kawartha Dairy, and the General Store which also stocks a full selection of beer, wine, and spirits alongside essential general goods.
There have also been a series of conversations and interviews with Squamish Nation storytellers, some of which shed additional light on the significance of the Britannia area. Some of this rich oral history will be shared in interpretive stations along the Creekside trail.
Guided by the vision of lead architect Donal O’Callaghan the and the work of historians who documented the past uses and context of the buildings, the renewed village has been turned into a welcoming, walkable community, set against the backdrop of the Coast Mountains and Howe Sound. With 10 EV charging stations, accessible public washrooms, and a wi-fi hotspot, Britannia Village will be an essential stopover along Highway 99.
About Britannia Mine Museum
The Britannia Mine Museum provides unique and memorable experiences that engage visitors of all ages. Enjoy fun exhibits and crowd favourites like the underground mine train, gold panning, the historic 20-storey concentrator Mill building and its BOOM! special effects show, the minerals and gem gallery, the gift shop and the Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre. Follow the Britannia Mine Museum on Facebook and Instagram for more information about their seasonal events for Spring Break, Pride, Halloween, and Christmas holiday offerings.
Enter to Win
I have a $75 Beaucoup Bakery gift card to give away! The bakery is now open in their new Britannia Village location, set within a restored 1936 bunkhouse.
Located at 161 Copper Drive, the 2,050-square foot, 50-seat space, complete with a 545-square foot patio, is designed by BOTI Interiors to evoke the charm of a French Alpine retreat while paying homage to the area’s rich mining history. Anchored by a striking fireplace, the design draws inspiration from mid-century modern aesthetics and rustic elements, seamlessly blending tradition with contemporary flair.
What’s On the Menu
Guests can expect a menu featuring Beaucoup Bakery’s signature collection of pastries, viennoiseries, and sandwiches, as well as new and exclusive items not available at its other cafes – donuts and après-ski fondue sets. At launch, donut flavours include vanilla-glazed yeasted, double chocolate, black sesame cruller, matcha-glazed cruller, and filled options like strawberry ganache and pistachio pastry cream.
There will be two Après-Ski Fondue Sets: a sweet variety with matcha chocolate, accompanied by madeleines, mini scones, and shortbread cookies; and a savoury cheese option with mini croissants, plain scones, and bread. The beverage menu, created by Jacky, features Beaucoup’s classic lineup of coffees and loose leaf teas, as well as a brand new exclusive Britannia Beach line-up of tea drinks and Matcha Fizz flavours using Paragon Tea matcha, including Mango Marché, Guava Lumière, and Shizuoka Matcha Blanc.
Follow Britannia Village on Instagram for updates, new openings, and more.
