The Britannia Mine Museum is re-launching next weekend after a name change (from the BC Mining Museum), refreshed logo, and updated visitor experience on the grounds of the old Britannia Mine, about 10km south of Squamish.
John and I were invited up for the day to check out the grounds, the new buildings, and go underground to see what the life of a miner at Britannia was like.
The mine-site was established as a National Historic Site and a BC Historic Landmark in the early 1970s but it began its life in 1904. It soon grew to become the largest copper mine in the British Empire and at one point, produced 17% of the world’s copper.
The new visitor’s centre leads out into a courtyard of old wooden buildings huddled together with a boardwalk, rocky pathway, and remnants of giant metal machines from an era gone-by.
Heading into the new information centre, the sound of metal-on-rock guides you through a quick corridor featuring equipment and hologram-like shadows of miners. You can duck around a corner to watch their new feature film, which we both really enjoyed. As far as movies in museums go, every bit of information provided was interesting on many levels.
Walking out into a hall you can peek at minerals and precious metals on display; from meteorite to quartz on rhodochrosite. You’ll also learn about how the mine cleaned up its act since it was one of North America’s largest sources of heavy metal pollution (straight into the waters of Howe Sound) for 70 years.
After playing with interactive displays with sliding touch-screens you can head outdoors once again to walk over to the old Administration Building. Here you’ll find an “A-Z” of life at Britannia and at the Mount Sheer townsite. There are antiques, such as old counting machines and drama club trophies and even lost love letters. You’ll quickly notice that the museum focuses on two main aspects; mining (how it works, what it does, how it’s evolved), and life as a miner (history, life, and love in Britannia Beach & the Mount Sheer townsite).
Stories of community gatherings, tales of tragedy, and all that was involved with life in Howe Sound during the first half of the last century fill the museum’s walls and display cases.
It wasn’t until the late 1950s that the highway was constructed and connected the townsites to Vancouver. Until that time, for about 50 years, the only way in and out of Britannia was by pack horse over the mountains or steamship direct to Vancouver. Aside from the isolation, the entire area was owned by the mine so daily life revolved around the work and the company.
Once you weave your way through the buildings you can pick up a hard hat at the Copper Sulphate building and head up toward the Mining House for an underground tour that will take you through the side of the mountain.
The 30 minute guided tour starts off on a train that leads you through the face of the hillside, through a small portion of the 200km of tunnels that make up the mine. The guide explains how things worked in the tunnels and demonstrates some noisy machinery used by the miners. It’s a really neat experience but if you’re claustrophobic you may not like the first part of the tour, when you lose sight of daylight on either side of the tunnel. However, such was the extreme life of a miner — and the experience they are going for with the tour.
After the tunnel, our guide took us through the Core Shed, and the iconic Mill 3 building. It’s the building that you can see from the Sea to Sky highway and has also been a set for many films and TV shows (from X Files to 21 Jumpstreet and Double Jeopardy).
There we learned several more processes and by the end of the tour, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how solid stone could be mined, milled, and turned into pure concentrate powder, ready to be shipped out to the smelter.
Other activities at the museum including gold panning workshops, performances, and a stroll through the gift shop. I noticed that since they are in the middle of re-branding, anything with a “BC Mining Museum” logo was 50% off.
What I loved most about our visit was that among the dirt, dust, heavy metal, and rusted machinery, the museum incorporates the softer side of Britannia in their exhibits. The love, the family, the sense of community, and the softer human elements of the mine — not just the cold hard stone. That, and it gave me more of an education about the region’s history, which I always find fascinating.
The Britannia Mine Follow them on Twitter @BritanniaMine and make a point to stop in during your next trip up the Sea to Sky, or make it your family’s next day-trip destination.
If you would like to visit the mine, I have a family pack of passes to give away (good for 2 adults and up to 3 children). The passes will be valid for the next 12 months so you can plan your visit anytime. Here’s how to enter:
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RT to enter to win passes for @BritanniaMine from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/2DyTP
I will draw one winner September 22nd at 12:00pm.
Update The winner is Paul McEwan (@PaulMcEwan) – have fun at the mine with your family!
I learned to drive in Surrey where, with a lack of frequent and sufficient transit service or bike routes at the time, driving was the top option for getting around. When I moved to Vancouver I sold my car and went pedestrian for about five straight years. Getting that perspective, especially living downtown, was an eye-opener in terms of the way traffic flows in this city. Now that I have a vehicle for the first time in about five years, I’m experiencing downtown from the other side of the wheel. While we try to only use our vehicle for weekend getaways out of town, on occasion I find myself in the midst of heavy commuter traffic or sometimes the most bizarre driving feats (wrong way down a one-way street, backing up all the way down a road etc.).
With school back in session and commuters returning from vacation, the streets of Vancouver just got busier. Living in the West End, roundabouts (or traffic circles) have replaced two or four-way stops in order to keep traffic calmed. You can also spot a giant roundabout at UBC (on 16th) or down a Highway 99 exit in Surrey. They can also help the flow of cars run more smoothly however I’m noticing a serious lack of knowledge when it comes to using roundabouts. I decided to head to the internet for a bit of an education in using traffic circles. What I found was a helpful video, produced in Ohio. After sharing it on Twitter last week I thought it was deserving of its own post.
If you’re unsure, it’s always better to proceed with caution and yield. Drivers just need to take their time (and get off their hand-held phones) in order to ensure everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound.
The 2010 Global ComedyFest Vancouver got a quick preview last night as comedian Jo Koy performed at the Commodore. Official running September 16th until the 26th, the festival will feature local and global talents in comedy clubs and on big stages around the city.
September 24th at The Vogue Tom Green with Neil Hamburger
Tickets start at around $20 (for Lafflines shows) and about $40 (for shows at The Vogue). Here’s how can enter to win two tickets to Tom Green’s performance September 24th.
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RT to enter to win @VancouverComedy tickets to see Tom Green from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/2DptC
I will draw one winner (who will receive two tickets) on September 17th at 12:00pm.
The ComedyFest Vancouver is also hosting block parties on September 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th where you will have the chance to win some awesome prizes from WestJet.
Update The winner is @MistaBill on Twitter, congratulations!
Walking by the torn up Robson Square above-ground plaza yesterday I realized I still haven’t posted about the construction. Shortly after the Olympics and Paralympics ended, my regular #5 downtown bus driver said that the route would be on a detour (right at Thurlow, left at Smithe, left at Burrard, along Pender) until at least September. Now that September is here and the plaza is still a bit of a mess, here’s the scoop on what’s going on over there.
Remediation work continues at Robson Square to preserve the heritage architecture of this three-block complex designed by Arthur Erickson. The project is part of a BC Government initiative that began in 2004 to renew the 30-year-old “building envelope” and introduce other site enhancements, including the revitalized outdoor plaza and public skating rink. The remediation project will continue through 2010. [UBC Robson Square]
The latest update on the Government of BC’s website confirms that 90 percent of the building structure is now waterproofed, which was the main concern. Where the “red spring” sculpture stands on the street-level of Robson Square they are about 60 percent complete. The road area was ripped up a few weeks ago and that stretch is now being completed. The construction is not expected to wrap up for another few months with Robson Street (between Hornby and Howe) reopening the second week of December, 2010.
The Ministry of Citizens’ Services says the “green roof” that went up and down hills on the plaza will be restored using modern green roof technology (that they did not have 32 years ago when it was first built). Trees, vines, shrubs and bushes will return (some were saved) and will be replanted.
It looks like the project will be complete by the time ice skating opens up again down below in the Robson Square GE Plaza Ice Rink.
Update It looks as though the future of the rink is undecided. News1130 reported the following September 15, 2010: “Former Minister of State for the Olympics and current Minister of Citizen Services Mary McNeil knows exactly what benefits the rink brought during the 2010 Games. However, it may not be re-opened to the public this winter. “It was an exciting spirit I think we want to try and continue. We are looking at what we can do. As you know, it’s in the midst of a huge remediation project and the building is old.” A maintenance and build contract with General Electric expired after the Paralympic Games. McNeil says the government is still looking at new funding partners.”
Update Per UBC Robson Square’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, the ice has gone down and the rink should be open for the weekend on December 5th.
Tickets for the upcoming 2010-2011 Vancouver Canucks seasons go on sale today. This is the Canucks 40th anniversary season and with changes in the lineup and a new name for their home rink, things have definitely been shaken up a bit. Whether that’s for the better or not is yet to be seen but according to those I’ve chatted with so far, everyone’s looking forward to seeing what this season will hold.
1968 program cover designed by George McLachlan
Let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane to see how the team as we know it has spent the last 40 years. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
