The Township of Esquimalt is hosting an open house in their municipal archives where visitors can interact and explore local treasures from the past, meet the archive caretakers and learn about the municipality.
Esquimalt hopes to bring awareness to the community about the importance of the archives in developing the services that are available to the public.
Though this open house is a one-off event, the Township also wants to make it known that residents can contact the archives team to learn about the history of a property or research a family history year-round.
At this open house, there will be several family-friendly activities.
Some of these include a memory mapping activation, an interactive news corner with a scavenger hunt, displays of historic and nostalgic advertisements as well as a historical property research station.
Additionally, the Township will be creating a time capsule with event-goers that will be safely secured until it is opened in 2050.
“Archives aren’t just old photos or fading papers—they are living evidence of our past, holding the wisdom and lessons a community needs to build a stronger, sustainable future,” said Dr. Dulma Karunarathna, archivist for the Township of Esquimalt.
“The archive open house demonstrates how past meets present and history is for everyone.”
In addition to helping Esquimalt residents explore the community’s history, the event will also seek to inspire new donations to the archives.
Esquimalt municipal archives open house
- Where: 1249 Esquimalt Road, Unit 103
- When: Wednesday, November 19th, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
