Victoria’s Inner Harbour proposed floating heritage and cultural centre is expected to take a major step forward, with a memorandum of understanding anticipated to be signed within the next three weeks.
The “Future of History” project—a collaboration between the Maritime Museum of BC and the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations—aims to share local First Nations’ history and deep connection to coastal waters, which dates back thousands of years.
It was first announced in October 2024, with very few updates shared publicly since then.
Negotiations with the provincial government are now moving closer to a formal stage, according to Angus Matthews, a Joint Working Group Member of the Future of History Project and a volunteer board member with the Maritime Museum of BC.
“I would say three weeks,” said Matthews.
“That would then start the formal negotiation process for the site, and that could take six months.”
Signing the memorandum would allow formal negotiations to begin, including discussions around future use of the Steamship Building.
While negotiations for the site are expected to conclude before the end of the year, the timeline for the opening of the centre extends several years into the future and is closely tied to the Belleville Terminal project.
“Being an optimist, we hope to open on June 7th, 2029, but that will only be possible if the Belleville Terminal project stays on schedule,” he said.
“When the Clipper moves out, we have about eight months to insert the new Maritime Museum into the Steamship Building.”
The centre would be located at the foot of the historic Steamship Building and in the same site as the Undersea Gardens, spanning approximately 15,000 square feet, with plans to eventually incorporate the building itself.
The building and its associated water lease are provincially owned, and their future incorporation is the main topic of discussion.
“The floating structure will fit in the exact footprint of the former Undersea Gardens and will not encroach further into the harbour—it’s a very minimal expansion.”
Once the site is secured, the project will move into its next phase: fundraising.
The centre is estimated to cost $40 million, with funding expected to come from private philanthropy, corporate sponsors, and the federal government.
“$11 million will be raised from private philanthropy, another $17 million from corporate sponsorships and foundations, and the rest will come from federal government support,” said Matthews.
He added that the project is not seeking funds from the province or the City of Victoria, noting that the province’s contribution would be the land and water lot.
After fundraising is complete, construction of the floating structure would begin in Esquimalt before being towed into the Inner Harbour once the site becomes available.
At its core, the Future of History aims to present two maritime histories side by side, emphasizing connection rather than division.
“It’s not intended to disguise anything about history. It’s not intended to mislead anyone about conflicts in the past. And it’s not about who did wrong,” said Matthews.
“It’s about genuinely understanding history from two lived experience perspectives and learning how we can tell the story of how these maritime cultures get along in the future as well.”
Once completed, the heritage cultural centre would restore this prime waterfront location, creating a vibrant cultural hub where both locals and visitors can come together to learn more about Victoria’s past.
