Maritime Museum signs option for Steamship Terminal

After 49 years at Bastion Square, the Maritime Museum edges closer to Victoria's Inner Harbour waterfront! A six month option-to-lease has been signed for the causeway level of the Steamship Terminal, with Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA). The parties are keen to settle arrangements that would see the Maritime Museum celebrate a grand re-opening in 2015.
 
“We are absolutely ecstatic to have a six month option in place, with the aim of signing a long term lease for the Steamship Terminal. I am confident that an agreement will be in place soon positioning the Maritime Museum on Victoria's beautiful inner harbor where it belongs. We could not ask for a more fitting home than the historic Steamship Terminal,” says Jon Irwin, Executive Director at the Maritime Museum of BC. “We are especially grateful to the Province (Shared Services BC) and GVHA for smoothing the waters in anticipation of our planned re-launch in a waterfront, wharf side, steamship-heritage building: Perfect!"
 
“We are proud of the region’s long maritime history,” said GVHA President & CEO, Curtis Grad. “And, we look forward to working with the Maritime Museum and Shared Services BC to find a fitting location to tell the amazing stories and celebrate the rich history of Victoria’s harbour.”
 
Shared Services BC has been working with the Maritime Museum to secure a new home. The parties signed an option to negotiate a long term lease of the causeway level of the Steamship Terminal.
 
“Thanks go out to Shared Services BC, the Maritime Museum and GVHA for coming together to explore the potential of the Steamship Terminal as  a spectacular new home for the museum’s  collection,” said Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Andrew Wilkinson. “This new facility will ensure that this important piece of B.C. heritage will continue to educate and inspire visitors for years to come.”

"Congratulations to the collaborative partnership that helped find a new home for the Maritime Museum of BC in the beautifully restored Steamship Terminal," said Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. "The museum's new location in the heart of our capital city's busy tourism hub is a great place to display one of the largest collections of maritime artifacts, photographs and charts in North America. Best wishes to the Maritime Museum of BC for every success in the future."

To prepare, the Maritime Museum is closing to the public at Bastion Square on October 21, 2014 with a planned reopening next year. "During the transition, the Maritime Museum will look for temporary opportunities with other public institutions to showcase a few of our 35,000 artifacts while we undertake a complex move, and we welcome proposals in this regard," added John West, Chair of the Maritime Museum.
 
The Museum will stay open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights through to October 21 so people can get a look at the current exhibits on display. Tours will also be running those nights with either Victoria Vice Tours or Ghost Tours being offered.
 
Contacts:  
Kristy Fallon, Maritime Museum of BC, kfallon@mmbc.bc.ca or 250-580-8149
Ivan Watson, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, iwatson@gvha.ca or 250-418-0700