Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) carver Wade Baker provided us with a sneak peek of his studio for our “Bringing Stories To Life” campaign. Photo: Alison Boulier

To belong to a community means knowing its stories and experiences. Today, the North Vancouver community comes one step closer to opening the doors to the new Museum of North Vancouver.  

In advance of the opening of a new 16,000 square foot purpose-built facility in 2021, the North Vancouver Museum and Archives is excited to reveal its new visual identity and name — MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver — and is using the occasion to kick off a community fundraising campaign called “Bringing Stories To Life” as part of their ongoing $1.5M new museum fundraising appeal.

North Vancouver’s Stories Live Here

Located at 115 West Esplanade in the heart of North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale Shipyards District, MONOVA will be well-situated adjacent to Lonsdale Quay, Polygon Gallery and the SeaBus Terminal.

MONOVA will transform the way the community experiences North Vancouver’s stories. Stories are the threads that weave us together and form the fabric of community.

At MONOVA, you’ll find yourself drawn in to landscapes you knew nothing about, meeting people from different eras, and contemplating what it all means for the present as we move towards our collective future. 

Exterior rendering of the new Museum of North Vancouver opening in 2021.

New Carving by Wade Baker to be Unveiled

In addition to being a new space for interactive multimedia exhibits, innovative programming and public gatherings, MONOVA will be home to the recently restored Streetcar 153 and a stunning cedar carving of Sch’ich’iyuy (The Two Sisters) by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) carver Wade Baker.

“The red cedar Sch’ich’iyuy panel is based on the ancient Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sister’s Mountain Transformer legend.

The twins were raised from childhood to be leaders for their people. They asked their father, the Siyam, the Chief, to bring peace to the warring tribes along the coast. He could not refuse their request and fires were lit all along the coast to signal a great welcoming feast to bring peace.

For their efforts, the twins were immortalized in the mountain peaks you see today that watch over us.” – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) carver Wade Baker

We’re excited to partner with Wade Baker to introduce our “Bringing Stories To Life” campaign. Watch his cedar carving of Sch’ich’iyuy (The Two Sisters) to be unveiled next year. 

Interior rendering of the new Museum lobby, featuring Streetcar 153 and Wade Baker’s Sch’ich’iyuy (The Two Sisters) carving.

Get Involved with the New Museum

When it opens in 2021, the new Museum will engage, strengthen and inspire our community by exploring the stories of North Vancouver’s past, present and future.

The Museum will join the Archives of North Vancouver in Lynn Valley in engaging and supporting the north shore community in discovery and storytelling under the MONOVA banner. 

We invite the community to come together and get involved to financially support MONOVA so that we can create a dynamic and innovative hub where the stories of North Vancouver’s people, places and past come to life. 

Join us in supporting your community museum by making a gift. Please donate today. 

Otherwise, we invite you to check out our website, and follow us on social media to get to know us!