After years of dreaming, planning, grant writing and fundraising, the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives’ universal accessibility renovations have begun. The renovations will make the museum more accessible to visitors with mobility issues while revitalizing the museum’s public exhibit space. A construction crew from Summerhill Fine Homes is working away, literally building history. Improvements include the installation of a platform lift to the second floor, the creation of a wheelchair-accessible washroom, and an expansion of the museum entrance.
From March 1 to June, the museum will be closed to the public for the renovations. During this time, staff will still be working hard to assist in research requests and anything else museum related. The museum is best reached via email at [email protected], or telephone at 604-886-8232. Visit the museum’s Facebook page to see the progress as pictures of the transformation are posted.
The renovations couldn’t move forward without the generosity of the many people who have supported the project through financial donations and the museum’s Adopt an Artifact campaign. The Sunshine Coast Regional District and Town of Gibsons also awarded grants to get the project off the ground, and substantial grants from the Sunshine Coast Community Forest’s Legacy Fund and the federal government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund sealed the deal. Talented local architect Teryl Mullock has also been instrumental in the project.
