Collections – Introduction

NVMA encourages people to explore North Vancouver’s fascinating history. Our collections of archival materials and museum artifacts contain important community records and significant objects. They tell the stories of this place, of the events that have shaped our community, and of the people who have lived, worked, and played here.

The Community History Centre is a focal point for research about North Vancouver. A Reference Historian is available on site (Tues-Sat, noon to 5pm), by telephone (604-990-3700 ext. 8012), and via e-mail to assist users in accessing archival materials.

For over a century, members of the British Columbia Mountaineering Club have taken their cameras with them into the wilderness. Explore some of their greatest photographs in Mountain Light: Photos from the BCMC Collection

The photographs are all part of the records of the BC Mountaineering Club, held at the Archives.  The records are a treasure trove of photographs, but the textual records, dating from the first days of the Club in 1906, are of equal interest. They document the exploits of the Club in a wide range of endeavour: first summit climbs; the shared mountaineering life of remote cabins and summer camps;  photography and cartography; the study of geology, geography, and natural history; education and advocacy for mountaineering and conservation of wilderness areas.  Contact the Archivist to access these records.

Gearing up for war, and particularly war at sea, was a costly undertaking for the Government of Canada. Throughout World War II the Government sold Victory bonds – a means of borrowing money at interest from the people of Canada, to defray the cost of arming the nation.

It might be said that the Burrard Dry Dock Company and its employees made a double contribution to the war effort; they built the ships that supplied Britain and defended convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic, and they invested in Victory Bonds. Shipyard rallies promoted the sale of bonds and encouraged competition for the highest sales between departments. See a Victory Bond drive in action!

To learn more about Wartime Shipbuilding, visit our virtual exhibit, A Riveted Community.