Today at the Langley Centennial Museum, John Aldag, Member of Parliament (Cloverdale–Langley City), announced $3 million in federal support for a new Cultural Centre and Museum Complex in Fort Langley.
The Township of Langley will build the Fort Langley Museum Heritage Centre with this funding. The Centre will be a 36,000 square foot facility, including a 166 seat theatre, a Centennial Museum, and a new Indigenous Museum developed with Kwantlen First Nation.
The complex will also hold community archives, a print making studio and four multi-purpose programming spaces.
“The Kwantlen First Nation continues to work tirelessly to build and support a strong sense of community within our traditional unceded territory. We are so grateful for the support from Canadian Heritage and we look forward to our continued partnership with the Township of Langley and the Government of Canada on this important project. We are excited to share our rich culture and history with local, regional and international visitors, to celebrate and honour the rich local Indigenous presence in this area, and to continue to strengthen relationships with our neighbours and local governments. The Fort Langley Museums Heritage Centre provides so many positive cultural, educational and economic opportunities for us all and we are so pleased to be a part.” —Chief Marilyn Gabriel, Kwantlen First Nation
The Township of Langley will operate both museums with Kwantlen First Nation acting as advisors for the Indigenous museum.
The centre will bear the name Salishan, Place by the River.