The Stories That Shape Us: Collecting Memory at the Chilliwack Museum
“Everybody has a story to tell.”
That simple idea sits at the heart of Collecting Memory, the newest long-term exhibit at the Chilliwack Museum, on view until Fall 2028.
But this isn’t just about history. It’s about how history is chosen.
What Do We Remember… and What Gets Left Out?
Every community builds its identity through memory.
The stories we pass down.
The ones we celebrate.
The ones that get written into official records.
But Collecting Memory asks a bigger question: What about the stories that weren’t included?
This exhibit openly acknowledges that many voices in Chilliwack’s history, including Indigenous peoples, immigrants, minority communities, and LGBTQ+ individuals, have not always been equally represented. And it does something powerful. It makes space for them now.
A Living, Breathing Archive
What makes this exhibit different is that it isn’t fixed. It’s evolving.
Built in partnership with local community members and organizations, Collecting Memory reimagines the museum as something more than a place that stores the past. It becomes a living archive, shaped by real people, real experiences, and ongoing contributions. Through storytelling spaces, photographs, and shared memories, you’re not just learning about history. You’re witnessing it being expanded.
Rewritten.
Rebalanced.
Reclaimed.
Memory Is Something We Create Together
There’s a quiet invitation woven throughout this exhibit. To reflect on your own memories, to think about what you’ve been taught, and to consider what stories you might carry forward. Because memory isn’t just something we inherit. It’s something we actively shape as individuals, and as a community.
Plan Your Visit
Collecting Memory is on display at the Chilliwack Museum until Fall 2028, giving you plenty of time to experience it… but it’s one worth visiting sooner rather than later. Take your time with this one. It’s not just about looking back. It’s about understanding whose stories brought us here — and whose stories are still being told.
When you leave, you might find yourself asking: What stories have shaped you… and which ones are still missing?
