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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">November 16, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:9.3pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Embrace the holiday season at the Royal BC Museum
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:9.3pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">this December<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:9.3pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">VICTORIA, BC–</span></strong><a name="OLE_LINK5"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Celebrations of holiday spirit
abound at the Royal BC Museum in December, from Christmas in Old Town with a photo-op featuring Father Christmas, to world celebrations for Wonder Sunday, to an animal house party for New Year’s Eve.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Has the endless loop of Christmas mall music got you feeling like a Grinch? Come to
</span></strong><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105218/christmas-old-town"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Christmas in Old Town</span></a><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">
for an infusion of tasteful Victorian-era décor and your heart will grow three </span>
</strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">sizes. Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm throughout December (until January 9). Included with museum admission or membership.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Capture the seasonal spirit with a photo alongside</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105195/father-christmas-old-town"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Father Christmas in Old Town</span></a><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">on the first three weekends in December (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 1-3, 8-10 and 15-17) from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Included with museum admission
or membership. Photos are by donation. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">The</span></strong><strong><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></i></strong><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/exhibitions/wpty2017"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</span></i></a><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">exhibition, back by popular demand, opens on Friday, December 8 (and continues until April 2, 2018). Spend your holiday break admiring the skill of photographers
and the wonders of the natural world that they captured. The Royal BC Museum has added specimens to the exhibition, allowing visitors to get a closer look at, and sketch, animals from the museum collection. Share your experiences on social media with #RBCMWPY.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Learn about wintertime celebrations around the world at our family program,</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105113/wonder-sunday-world-celebrations"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Wonder Sunday: World Celebrations</span></a><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">.
Join us on Sundays (December 3, 10 and 17) from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Included with museum admission or membership.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Warm up your vocal chords for the</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105162/11th-annual-carol-along-carillon"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">11th Annual Carol-Along with the Carillon</span></a><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">on Sunday, December 3 from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm. Gather your friends and family (including the furry variety) on the upper courtyard of the museum.
</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Provincial Carillonneur</span><em><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#6A6A6A;background:white"> </span></b></em><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Rosemary
Laing will accompany the Newcombe Choir, assembled below. Hot chocolate and cookies help to make the season bright. This event is by donation.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Beatles and car enthusiasts alike will enjoy December’s</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105158/live-lunch-john-lennons-rolls-royce"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Live at Lunch</span></a><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">talk about John Lennon’s unique Rolls-Royce Phantom V on Wednesday, December 6 from noon to 1:00 pm in Newcombe Conference Hall. Admission is by donation.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Have an outfit you think could be improved? Wear it to
</span><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105457/fashion-machine-100"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Fashion Machine 100</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
and you might be one of the lucky audience members selected to have it altered by local children and youth from Theatre SKAM in under one hour (don’t worry: you can opt out of being selected). Wander around and watch the teams of kids work. You have three
opportunities to participate in this performance/installation: Friday, December 15, Saturday, December 16 or Sunday, December 17 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Tickets are $10 per person or $30 per family.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Who needs a time machine when you can step through the doors of the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original site, Helmcken House, and experience an
</span><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105601/helmcken-house-old-fashioned-christmas"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Old-Fashioned Christmas</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">?
See what Christmas in Victoria would have been like more than 100 years ago. Helmcken House is open 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm daily from Sunday, December 17 until Sunday, December 31. Enjoy
</span><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105616/holiday-stories-helmcken-house"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Holiday Stories at Helmcken House</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
from the Victoria Storytellers Guild on Saturday, December 16 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Please note that the Royal BC Museum and Victoria IMAX are
</span><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105259/museum-imax-closed"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">closed</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""> on December 25,
2017 and January 1, 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Looking for a family-friendly New Year’s Eve activity? You are invited to
</span><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/105139/early-shift-going-wildly-new-year"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Early Shift: Going Wildly into the New Year</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
on Sunday, December 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Have a wild party in our <i>Wildlife Photographer of the Year</i> exhibition at our popular annual family-oriented party featuring animal antics, musical mischief and forest frolics.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">For more information about any of these events, visit our online calendar at
</span><a href="http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/calendar"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/calendar</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">.
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">About the Royal BC Museum</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="xbodytext" style="margin-top:.1pt;background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">The Royal BC Museum explores the province’s human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding of BC, and provides
a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. We are a hub of community connections in BC– onsite, offsite and online–taking
pride in our collective histories. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xbodytext" style="margin-top:.1pt;background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">- 30 -</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Media contact:</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Royal BC Museum Media Inquiries
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">778-679-1379<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><a href="mailto:news@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">news@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyA" style="background:white"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img border="0" width="19" height="16" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image007.png@01D35ECF.054F4A40" alt="Twitter_logo_blue"></span><a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalBCMuseum"><span class="Hyperlink1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:black;text-decoration:none">@RoyalBCMuseum</span></span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span><img border="0" width="18" height="18" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image008.jpg@01D35ECF.054F4A40"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/royalbcmuseum/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">royalbcmuseum</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span><img border="0" width="22" height="22" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image009.jpg@01D35ECF.054F4A40"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RoyalBCMuseum/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">RoyalBCMuseum</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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