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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">May 26, 2020<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"">Royal BC Museum to re-open Friday June 19
<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""> </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">VICTORIA, BC–</span></strong><a name="OLE_LINK5"><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">Following the guidelines of the Province’s “</span></strong></a><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/bc-restart-plan"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Restart
Plan</span></a><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">”, and adhering to a comprehensive phased approach, the Royal BC Museum will re-open to the public on Friday, June 19, 2020.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">“</span></strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">As we re-open to the public, o<span style="background:white">ur
primary goal is to prioritize health and safety. </span>Although we are well placed to introduce physical distancing measures, similar to those used by grocery stores, we are taking a cautious approach to re-opening as a number of operational issues need to
be addressed first. These include physical changes, including better visitor paths through the galleries, the rearrangement of work spaces for staff, timed entry procedures and the availability of PPE and hygiene supplies for staff, volunteers and visitors<strong><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">,”
said Prof. Jack Lohman, CEO of the Royal BC Museum. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";font-weight:normal">“</span></strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Our volunteers are so important to us and a high proportion of
them are retirees who are likely to feel vulnerable. We need to ensure we have considered everything before welcoming them. The museum galleries will be opened through a phased approach this summer.”</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></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-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">On March 17, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal BC Museum temporarily shut its doors to the public.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">While the museum was closed, staff members have worked remotely on numerous projects, including scenario planning for the museum and archives’ eventual re-opening.
<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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Visitors will note numerous physical distancing measures, engineered controls and administrative changes at the Royal BC Museum, all in place to help limit the resurgence of the virus and protect
staff and visitors. <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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">These changes include limits to the number of visitors in the galleries, timed tickets, acrylic barriers at all points where visitors and staff interact and a greater number of hand-washing
stations throughout the museum. More information is available at <a href="http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca">
royalbcmuseum.bc.ca</a>. <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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">As it moves towards a “new normal”, the Royal BC Museum will balance the desire for access with the need for safety and will re-open its galleries in phases. Upon re-opening on June 19, the
museum’s second floor— including the feature exhibition </span><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-year"><i><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">—</span></i><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">will
be open. <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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">The third floor galleries (including
<i>Our Living Languages</i>, the First Peoples Gallery and Old Town) will remain closed, re-opening in phases throughout the summer.
<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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Timed tickets will be available online, from the museum’s website, starting Monday, June 15, 2020.<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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">British Columbians outside of the Vancouver Island area can access Royal BC Museum programs through its online offerings, visit a touring exhibit (like
<i>Our Living Languages</i>) at their local museum or cultural centre and follow the museum’s important repatriation work with Indigenous communities.<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"><span style="font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">The museum’s re-opening schedule follows the Province’s phased approach, which permits museums, art galleries and libraries to re-open as early as mid-May under enhanced protocols.
<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"><span style="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-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">About the Royal BC Museum</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="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-size:11.0pt;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 histories, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Located in Victoria on the traditional territory
of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations), 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""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">Media contact:</span></b><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"><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="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><img border="0" width="19" height="16" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.png@01D6334D.FD172860" 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:windowtext;text-decoration:none">@RoyalBCMuseum</span></span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55"">
</span><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><img border="0" width="18" height="18" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D6334D.FD172860"></span><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><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><img border="0" width="22" height="22" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D6334D.FD172860"></span><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:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">______________________________________________________________________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">Erik Lambertson
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">Corporate Communications Manager | Marketing, Sales and Business Development</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">R</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">OYAL</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:#5C8727;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">BC</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"> M</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Univers LT Pro 55";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">USEUM</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">Traditional Territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations)<br>
675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC Canada V8W 9W2 </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">T 250 387-5051 | F 250 387-0102</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><br>
<a href="mailto:ELambertson@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:blue">ELambertson@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca</span></a></span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"> | </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:blue">royalbcmuseum.bc.ca</span><span style="color:blue">
</span></a></span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><br>
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
Join us on:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RoyalBCMuseum"><span style="color:blue">Facebook</span></a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/RoyalBCMuseum"><span style="color:blue">Twitter</span></a> |
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</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#212121;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#212121;background:white;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">
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