School Programs
Heritage School Programs are led by experienced and knowledgeable educators. In each program students are encouraged to use their critical thinking skills to explore exhibitions and collections and dive deeper into curriculum-relevant themes.
All programs are 90mins in length, and available daily at 10:00am and 12:00pm. Each program can accommodate a maximum of 30 students per session.
Cost: 163.95 (GST included)
For more information and to book programs please contact schoolprograms@newwestcity.ca or 604.527.4640
View our School Programs Brochure.
Programs are listed below:
Stories of the Samson V
Location: Samson V | Available May–October only
Preschool
All aboard the Samson V! In this hands-on, story-filled program, preschool students climb aboard the last floating steam-powered sternwheeler in North America to explore how people have travelled by water for centuries. Students will learn about the important role of the Samson V in keeping the Fraser River clean and discover stories of other boats that once shared its path. With a strong focus on exploration and observation, this program encourages curiosity about local history, technology, and the environment. Students will also create their own model boats to take home as a fun reminder of what they’ve learned.
*Please note due to the age and architecture of the Samson V Sternwheeler this program is not wheelchair accessible.
Heritage at Home
Location: Irving House
Kindergarten – Grade 2
What makes a house a home? In this interactive program based at historic Irving House, students explore ideas of family, community, and heritage through storytelling, discussion, and hands-on activities. Moving through different rooms in the house, students reflect on their own family traditions and home lives while making connections to how people lived in the past. With a focus on building empathy and understanding, this program encourages students to recognize both the uniqueness and commonalities of diverse households and communities.
*Please note due to the age and architecture of Irving House this program is not wheelchair accessible.
Mapping Stories
Location: New Westminster Museum
Grade 4 – 6
In this engaging, inquiry-based program, students explore the New Westminster Museum to uncover local stories and learn how communities and places have changed over time. Using maps, archival records, and hands-on activities, students investigate key historical events, geographic features, and the diverse people who have shaped this region. Along the way, they’ll build skills in map reading, spatial thinking, and historical inquiry – all while developing a deeper understanding of how New Westminster has grown into the community we see today.
Welcoming New Westminster
Location: New Westminster Museum
Grade 5 – 6
New Westminster is home to a rich diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions - but was it always this way? In this program, students will engage in guided exploration of the New Westminster Museum to learn about the histories and experiences of various newcomer communities, including early immigrants from China, Japan, and South Asia. Through inquiry-based activities, students will examine the challenges these communities faced, their contributions to the city, and the evolving meaning of belonging in New Westminster. The program encourages reflection on immigration, identity, and how diverse histories shape the community today.
Where in the World is Billy Miner?
Location: New Westminster Museum
Grade 5 – 6
Billy Miner also known as the “Grey Fox” is one of the most notorious criminals of the 20th Century. The legendary train robber was not only able to evade law enforcement for years, but even escaped from the infamous BC Penitentiary right here in New Westminster. So how did he do it and where did he go? Students will put their literacy and social studies inquiry skills to the test as they work in small groups to explore primary and secondary sources and solve the mystery of Billy Miner.
Roots of Reconciliation: Early New Westminster
Location: New Westminster Museum
Grade 5 – 7
Roots of Reconciliation explores the complex interactions between Indigenous Peoples and early settlers on the land now known as New Westminster. Through inquiry-based activities, students will think critically about these relationships and how they shaped exploration, industry, and settlement in the region. The program concludes with a reflection on the lasting legacies of these early interactions and invites students to consider their role in the ongoing journey of reconciliation.
Standing in Solidarity (available in 2026)
Location: New Westminster Museum
Grades 9 – 12
Step into the story of labour history in New Westminster through our dynamic new exhibition. Students will explore how the power of organizations shaped the rights and freedoms many workers benefit from today. Through inquiry-based activities, group discussions, and a hands-on workshop, students will develop a deeper understanding of collectivization and its lasting impact on our working lives.
Education Kits
All Education Kits are available for a 3 week rental period (beginning in January 2026) and include thematic curriculum connected lesson plans, primary and secondary source materials, and more to keep students engaged and learning.
Education Kits are picked up and dropped off at the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia Street).
Cost: FREE ($150.00 deposit required)
For more information and to book programs please contact schoolprograms@newwestcity.ca or 604.527.4640
Kits are listed below:
What’s Cooking?
K – Grade 3
Food connects cultures, communities, and families – yet everyone brings unique food traditions and cooking practices to the table. In this Education Kit, filled with discussion prompts and inquiry based activities, students will explore artifacts from the teaching collection to learn about cultural cuisines and cooking practices from both the past and present. The program concludes with students sharing their own food stories, traditions, and experiences from home.
Play Time!
Grades 1 – 3
Have you ever wondered how the concept of play has changed over time? Or how toys and games differ around the world? This exciting Education Kit explores the importance of play and how it differs across generations and continents. Through structured play and inquiry based activities students will gain a deeper understanding of the ways fun impacts our daily lives and the similarities and differences across these divides.
Reframed: Understanding Community Through Photos
Grades 4 – 9
Photographs tell stories – but whose stories do they tell, and whose are left out? In this thought-provoking Education Kit, students will investigate vintage cameras and historic photographs of New Westminster to explore how images shape our understanding of the past. Through a mix of independent and group activities, students will develop inquiry skills, analyze representation in historical narratives, and engage in ethical discussions about memory and perspective. By the end of the program, students will have built their own informed views on how communities and histories are remembered and shared.
Stories from Yi Fao
Grades 5 – 9
“Yi Fao,” meaning “second port,” is the name Chinese residents gave to New Westminster’s Chinatown, which existed from 1858 to 1980. But what happened to Yi Fao? Where did it go? And most importantly, why? Answers to these questions and more can be found in this engaging Education Kit filled with lesson plans and resources that equip students with the tools to explore the vibrant community life, cultural practices, and contributions of Chinese Canadians in New Westminster, while also examining the discriminatory policies and events that led to the community’s decline. Through guided inquiry-based independent and group activities, students will reflect on themes of cultural identity, and the importance of community in the ongoing journey toward reconciliation and inclusion.
