The Museum of Surrey is reopening to the public Sept. 9.
After being closed for six months, museum manager Lynn Saffery announced the plan to reopen in a press release Aug. 27.
The museum will start offering free, hour-long tours on the ninth, but patrons must pre-register online or by telephone.
The release said visitors will be capped at 40 and all 鈥渃itywide COVID-19 safety protocols鈥� must be followed.
鈥漌e鈥檙e embracing the new norm,鈥� noted Saffery. 鈥淲e will maintain all safety guidelines from Health BC, WorkSafe BC and City of Surrey to keep the community safe and provide a space to enjoy and visit.鈥�
Saffery added there are new exhibits to see, as well as Arctic Voices鈥攖he exhibition that opened briefly March 5 before the museum and all City of Surrey facilities were closed March 16 because of COVID-19.
鈥淲e are excited to welcome back the public and know how important it is to build community connections, especially during this time.鈥�
Pre-registered tours will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday.
鈥淰isitors will take their self-guided tours in a one-way direction, stopping at the Surrey Stories Gallery, Indigenous Hall and Photo Mural,鈥� the release said. 鈥淭he climate focused Arctic Voices exhibit will also be open, as well as a community partner exhibit about family history. With safety the top priority, the hands-on TD Explore Zone will remain closed.鈥�
There will be no tours on Thursday afternoons, as the museum will offer its Sketching Series program from 3 to 4 p.m. The Sketching Series, which is free, is open to all ages and offers the public a chance to sketch the items in the Arctic Voices exhibit.
Visitors can register at surrey.ca or call 604-592-6956.
Also on Sept. 9, the plan is to reopen the doors of Surrey Arts Centre/Surrey Art Gallery and Surrey Libraries (City Centre, Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, Ocean Park, Semiahmoo and Strawberry Hill branches).
Later, a mid-October reopening date is the target for the arena and aquatic centre at Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex in Fleetwood.
After months of pandemic-caused closure, the City of Surrey鈥檚 park, recreation and culture facilities reopened in a phased approach starting Aug. 17 with the arena at North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex.
鈥� with files from Tom Zillich
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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