Heritage Interpretation

During my ten years as an Heritage Communicator/Interpreter with Parks Canada at Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, I spent a lot of time talking with people about the history of Fort Langley and the Hudson's Bay Company, the Parks Canada System, the beginnings of British Columbia and the Vancouver area.

Now I spend my time researching, preparing and conducting ceremonies commemorating people, places and events of national historic significance as designated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC).

My responsibility covers an area of Southwestern British Columbia, known in Parks Canada as the Coastal British Columbia Field Unit, which includes the lower mainland, all of Vancouver Island and portions of the interior of B.C.  Part of my duties include assisting organizations and local governments in bringing to the attention of the HSMBC items of local history that may have national significance. If you know of something that has had an impact on the development of Canada - it's people and presence on the world scene - then please contact me at your earliest convenience. I'd be happy to discuss the Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada national commemoration programme with you.

Upcoming ceremonies include:

The hours of operation for Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada are:

• Mar 15 to Jun 23 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, daily.
• Jun 24 to Sep 1 - 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, daily.
• Sep 2 to Oct 31 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, daily.
• Nov 1 to Jar 14 - 10:00 AM to 5:00PM, Tuesday to Saturday (excluding holidays).

Current admission rates are:

For school, youth or tour groups, contact the site office at (604) 513-4777.

Information is available at the Visitor Centre at the entrance to the fort and in the Operations Building inside. For more information, contact the site at:

Fort Langley has an active Volunteer Program and volunteer organization, The Friends of Fort Langley National Historic Site Cooperating Association. If you live in the Vancouver, B.C. area, you are cordially invited to participate in this community program. Volunteers help with the interpretive program, special events and operate the Friends of the Fort Gift Shop.

There are also opportunities for those a little farther afield for a couple of our major special events; specifically, the annual Candlelight Tour (early April) and Fur Brigade Days (early August). Contact the site for more information.

When in the Vancouver, B. C. vicinity, please stop by the fort and say HI! We always enjoy a friendly visitor. :)

If you like historic things, there are two other museums in the community of Fort Langley, the Langley Centennial Museum and National Exhibition Centre and the British Columbia Agricultural and Farm Machinery Museum. Or travel up the valley and visit the historic town of Yale, named for the Chief Trader at Fort Langley during the Fraser River gold rush.

And visit the Xa:ytem Longhouse, one of the oldest native settlements on the lower Fraser River, across the river and east of the fort, representing one of the rock people of the Sto:lo nation (members of the Coast Salish language group). It has been dated to more than 8000 years from present.

Follow this link to find some of my favourite places on the web. Here you will find the links to other heritage sites, environmental groups, Today in History and other assorted things. Visit, and enjoy!

The WEB-COUNTER indicates that you are visitor to this site!

Return to Gerry's Home Page

This page prepared by Gerry Borden
: July 16, 2006