About MOS

Racism, systemic racism, and xenophobia related to diverse Black, Indigenous, and persons of colour (POC) communities have led staff at the Museum of Surrey to pause and reflect. Racism, discrimination, and inequality are prevalent throughout the world, and our corner of Canada is no exception. None of it is acceptable. The Museum of Surrey has a responsibility to provide all communities with a venue to express their voice and tell their stories to promote change in ourselves and for future generations.

The Museum of Surrey’s vision is “To be the best people museum in Canada by connecting people, communities, and stories”. Our mission is to ignite young imaginations and connect Surrey’s diverse citizens and communities. Following this, our core values are community, wonder, engagement, connection, innovation, and stewardship. The Museum of Surrey is a venue to experience stories of all people connected to Surrey regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, religious beliefs, and diverse abilities. Through reflection and consciously practicing these values, we hope to help build a society free of racism and discrimination, to be a people museum that is inclusive of all.

The Museum of Surrey’s commitment is to contribute to this journey of change by these actions:

• Reviewing our vision and mission and upcoming programs and revise and update them to ensure they guide us towards the goal to be inclusive and address the colonial provenance of museums.
• Committing to seek out, engage, and develop community partnerships from Surrey’s marginalized communities to ensure their stories are shared.
• Requiring staff and volunteer training in Indigenous awareness, and ensuring anti-racism, bias, and inclusivity training is consistently integrated into orientations and annual learning.
• Implementing strategies for recruitment that will achieve the diversification of museum staff and volunteers to reflect the demographic of our City.
• Scheduling dialogue opportunities with Indigenous, Black, and POC communities to inform Museum programming and direction.
• Evaluating and diversifying our programming to ensure it achieves the goal of accessibility, through a process of dialogue and partnership with Surrey residents of all colours, genders, sexual orientations, beliefs, and abilities.

We acknowledge that the voices of Indigenous, Black, and people of colour in our communities need equity and inclusion. We commit to listen and welcome the opportunity to learn from and partner with Surrey’s diverse communities. We commit to providing a venue and opportunity for people to connect with each other, and to share their stories—past, present, and future. We encourage Surrey residents to use their museum as a venue to voice their stories.

Watch the recordings of our Anti-Racism Speaker Series:

• African Descent History in BC

• Belonging at the Table

• The Dos and Donts of Anti-Racist Work in Museums

If you want to share your thoughts and suggestions, please contact us at museum@surrey.ca.