STAYING SAFE, TOGETHER

The safety of our guests and staff is our top priority. We ask you to work together with us to keep the museum a safe space for yourself and everyone else. Things are going to be different when you visit to shop or to learn, but we are happy to welcome you back to the museum. 

What’s open 

• Museum Gallery 
• Gift Shop – please use the Commercial St. entrance and read all signage
• Hours: Gift Shop & Museum Gallery: Tuesday – Sunday (10:00am – 4:00pm)
• We are also open until 9pm on Thursdays for the Commercial Street Night Market!
• Hours are subject to change, please check Google for most current information

What’s different

• Masks are recommended in all areas of the museum and gift shop, as per health orders. Guests are encouraged to bring their own masks, however, we will have some disposable masks available as backup for guests who have forgotten theirs and would like one.
• Entry to the museum and gift shop will be through the Commercial St. entrance only. There will be no access to the elevator from the parking garage until further notice.

What we’re doing to keep you safe 

• Limiting numbers in the gift shop and museum gallery 
• All staff will be wearing masks
• Encouraging physical distancing with signage
• Providing physical barriers such as Plexiglas shields in customer service areas. 
• Providing substantial access to hand sanitizer. 
• Increasing cleaning and disinfecting throughout our facility. 
• Strongly encouraging visitors to use their own wheelchairs onsite. 

What we’re asking of our visitors 

• If you are feeling sick, or have any flu or cold-like symptoms, please stay home. 
  • Here is a link to the BC self-assessment tool:  https://bc.thrive.health/ 
• Stay home if you have:
  • Been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
  • Have been asked to self-isolate
• As per safety protocols, we recommend all visitors wear a mask during their visit to the museum either to shop or visit our gallery. 
• Practice good hygiene
  • We have hand sanitizer available throughout the museum and gift shop.   
  • Avoid touching your face. 
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow, even when wearing a mask. 
• Maintain physical distance 6 feet/2 metres away from others. 
• Please bring your own wheelchairs if needed
  
• Please be patient! 

Donations  

As with all museums and businesses the COVID-19 crisis has impacted our resources. Admission to the museum gallery is by donation for the season. However, if you would like to support our exhibit and programming development fund you can do so in person at the museum, online here on our website, or contact General Manager Sophia Maher at manager@nanaimomuseum.ca to discuss opportunities to support. We appreciate your support.

COVID Project – Get Involved! 

The Nanaimo Museum and Nanaimo Community Archives are partnering on a large-scale project to collect Nanaimo’s COVID-19 history. The project will unfold in phases to collect stories, photos, artifacts & interviews from our community. 

We are extending an open invitation for citizens of Nanaimo and the surrounding area to contribute their thoughts and reflections while history is being made. The stories and artifacts collected may be used in future exhibitions and as primary research material for future generations. 

COVID-19: Nanaimo Stories is expected to continue even after the immediate crisis is over as people process the impact of this global event in their own lives. 

Please share your story here: http://nanaimomuseum.ca/covid-19-project/