Construction Updates
salishan Place by the River planning open house
The Township of Langley ask community members for feedback to help shape the galleries and exhibits at salishan Place by the River, Langley’s new cultural centre, and new home of the museum and Fort Langley Library. It will provide indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces, including a reception hall and presentation theatre.
See the open house information and outcomes.
Construction progress
May 8, 2023
The spring rains have helped to green up the vegetation everywhere you look in Langley! This has been especially true of the green roof that is currently being installed at salishan Place! Grown locally by NATS Nursery Ltd. in Aldergrove, this custom mix of plants will help reduce the overall carbon footprint of the facility.
The paving of Mavis Avenue and King Street around salishan Place will take place over the next couple of weeks. New curbs and sidewalks have been poured and will be connected with fresh asphalt.
March 29, 2023
Contractors have installed cedar beams along the north side of the building facing Mavis Road. They are preparing for the green roof next! The South Mills Champs Amphitheatre on the south hillside is beginning to take shape and the Freybe's Interpretative Gardens will be installed soon.
Inside salishan Place, the drywall is up and painting is in progress throughout the facility. Crews are also installing an energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system which will regulate and maintain the indoor air quality at salishan Place.
salishan Place by the River gathering
January 18, 2022
salishan Place by the River, the Township of Langley’s new arts, culture, and heritage facility is now under construction in Fort Langley. Prior to the start of excavation activities, Township staff gathered with Indigenous community partners to connect with the land, the ancestors, and one another, to celebrate the development of this collaborative cultural centre.
Representatives from the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen) and Máthxwi (Matsqui) First Nations came together in small groups to share a few songs and words about Salishan Place. Representatives from q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations were unable to join us in person; they were with us in our hearts and in our minds.
salishan Place construction is generously funded through the British Columbia Arts Council Infrastructure program, the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure program and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
Construction progress
November 4, 2021
salishan Place by the River, has seen some rapid construction progress over the last couple of weeks. Prefabricated pieces of the building have been trucked in and erected with a large crane, creating some of the exterior walls, underground parking level and first floor of this exciting new venue. Every week the site, located at the corner of Mavis Avenue and King Street, is seeing major changes as the building takes shape and moves towards the anticipated opening in 2023.
salishan Place by the River construction update
August 6, 2021
Construction for the Township’s new arts, culture, and heritage centre in Fort Langley is underway. During the months of April, May, June, and July, site preparation work took place for the development of Salishan Place by the River. Specifically, existing homes on the site were deconstructed and their materials were recycled, archaeological investigation and monitoring was conducted, the building’s footprint was surveyed and marked, the existing vegetation was cleared, and excavations began for the building’s footings and parkade. Three trees that were within the footprint of the new building were cut down. Their logs have been retained for local Indigenous carvers to turn into house posts; these posts will be displayed at the new centre. A section of a fourth tree will be used by a local carpenter to build furniture for Salishan Place.
Prior to the start of construction, ACCI staff gathered on site with representatives from the land-based q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations communities on whose traditional territories the Township was established in 1873. Together we shared songs, prayers, and words to acknowledge and prepare the land, the ancestors, and ourselves for the upcoming construction-related changes. A video of this gathering is currently in production.
This summer, the ACCI team will be working closely with our community partners and supporters to vision the interior and exterior spaces at Salishan Place. Discussions will include exhibit and program themes and topics, gallery and classroom layouts, and technological applications to enhance visitor/learner experiences. Stay tuned to museum.tol.ca as we move forward with this exciting project!
$3 million for new museum and cultural complex in Fort Langley
The Township of Langley is very pleased to receive $3 million from the Government of Canada in support of a new 36,000-square-foot cultural centre and museum complex in Fort Langley. View the floor plans here.
New museum and cultural complex
salishan Place, will feature Indigenous and community galleries, program spaces, community archives, a reception hall, a 167-seat theatre, and the Fort Langley Community Library.
The new complex is being developed in collaboration with q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations communities. Learn more.
Donate to salishan Place. Your donation will make a lasting impact on arts and culture initiatives within the Township of Langley. All donations of $25 or more will receive a tax receipt.