The Exploration Place

The Francophone Ranchers of B.C.’s Interior Plateau 1860s-70s (English)
2025-08-16 13:00 (America/Vancouver) | The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place, Prince George, British Columbia, V2L 4V7, Canada
Ernest Patenaude, left, at Harper’s Camp, today the village of Horsefly, near the present-day city of Williams Lake BC, 1896. (Source – Horsefly Museum)

A conference by historian Maurice Guibord, Director, Société historique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique
The SHFCB presents a conference on the Francophone Ranchers of the Cariboo and the Okanagan in the 1860s-70s, following research and oral history interviews with the descendants of the Boucherie, Guichon, Isnardy, Lequime, Minnaberriet, Patenaude, Pigeon, and Versepuech/Gaspard families. We will focus on how the descendants of these ranchers contributed to the fabric of BC history and also see how the Indigenous descendants of these families found their respective places during their historical journeys.
All are welcome to attend, and admission is free.

Saturday, August 16 in French at 10:30am; in English at 1:00pm

Maurice Guibord has been involved in history and heritage for almost 40 years. His museum experience in the curatorial and programming areas in Calgary’s Glenbow Museum and the Burnaby Village Museum matches his involvement in heritage, cultural and museum organizations in Alberta and B.C. He is also a founding director of the Heritage Vancouver Society, and is active with the Vancouver Heritage Foundation and with Radio-Canada as a historical chronicler. He holds a Masters degree in History from Simon Fraser University and is a Sessional Instructor there. He is an active Board member of the BC Historical Federation and is the Executive Director of the Société historique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique. He has been a resident of the Lower Mainland since 1990. In 2017, he received the Award of Honour for Francophonie Day by the Province of BC “for his invaluable contribution to the research and dissemination of BC’s Francophone history and heritage”.

Senior Monday
2025-08-18, 2025-08-25, 2025-09-01, 2025-09-08, 2025-09-15, 2025-09-22, 2025-09-29, 2025-10-06 and 1 more date

Daycare Wednesday
2025-08-20, 2025-08-27, 2025-09-03, 2025-09-10, 2025-09-17, 2025-09-24, 2025-10-01, 2025-10-08 and 1 more date
Bring your little explorers for a fun day of discovery and play! All day long, admission is just $2.50 per child, and care providers and kids under 2 get in free. It’s the perfect midweek outing for daycares and preschools!

Admission by Donation Thursdays
2025-08-21 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-04 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-11 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-18 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-02 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-09 09:00 - 17:00 and 1 more date
Pay what you can and explore with us!
Enjoy The Exploration Place with admission by donation every Thursday. We’re making it easier for everyone in the community to explore our exhibits, learn something new, and have fun—at whatever price works for you.
Donations support the Fraser-Fort George Museum Society, a Northern BC non-profit organization and registered charity whose goals are to preserve our local history and foster lifelong learning in the areas of science, technology, heritage, and culture.

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Homeschooler Monday: Squishy Circuits
2025-09-15 09:30 - 22:30
Homeschooler Monday: Squishy Circuits
Who knew electricity could be so…squishy? In this hands-on workshop, kids will use playdough to build their very own working circuits! With glowing LEDs, buzzers, and fun shapes, they’ll learn how electricity flows while creating light-up sculptures, squishy creatures, and silly inventions. Get ready to squish, shape, and shine, because science has never been this fun!

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This program is free of charge thanks to our generous supporters:

Early Explorers: Build and Break
2025-09-17 09:30 - 22:30
Early Explorers: Build and Break
Calling all tiny builders! Get ready to explore the exciting world of construction! In this hands-on program, toddlers will build, create, and play with a variety of materials while discovering how things fit together—and sometimes, how they tumble apart.
Through playful activities and fun games, little explorers will boost their creativity, practice focus, strengthen memory, and learn self-control, all while experiencing the fascinating magic of cause and effect. Building up, knocking down, and starting over again has never been so much fun!

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This program is free of charge thanks to our generous supporters:
