Viewing Object

The Museum is located within a designated Heritage Conservation Area in the village of Fort Langley, Township of Langley. Community collecting began in the 1920's with a Native Sons of BC exhibit located in the last remaining Hudson's Bay Company fur trade era structure (circa 1840). A decision by the Canadian Parks Services to actively interpret Fort Langley prompted the provincial and municipal governments to cooperate in the construction of a new museum adjacent to the National Historic Site.

The Township-owned museum opened July 1, 1958 and housed a majority of the Native Sons collection. It was operated by volunteers until 1974 when it was selected by the Federal government as a site for one of 22 National Exhibition Centres across Canada. The physical plant doubled in size, its mandate was extended to include art, history and science traveling exhibitions and the first staff person was hired. Federal NEC operating funding was eliminated in 1994 but the museum has continued to respond to that expanded mandate. In 1991, the Museum became the core facility of the Community and Heritage Services Department, Planning, Development and Stewardship Division, Township of Langley.
Term Source: BCAUL

Constance Jervis was born in Vancouver on March 25, 1915 to Dr. James and Mavis Jervis, nee Gillacorn. The family lived in Alberta for a few years before moving to Langley, where Dr. Jervis became Langley's first veterinarian. Connie married Roger C. Winter (August 9, 1913-January 11, 1997) in 1944, and they had 3 children, Jim, Barbara, and Peggy. Connie was a schoolteacher in Langley. The Knowledge Network's documentary series "Working People: A History of Labour in BC" features a vignette on Connie Jervis and a school strike (the middle episode, near the end). Connie was one of the founding docent group at the Langley Centennial Museum in 1974, and volunteered for many years. Connie Winter passed away on July 26, 1998.