A Celebration of Inclusion and Diversity

Surrey, BC –The Museum of Surrey is celebrating inclusion and diversity in the community with a free family friendly event on June 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. called SENSES – Family Kickoff to Summer.

Visitors of all ages and abilities can expect hands-on fun and engagement inside and out, with activities hosted onsite by community partners, including Canucks Autism Network, City of Surrey Accessibility, Historic Stewart Farm, Surrey Nature Centre, Surrey United Soccer, TD Bank Group and more.

Meet the museum’s mascot Raj the Raccoon, blow bubbles, have a caricature made, explore the galleries, and make crafts. There’s even an opportunity to win a prize. For those wanting a quieter space, swing by the Sensory Friendly Room upstairs to borrow a Sensory Kit and have fun with beach-themed sensory bins.

"Ensuring that our buildings, public spaces and events are accessible to our community members is a key priority for our city,” said Tara Cleave, City of Surrey Accessibility Services Manager. “We look forward to hosting SENSES as an inspiration to guide the development of events within our city and beyond.”

This event is a partnership with the City of Surrey’s Accessibility Services Team and Museum of Surrey.

In 2019 Museum of Surrey launched a new sensory-friendly initiative. In partnership with the Canucks Autism Network (CAN), the museum began offering sensory-friendly hours from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Sunday of each month, providing an opportunity to tour the museum with reduced lighting and sound. Visitors can borrow complimentary noise-cancelling headphones — which are available from the front desk at any time, not just during the sensory-friendly hours — and can access the permanent, sensory-friendly space on the museum’s second floor. The next free Sensory Sunday event is on July 3.

The Museum of Surrey is located at 17710 56A Avenue. For more information, call 604-592-6956 or visit surrey.ca/museum.