The 18th annual Doors Open Richmond offers opportunities to experience a new side of the city
Two-day event will showcase more than 50 sites for the city-wide celebration of culture and heritage
Celine Hong serves as a director of the Richmond Museum Society. Celine has spent her career working with people and communities to share their experiences and stories. Her roles have spanned from engaging the public to improve government services, designing exhibits for cultural institutions and museums, and supporting the Society alongside the dedicated staff of the Richmond Museum. As someone who grew up in Richmond, Celine feels deeply connected to this city, and that it is an honour to represent the board at community events like Doors Open and to advocate for the celebration of Richmond’s rich cultural heritage –Celine Hong
MAY 6, 2025 (RICHMOND, BC) —The Richmond Museum presents the 18th annual Doors Open Richmond (DOR) from June 7–8, 2025. This year’s event brings together more than 50 partner sites spanning art studios, national historic sites, agricultural farms, and religious organizations that highlight the diversity of the city. While the event is largely self-guided, the Richmond Museum will offer two different bus tours for those interested in exploring the sites thematically.
Eunice Robinson grew up on Sea Island in the Cora Brown Subdivision. Being interested in family history as well as the history of Sea Island, has been involved with the Sea Island Heritage Society since its inception. Our motto is “A life not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory.” It is with this motto in mind, that we have a passion to record anything and everything related to Sea Island. – Eunice Robinson
“No matter what age or background, Doors Open Richmond offers something for everyone,” says Bilan Hassan, Chair of the Richmond Museum Society. “From civic workers and local artists to businesses showcasing their incredible work, this event provides opportunities to step inside the places that shape our community and meet the people who bring it to life. Richmond is a vibrant, multicultural city filled with unique stories, ideas, and experiences—and Doors Open is the perfect chance to discover it all.”
Highlights from this year’s program include: KPU Farms, a new site joining DOR this year, which invites families to explore sustainable growing methods and a rich variety of locally grown crops; Seawrack Press Studio is perfect for those interested in learning about the rich traditions of paper making and bookbinding; and LuLu Island Winery, where visitors can walk the vineyards for a one-of-a-kind look at wine making and a guided tasting.
Printmaker, poet, papermaker, and book artist, Gina Page has spent many years on the BC Coast, a significant influence on her work. Gina studied printmaking at UBC with Bob Steele, has taken printmaking and other courses at Emily Carr University, and has been an active studio member of Malaspina Printmakers Society on Granville Island since 1991. Gina’s first chapbook of poetry, Along a Road of Pattering Shade, printed by Will Hudson in Powell River in 1986, was reviewed by George Woodcock in a 1989 issue of BC BookWorld. Her books of poetry are held in public and university libraries in Canada and the US. She has taught in Powell River, North Vancouver and Richmond. – Gina Page
Vivian Mearns Notaro teaches cedar weaving as part of Richmond Museum programming for Doors Open Richmond 2024. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Strang and Richmond Museum.
Due to popular demand, the number of bus tours this year has been doubled. The Sacred Spaces tour on Saturday and Sunday will bring visitors to different places of worship along No. 5 Road, known as the “Highway to Heaven,” and additional neighbourhoods in Richmond. This year’s tour will make stops at Lingyen Mountain Temple, Eastern Catholic Church, and Vedic Cultural Centre on Saturday, and Richmond Ismaili Jamatkhana, Richmond Jamia Mosque, and Steveston Buddhist Temple on Sunday.
Originally from Oshawa, Ontario, Gregory is a Richmond resident and Manager of the Richmond Olympic Experience located on the 3rd floor inside the Richmond Olympic Oval. Purpose built to host long track speed skating for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the Richmond Olympic Oval has since transformed into a community asset including 2 Olympic-sized ice rinks, 6 hardwood basketball courts, 4 rubberized volleyball courts, an Olympic competition height climbing wall, and high-performance fitness centre, and the Richmond Olympic Experience Museum. As Manager, Gregory operates museum programming and exhibits to celebrate the success of local Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the success of Team Canada on the world stage. A graduate of the Art History program at the University of Toronto, Gregory enjoys sharing the cultural components of the Olympic Games and translating the excitement the Games produce into health and wellness initiatives and educational experiences for both Richmond locals and tourism guests. – Gregory Huzar
Newly added is the Discover Doors Open tour, a specially curated tour that will showcase three different partner sites on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the stops will be at The Sharing Farm, Effat Mirnia Art Studio, and Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple. On Sunday, the stops will be at Athiana Acres, LuLu Island Winery, and FT Art Studio.
Participants boarding a bus tour for Doors Open Richmond 2024. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Strang and Richmond Museum.
In addition to the in-person program, visitors can learn more about sites through two new videos that will be screened at the Richmond Cultural Centre Annex Lounge and richmondmuseum.ca/theatre. This year’s videos will take a look behind-the-scenes of the Steveston Kendo Club, one of the oldest clubs of its kind in Canada, and the Gateway Theatre as they present the stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Kathy Tycholis is the Education & Public Programs Coordinator at the Richmond Art Gallery, where she has been creating and delivering arts programming since 2004. With a background in studio visual arts, art education, and contemporary art practices, she brings a well-rounded perspective as both an educator and arts administrator. Kathy has taught art classes and led tours for audiences of all ages, with a focus on making contemporary art accessible, engaging, and relevant to the community. Since stepping into her current role in 2011, she has developed a wide range of programs that reflect the Gallery’s commitment to inclusive, lifelong learning. Over the past two decades, she has also built strong relationships with local artists and arts organizations, helping to foster a vibrant and connected creative community in Richmond. – Kathy Tycholis
While most programs are available on a walk-in basis, some will require advance registration. Visitors can find out more and plan their Doors Open experience at richmondmuseum.ca/doors-open.
Participants at Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple for Doors Open Richmond 2024. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Strang and Richmond Museum.
Leslie is the Executive Director of the Sharing Farm Society, located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded and asserted territory of the xʷmə��kʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. Leslie has worked a the Farm since 2012. She is an enthusiastic grower of food, and avid beekeeper and advocate for native pollinators, as seen in her earlier roles as Apiary Manager at Hives for Humanity, and as a founding board member of the BC Native Bee Society. She’s deeply committed to food security and habitat protection, for both humans and non-humans. – Leslie Williams
Steveston Buddhist Temple. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Strang and Richmond Museum.
Doors Open Richmond 2025 Partners
- 12 Service Battalion Museum & 39 Service Battalion
- Athiana Acres | NEW
- Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre
- Bahá’í Community of Richmond
- BC Ambulance Services
- Bodhi Meditation
- Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
- Cat Hart, Branscombe House Artist-in-Residence | NEW
- Eastern Catholic Church Richmond
- Effat Mirnia Art Studio | NEW
- FT Art Studio | NEW
- Gateway Theatre [Video Only]
- Gina Page, Seawrack Press Studio
- Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
- Gurdwara Nanak Niwas: India Cultural Centre of Canada
- KPU Farm | NEW
- Lingyen Mountain Temple
- London Farm
- LuLu Island Winery
- Minoru Chapel
- MLA Kelly Greene Constituency Office | NEW
- Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple
- Our Saviour Lutheran Church
- Richmond Art Gallery & Richmond Public Art, Canada Line Art Tour
- Richmond Artefact Collection
- Richmond Caring Place
- Richmond City Hall
- Richmond Family Place
- Richmond Fire-Rescue
- Richmond Ismaili Jamatkhana
- Richmond Jamia Masjid (Sunni Muslim Mosque)
- Richmond Museum
- Richmond Nature Park
- Richmond Olympic Experience Museum
- Richmond Public Library
- Richmond RCMP
- Richmond Recycling Depot
- Richmond Youth Education Center
- Sanduz Estate Wines
- Scott Pleydell-Pearce Artist Studio
- Sea Island Heritage Society
- Steveston Buddhist Temple
- Steveston Kendo Club [Video Only] | NEW
- Steveston Museum & Post Office
- Steveston Tram
- SU ART Studio | NEW
- Textile Arts Guild of Richmond
- The Sharing Farm at Terra Nova
- Turkish-Canadian Society
- Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko
- Vedic Cultural Centre
- Weavers and Spinners Studio
Established in 2008, Doors Open Richmond is the longest-running Doors Open event in BC. The local event is part of the Doors Open Canada program supported by the City of Richmond, the BC Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada. The event is organized by the Richmond Museum Society.
About the Richmond Museum
The Richmond Museum aims to inspire curiosity about our community’s history while exploring our place in the world. We invite visitors, students and educators to come on a journey of discovery with us.
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