A new travelling exhibition, BC鈥檚 Marvellous Mushrooms, is now on display at the Heritage Gallery in 亚洲天堂 Lake.
This exhibition, created by the Royal BC Museum, explores the science and practical uses of mushrooms today, highlighting some of the most fascinating of the province鈥檚 3,400 known species.
BC鈥檚 Marvellous Mushrooms encourages visitors to learn more about BC mushrooms and their versatility. It introduces a cross-section of different species鈥攕ome familiar, some bizarre, some delicious, and some deadly. The lives of these fungi are interwoven with every part of British Columbia鈥檚 ecosystems.
Mushrooms are not only a subject of scientific study but also a source of food, dyes, and medicine. For some, they are objects of ceremony and beauty. This exhibition delves into the many facets of these fabulous fungi.
鈥淲e are pleased to host this amazing traveling exhibit in our new gallery,鈥� Sandra Holmes, vice-president of the Lakes District Museum Society, said last week. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of our commitment to arts and culture programming in this area. Traveling to the Royal BC Museum is difficult for residents of the Lakes District, so we鈥檙e bringing a little bit of BC鈥檚 preeminent museum to them with financial assistance from Canadian Heritage鈥檚 Museums Assistance Program.鈥�
Foraging for morels and other edible fungi has been a spring tradition in the Lakes District for millennia. In recent years, though, wildfires have turned the popular pastime into an industry. Some burn sites draw dozens of commercial pickers, many of whom have only a basic knowledge of the product they are harvesting.
Featuring interpretive graphic panels, hand-sculpted mushroom models, and foraging equipment, BC鈥檚 Marvellous Mushrooms facilitates visitors鈥� understanding of BC mushrooms and their many uses.
Holmes encourages residents to take in this free exhibit before it leaves in mid-March.
BC鈥檚 Marvellous Mushrooms was created in 2021 to accompany the Royal BC Museum鈥檚 popular new handbook, Mushrooms of British Columbia by Andy MacKinnon and Kem Luther鈥攁 comprehensive and practical guide suitable for both professional and amateur mushroom enthusiasts.
鈥淏ritish Columbians love mushrooms!鈥� says MacKinnon. 鈥淭his family-friendly exhibit explores the many ways that people in our province interact with BC's fabulous fungi.鈥�
Located at 540 Highway 16 West in 亚洲天堂 Lake, the Lakes District Museum鈥檚 Heritage Gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
