Educating the masses
Run by the Vancouver Police Historical Society, the Vancouver Police Centennial Museum opened its doors in 1986 with the mandate of delivering educational programs on crime prevention and contemporary police work to the public while also preserving artifacts and items from the Vancouver Police Force. Since then, around 4,000 students have visited each year, taking part in extensive programs and tours, such as Junior Constable (Grades 5-7), Investigative Police Work (Grades 8-10) and Forensic Science (Grades 11,12 and post-secondary). There are also fascinating walking tours held daily called "Walking the Beat in Old Vancouver" and “Sins of the City.”

The collection
The museum's collection consists of more than 1,000 photos, objects, papers and published materials that pay tribute to the history of policing in the city. About 50 of the collection is viewable at any time. The small, second-floor museum (that was once the Coroner’s Court) also houses displays on some of Vancouver’s most notorious and famous criminals, as well as special displays featuring the Mounted Squad, the Dog Squad and the Marine Squad. On Saturdays, from noon until 4 p.m., children can join the drop-in forensic science program that allows them the chance to solve a crime by collecting and sifting through evidence.

Exciting exhibits
Some of the most intriguing collections include: the exhibit of rare and confiscated weapons, the changing technology exhibit and the unusual firearms collection. The exhibit of rare and confiscated weapons is a gruesome, yet fascinating collection of bizarre objects that have been discovered by police over the years. The changing technology exhibit features ridiculous inventions, such as the Harger Drunkometer, and the unusual firearms collection is a visual testament to the changing face of weaponry. Don’t forget to check out the motorcycles (including old Harleys) in the classic police vehicle exhibit.