Our Mission
Managed by the Mission District Historical Society, the Mission Community Archives aspires to connect and engage people with Mission’s history by acquiring, preserving, and making it accessible to all.
Our Vision
To connect and engage people to make Mission’s diverse cultural heritage meaningful to their contemporary lives.
Our Values
• Cultivate inclusion
• Inspire discovery
• Embrace service excellence
• Be responsible stewards
Our History
Opened in 1989, the Community Archives houses vivid, firsthand accounts of the Mission area’s storied past. It is a treasure trove of information documenting over 100 years of the community’s history, including its social, economic, and political development. Dating from the 1890s, the holdings embody a variety of unique materials originating from a wide range of sources, including: the municipal government, the school district, community and service organizations, local schools and businesses, families and individuals.
The Archives is located in a custom built 3000 square facility that opened in 1994. The first of its kind in the Fraser Valley the building provides a spacious, secure, environmentally controlled vault for records with a storage capacity in excess of 4,000 linear feet and optimal space to ensure they are well-preserved and accessible to the public.
Through its innovative acquisition strategies and public programming, the Archives is a recognized leader among small and mid-sized communities in the province.
Archives Staff & Advisory Committee
Archivist & Records Manager, Val Billesberger, MAS
Archives Communication Coordinator, Kyler Garza
Archives Assistant, Charis Young
Archives Advisory Committee
• Ron Coreau
• Angie Hetlinger
• Ellen Nguyen, Mission District Historical Society representative
Meet The Board
• President – Mike Scudder
• Vice-President – Joan MacLatchy
• Treasurer – Barbara Fehrmann
• Secretary – Jim Hinds
• Director – Ellen Nguyen
• Director – Kyle D’Appolonia
• Director – Polly Betterton
• Municipal Representative – Mark Davies
Mission District Historical Society
Established in 1972, the mission of the Historical Society is to manage and disseminate the historical legacy of Mission. It provides active leadership in the areas of historic preservation, historical/cultural education, and community initiatives by offering a wide range of programs and educational opportunities that foster an appreciation and support for local heritage through the operation of three branches: Mission Museum (est. 1972), Mission Community Archives (est.1989), and Heritage Places (est.1994).
In recognition of it’s 50th anniversary, the Mission District Historical Society was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Mayor and Council at the Annual Mission Community Service Awards that took place on April 26, 2022.
Generously Supported by
