How to Have a Successful Visit to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Preparing for Your Visit
Students with advance preparation for their field trip benefit the most from our tours. We recommend visiting the “Discover Your Legislature” section on our website for background information. There are also resources available on-line that link the Discover Your Legislature to the provincial learning outcomes.
You may also wish to refer to our on-line Educational Resources or consult the classroom activities and Lesson Plans developed by your peers under the B.C. Teachers’ Institute on Parliamentary Democracy section and/or related sites.
On the Day of Your Visit
Buses may drop off students along Belleville Street in front of the Royal BC Museum. There is no parking available on the property, but public car parks are located nearby. We encourage students to leave their belongings on the bus.
Enter the Parliament Buildings through the Main Entrance at the front of the buildings and check in with the Legislative Tour Office immediately to your left. Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled tour.
The Parliament Buildings are wheelchair accessible from the East-side entrance. Please ask a tour guide or a member of the security staff for assistance upon arrival.
School tours can last up to one hour and, if the House is sitting, groups are allotted a further 20 minutes in the Public Gallery at the conclusion of the tour. Please plan to spend up to an hour and a half at the Parliament Buildings.
Meeting with your MLA
While the Legislative Tour Office informs your schools’ MLA of your visit, they have busy schedules so we cannot guarantee that the Member or their staff will be available to meet with your school group.
The Legislative Tour Office would be pleased to take a digital photograph of your group with the MLA. Please bring a completed Photograph Consent Form (PDF) on the day of your visit. Photographs will be emailed to the school and then deleted from the Legislative Tour Office records.
For more information on your school’s MLA, consult the MLA Finder.
Public Gallery Seating
The Legislative Tour Office will arrange for the booking of group tickets to the Public Gallery; however, please be aware that there are only a limited number of seats available. Groups of 35 or more students who visit while the House is sitting will need to book more than one tour.
Please be aware that Security requires that all backpacks, cameras, cell phones and other possessions be checked before entering the Public Gallery. We encourage students to leave their belongings on the bus.
Teachers should consult and convey to their students the Rules of the Public Gallery.
Student Behaviour
While visiting the Parliament Buildings, students need to be aware that this is a working building. There are many offices within the building and there is an expectation that students will behave themselves responsibly and that the teachers and any accompanying adults will take full responsibility for students' behaviour.
Students must also meet appropriate dress code requirements. (e.g. no bare midriffs, tank tops, or clothing that shows rude or anti-political statements).
We trust this information is helpful to you in planning your field trip to the Legislature.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT!
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