Fieldy handles all communication and booking for you.
What it actually looks like
Photos from Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Parliamentary Education Office's website
Our note
Take the group to the washroom before you arrive. They say plainly that the public washrooms do not suit large groups. Only book the gallery option after checking their sitting calendar, and be aware that the topics debated are whatever the MLAs are dealing with that day. Groups over 40 have to be split into more than one tour.
What the children do
A free guided tour of the Parliament Buildings for school groups, introducing the role of the Legislative Assembly, the history of the building and the provincial level of government. Allow up to 1 hour, or up to 1.5 hours if you also want to watch a debate. Groups who want to watch a debate must book the Tour with Gallery option and are given 20 minutes in the Public Gallery after the tour. Some rooms are closed and the tour is shortened on days when the Assembly is meeting. They will let your school's MLA know you are coming and invite them to meet the class, although MLAs cannot be guaranteed.
Walk through the public rooms of the Parliament Buildings with a guide who explains what happens in each one and how laws are made. Groups who book the gallery option then sit in the Public Gallery for about twenty minutes and watch MLAs debating.
Good to know
Free, up to an hour, and capped at 40 people including the adults. There is no parking on site and no lunch space mentioned, so plan the bus drop off and lunch elsewhere.
Sources disagree. Three of their pages give three different phone numbers for tour enquiries. They are 250 387 9243 on the school tours page, 250 387 1771 on the Little Legislators page and 250 387 6668 on the general tour information page. Email tours@leg.bc.ca is given consistently on all three, so that is the safer first try.
Washrooms
If possible, plan to use washrooms prior to your arrival as the public washrooms in the Parliament Buildings are not well suited to large groups. If it is not possible, please let your guide know that you would like a washroom break included as part of the tour.
Lunch space
Needs confirmation
Rain backup
Needs confirmation
Strollers
Needs confirmation
Wheelchair access
Needs confirmation
Bus parking
There is no public parking for visitors on the property. Public parking is available on surrounding streets and in nearby lots. Their school entrance map shows a bus drop off location on Belleville Street.
Nearby park
Needs confirmation
Restrictions
Please arrive at the school entrance at the back of the Parliament Buildings 10 minutes before the time of your tour.. Tours may be cancelled at any time due to events on the Legislative Precinct.. Tour times, tour routes and the Parliamentary sitting schedule are subject to change without notice.
