Final weekend for unique model ship exhibit at Cloverdale museum
Published 10:00 pm Thursday, March 5, 2026
A made-in-Cloverdale Community Treasures exhibit is coming to a close at the Museum of Surrey.
“Fleet of Memory: Canadian Warships Remembered as Models” chronicles the life of Cloverdale resident Yvon Lehoux and his relationship with former Canadian Navy warships and other famous sea ships. That exhibit, running since last fall, will end on March 8.
Lehoux said it was bittersweet to think about the end of the exhibit. He said the whole experience was exciting and a “bit of a whirlwind” for him.
“It’s been great, but it will be nice to turn my apartment into a bit of a museum again after I collect all my things,” he said. “I was very humbled by the whole experience and very honoured when I found out I was chosen for the Community Treasures exhibit.”
He called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have his handmade ships and personal naval memorabilia featured in a public display.
“Why me?” Lehoux said with a laugh. “I was blown away by everything.”
The exhibit, he added, has reignited his passion for shipbuilding and inspired him to connect with others and explore new, innovative techniques.
Lehoux recently built a replica of the Bismarck, which he sold to a collector in Alberta. Currently, he’s building a model of a Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette from the Second World War—a project he estimates will take about 400 hours. The Flower-class corvette will be a big model; it will be nearly 4 feet in length.
“Knowing that my art went to the museum, and my personal story was interesting to people, is incredibly motivating,” he said. “It gives me real confidence.”
Found upstairs in the Surrey Stories Gallery (next to the Indigenous Hall), the Community Treasures exhibit tells Lehoux’s story through hand-crafted scale models of Canadian Navy warships no longer in existence. His story is brought to life with photographs, personal memorabilia, his own voice, and newspaper clippings from the Cloverdale Reporter.
Lehoux joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1975 and spent three decades serving Canada. He literally sailed the Seven Seas. At the end of his 30-year career, he had attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer Second Class.
“Step into the story of Yvon Lehoux, a man whose life was shaped by ships, the sea, and strong determination,” notes a storyboard that is part of the exhibition. “From the decks of Royal Canadian Navy ships to the fine details of handcrafted models, Yvon’s journey is one of service, sacrifice, and a deep love for the sea.”
Lehoux’s models tell stories of both the ships and himself.
Some of the hand-built ships on display include: HMS Victory, Komagata Maru, HMCS Thetford-Mines, HMCS Skeena, and HMCS Algonquin.
VIRTUAL
If you can’t make it down to the museum before the end of the day on March 8, the Museum of Surrey is offering a virtual tour of the Community Treasures exhibit.
Visit my.matterport.com/show/?m=5dKZwXFSS78 to find the virtual rendering of “Fleet of Memory: Canadian Warships Remembered as Models.”
Community Treasures exhibitions are shows brought to the museum through public outreach and engagement. According to the Museum of Surrey, “Community Treasures celebrate the stories of Surrey’s people.”
Entrance to the museum is free. To find out more info, call the museum at 604-592-6956, or email museum@surrey.ca, or visit surrey.ca/museum.
The Museum of Surrey is located at 17710 56A Avenue in Cloverdale.