The newly-opened 'Terror in the Square' exhibit explores the local history of skateboarding in Qualicum Beach.
The exhibit is curated by PD's Hot Shop and the QB Skaters group, and is housed for the summer in the Qualicum Beach Museum.
"It's been a real pleasure to work on this and to have the opportunity getting to know so many local people, skateboarders of course," said Peter “PD” Ducommun, owner of PD's Hot Shop. "Learning the stories and looking at the photos and seeing the footage."
The title 'Terror in the Square' is a nod to an old legend about skateboarders ‘terrorizing’ the town square, according to the museum.
The exhibit traces the history of skateboarding, with a spotlight on its legacy in Qualicum Beach, dating back to the 1960s when the phrase "sidewalk surfers" was added to the lexicon.
Starting in the 1970s, new developments such as the urethane wheel and precision bearings took skateboarding to a new level.
By the 1980s Qualicum Beach was home to its very own tongue in cheek skateboard "gangs" called Brockett 99 and P.B. & J.
More change came in the '90s, the exhibit panels continue, as skateboarders started to favour riding in the streets rather than skateparks, which caused friction with pedestrians, including in Qualicum Beach. A sensationalized headline in the local media dubbed skateboarding as 'Terror in the Square'.
The Qualicum Beach skatepark opened in 2000 but over the years skaters became dissatisfied. The QB Skaters decided in 2023 they wanted to improve skateboarding in their town and built their own ramp in a front yard and are working on fundraising for a new skatepark.
"I'm really impressed with the layout," said David Ireland, president of the Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum Society. "You'll see here yourself the evolution and the history of skateboarding and of skateboarding, in particular, in the Qualicum Beach area. I had no idea there was such a following and I was so pleased to learn that."
The museum, located at 587 Beach Rd., is now open for its summer season and "Terror in the Square" will be on display until Aug. 31 in the Powerhouse heritage building on the museum grounds.
