Time capsule from 2002 will be taken out of New Westminster's tin soldier on Feb. 14

The world's tallest tin soldier in New Westminster, B.C., is pictured.

A nearly quarter-of-a-century-old mystery will soon be unveiled in New Westminster, B.C.

Inside the tin soldier that stands at the Quay—which is the Guinness World Record holder for tallest sculpture of its kind in the world—sits a time capsule filled with messages from local kids created in 2002.

According to the city, the makers of the time capsule decided it should be opened on Valentine's Day 2025, a date picked to show their love for New Westminster.

Last week, city council voted unanimously to honour that wish.

“It’s just kind of a fun thing to do,” said Coun. Ruby Campbell, as she introduced the motion. “I think it would be fantastic to be able to honour this.”

After Mayor Patrick Johnstone quipped that the 2000s feel like last week, councillors voted to ask staff to come up with a plan and budget for a time capsule opening event on Feb. 14.

Rumour has it that the mementos from 23 years ago, kept in the soldier’s heart, are stored on an almost obsolete piece of technology.

“I’m kind of anxious to know what’s in there; we’re all kind of guessing it might be a CD-ROM, but we still wanna open that thing up and then find some device to be able to play it on,” said Campbell.

Built in 2000, the tin soldier stands 9.75 metres tall. Its home has been the Westminster Quay since 2002, and it picked up the world record in the same year.