[BCMA] CMA Clip Serv: Immigration museum opens - Pier 21 & the other museums in the Maritimes

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Pier 21 is worth a visit if you go to Halifax. I visited it last summer
and the view of the harbour is spectacular. They have an innovative
display inside using a simulated railroad car where the windows act as
movie screens simulating travel and a slick A-V orientation show in
their theatre. Sadly their original passenger rail car out front is
rusting away and the galleries were somewhat ... well, let's just say
that they had lots of space available. I hope that this national
designation will give them access to more funding. 

 

I almost certainly landed at Pier 21 as a child in 1962 when my family
returned to Canada from an embassy posting in Rome, Italy but honestly I
do not remember. At the Pier 21 Museum I did however find a picture the
ship that I arrived on in their ships' database. My father, the late Dr.
A. H. "Pete" Stevens then worked at Pier 21 at times in the 1960s as he
was the Port Medical Officer. A TV documentary on Pier 21 showed a
close-up of a still photo, starting with the braid on the sleeve of an
officer. I said to my family "That is probably my Dad." The camera
panned up and sure enough, it was him. This prompted me to donate one of
his Port Medical Officer uniforms to Pier 21. As we all know, uniforms,
suits etc. usually come to museums with the basic components only, so I
also donated his hat, shirt, tie, socks and shoes - enough for them to
dress a mannequin.  As a museum professional I understood that it was
not on display... 

 

I also visited the Museum of the Atlantic and saw an interesting B.C.
related artifact there, a bell from the R.C.M.P. St. Roch. Sadly I did
not see the two sets of hydrofoil blades from the Casey Baldwin
experimental WWII hydrofoil in Baddeck, NS which I had donated c. 1968.
They still have them but they are not on display. Casey was a partner of
Sir Alexander Graham Bell in Baddeck, NS. 

 

By the way, if you go to Baddeck, there is a great museum there devoted
to Sir Alexander Graham Bell housing many of his prototype telephones
etc. May I suggest staying at the c.1861 Telegraph House Hotel? Ask them
for the room Alexander Graham Bell used to stay in. Immersing oneself in
history so to speak. 

 

When planning your vacation to the Maritimes though, I suggest that you
aim for July and August. We were there in June and a number of museums
were not open. The best reason I heard was in Kensington, PEI where the
Curator was out lobster fishing! One advantage of going in June was that
we hit a rare sunny and warm day for Louisbourg and I was able to take
lots of photos without tourists in the way. 

 

Colin MacGregor Stevens,

Manager,

New Westminster Museum and Archives,

302 Royal Avenue,

New Westminster, BC,

V3L 1H7, Canada

 

Phone Office:    604-527-4639

Work Cellular :  604-830-6965

Fax:                    604-527-4641

E-mail: cstevens at newwestcity.ca <mailto:cstevens at newwestcity.ca>  

Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca <http://www.newwestminster.ca>  

Normal work week: Sun-Thurs 9-5, OFF Fri-Sat.

 

The New Westminster Museum and Archives (NWMA) consists of:

   * City's Museum (est. 1950)

   * City's Archives

   * Irving House (built 1865)

   * Maintenance of the Samson V Maritime Museum (paddlewheel ship built
1937; museum since 1984) 

 

From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. [mailto:bcma at lists.vvv.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 9:51 AM
To: bcma at lists.vvv.com
Subject: [BCMA] CMA Clip Serv: Immigration museum opens

 

Immigration museum officially opens in Halifax 

The Canadian Press, Monday, February 7, 2011 

 

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax has opened its
doors. 

 

Defence Minister Peter MacKay presided over ceremonies today
inaugurating the country's sixth national museum, the second outside of
the National Capital Region. 

 

MacKay says the venue pays tribute to people from all over the world who
chose Canada as their home. 

 

He says an important chapter of Canadian history will now be preserved,
promoted, and shared for generations to come. 

 

Heritage Minister James Moore says by creating the museum the stories of
those who travelled far, toiled long, and sacrificed much for a better
life will be preserved. 

 

>From the late 1920s to the early 1970s, Pier 21 was Canada's front door
for more than a million immigrants, refugees, troops, wartime evacuees,
war brides and their children. 

 

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