[BCMA] Nanaimo Museum Feature Exhibit - Expedition: Arctic

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Media Contact:

 

Aimee Greenaway

Program & Volunteer Coordinator 

250 753-1821  

program at nanaimomuseum.ca

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Nanaimo Museum

 

August 2013

 

Arctic Exploration Exhibit at Nanaimo Museum 

 

Nanaimo - The Nanaimo Museum opens the coolest exhibit of the year
during the summer heat.  Expedition:  Arctic relives the triumphs and
tragedies of exploring Canada's frozen North 100 years ago.  Some of the
artifacts in this exhibit have never been on display before and includes
a range of artifacts like snow goggles used by Copper Inuit, cameras and
fossils.  Expedition:  Arctic opens August 15.

 

The exhibit explores how the 1913-1918 Canadian Arctic Expedition added
to our understanding of Canada's Western Arctic and First Nations
culture.  "This is a timely exhibit," says Aimee Greenaway, Program
Coordinator at the Nanaimo Museum.  "Climate change, Arctic sovereignty,
and First Nations issues are very important to Canadians today."

 

The exhibit opens just a few weeks after the CCGS Amundsen, a Canadian
Coast Guard icebreaker leaves its home port of Quebec City for an 82-day
journey to the Canadian Arctic.  The icebreaker leaves during the 100th
anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Expedition in support of ArcticNet's
marine-based research program and the ArcticNet-BREA program.  The crew
of the CCGS Amundsen will be conducting scientific research in the
Arctic before assuming winter icebreaking duties.

 

Stories about members of the expedition are woven through the exhibit.
"Visitors take on the role of a crew member when they enter the
exhibit," says Greenaway.  "They adopt that explorer's persona to see
the expedition through that person's eyes and find out if they were one
of the 17 people that tragically died before the journey was over."  The
personas include scientists, Inuits, sailors, geographers,
anthropologists, and the Commander Vilhjalmur Stefansson.  The exhibit
text is written in English and French.

 

Family programming for the exhibit includes the addition of Copper Inuit
culture to Junior Archaeologist on August 15, 22 and 29.  Junior
Archaeologist happens on Thursdays in July and August from 1pm-3pm and
features hands-on activities that teach children ages 5-12 years about
archaeology and First Nations history.  The Inuit activities are added
after the feature exhibit opens.  Caregivers must be present at all
times during the program and cost is included in museum admission.  A
thirty minute guided tour of Expedition:  Arctic for adults and seniors
is at 1pm on Thursdays September 12 & 26 and October 10 & 24.
Pre-registration is required and cost is included in regular museum
admission.

 

Expedition:  Arctic was created by the Canadian Museum of Civilization
and the Canadian Museum of Nature and is featured at the Nanaimo Museum
from August 15 to November 7.  The Nanaimo Museum is located in the
Vancouver Island Conference Centre, beside Serious Coffee.  For more
information please visit www.nanaimomuseum.ca or call 250 753-1821.

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

Becka Macdonald, Administrative Assistant

NANAIMO MUSEUM

100 Museum Way

Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J8

Phone: 250.753.1821

Website: nanaimomuseum.ca <http://www.nanaimomuseum.ca/> 

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NanaimoMuseum

 

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