<div dir="ltr"><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.5;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" id="m_1144446804730265501gmail-m_-7317525260982126725gmail-docs-internal-guid-7e661805-7fff-d1d2-0f75-911aca372669"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(32,32,32);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FOR IMMEDIATE <span>RELEASE</span> </span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">June 15, 2020</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:left" id="m_1144446804730265501gmail-m_-7317525260982126725gmail-docs-internal-guid-5fbfb923-7fff-94a1-20db-30c05ba12996"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Point Ellice House reopens with new exhibit on history of waste and water in Victoria</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In Victoria, fresh water has long been precious—and political.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Springs and Scavengers: Waste and Water in Victoria, 1842-1915 </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">is a new exhibit at Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens that brings you up close (but not too close) to the story of water and waste management in early Victoria. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Through images, stories, and artifacts—including a spectacular collection of chamber pots— the feature exhibit tells a story of basic human needs, and the struggle that early Victoria had in keeping up with them. Visitors will encounter the rapid expansion of the city’s water works, from a few simple wells on the edge of town to the damming of Elk/Beaver Lake and its pipeline of swampy-smelling water to Victoria’s fashionable homes. The exhibit showcases</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> night soil scavengers</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">—tradesmen who made a living manually removing sewage from the city’s homes (sometimes dumping it in inconvenient places around town). </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Springs and Scavengers</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> connects the personal with the political. Visitors will peek into the water closets of the O’Reilly family, and learn of their business interests in the privatization of the city’s water supply,” noted Dr. Kelly Black, Executive Director of Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens. Visitors will discover how marginalized communities—Chinese, First Nations, and Black—were involved in waste and water matters, and how they were both denied basic amenities and criticized for the lack of them. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“With Victoria’s new wastewater treatment plant coming online soon, the exhibit always seemed timely - but the pandemic quickly increased its relevance,” said Black. “The history of waste and water in British Columbia is entangled with the history of public health, racism, and societal response to the spread of disease.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens will reopen on Saturday, July 4th from 12pm to 4pm. “The health and safety of staff and visitors is our top priority and we have guidelines in place to provide a safe and welcoming experience. Admission is by appointment and visitors can book their visit on our website; PointElliceHouse.com,” said Black. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Due to COVID-19 guidelines, the historic house will be closed to the public. However, the heritage gardens remain open and visitors will be provided with a number of opportunities to experience the history of the site, including 360 degree videos of the house interior, as well as an outdoor exhibit on the history of the home and its families. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 15pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Point Ellice House is located at 2616 Pleasant Street in Victoria’s Rock Bay neighbourhood. Built in 1861-2, Point Ellice House is a National and Provincial Historic Site and boasts a collection of over 10,000 artifacts and 2 acres of heritage gardens. Today, the site offers changing exhibits that connect the house and its occupants to the rich history of Victoria and British Columbia. <br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="gmail-il">Media</span> and Onsite Contact:</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kelly Black, PhD</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Executive Director, Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mobile: 250.580.3420</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Email: Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com</span></p><div><br><br></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 15pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font size="4" color="#000000">Kelly Black, PhD</font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><font color="#000000">Executive Director, </font><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">Point Ellice House Museum &amp; Gardens</span></span></font></div><div><i><font size="2"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Victoria&#39;s Historic House Museum </span></span></font></i><b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></span></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Phone: <a href="tel:(250)%20580-3420" value="+12505803420" target="_blank">250.580.3420</a> (cell)</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Email: <a href="mailto:Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com" target="_blank">Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com</a></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Address: <span style="font-size:12.8px">2616 Pleasant Street, </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">Victoria, BC, </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">V8T 4V3</span></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></font></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><a href="http://www.Pointellicehouse.com/" style="font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">www.PointElliceHouse.com</a><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><i>Operated by the Vancouver Island Local History Society</i></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Lekwungen</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> Territory</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> [Songhees &amp; Esquimalt Nations] </span><br></font></div></div><div><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>