First World War online exhibition from the Canadian War Museum

The Canadian War Museum has launched an online exhibition, titled Canada and the First World War, which opens with a simple interface and the statement: "Canada's contribution to the First World War led to growing autonomy and international recognition, but at great cost." The site then lists five categories to follow: "Introduction to the First World War", "History of the First World War", "Objects and Photos of the First World War", "Teacher Resources", and "The Canadian War Museum".

In an e-mail sent by Tim Cook, the First World War Historian at the Canadian War Museum he notes that the project incorporates more than 700 digitized images of artefacts, 6,000 official photographs and more than 100,000 words of interpretative text. He writes that visitors to the online exhibition can "move thematically by subject matter - navigating along top and side bars - or delve into artifacts directly. When examining the artifact images, there is an extremely robust viewing mechanism - zoomify - that allows for deep enhancement."

Canada and the First World War is reportedly just the first of the museum's internet-based exhibitions, and a new one is expected next year on the Royal Canadian Navy.

Exhibit on Louisbourg in 1759

An article by Michael Lightstone recently appeared in The Chronicle Herald to discuss an exhibit which opened on 3 June at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, entitled "Halifax vs Louisbourg: The Final Siege". The exhibit "has items linked to the historic siege [of Louisbourg in 1758] and to the famous battle in Quebec a year later" and numbers about 100 artefacts in total. These include "a 3,600-kilogram mortar, a recreated troop transport ship, an array of weaponry and an actual letter from the front lines". The exhibit runs until 2 November and more information about the museum can be found here.

Museum exhibit on The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery

Tina Peplinskie, a reporter with The Daily Observer, has written a piece on the newspaper's website noting the opening of a travelling exhibit on the history of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. The exhibit, titled "Canada's Gunners: The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery", is now open to the public at the CFB Petawawa Military Museum in Petawawa, Ontario. The exhibit includes artefacts and interactive technology from the collection of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Museum in Shilo, Manitoba. The CFB Petawawa Military Museum website has further details about opening hours and the length of time the exhibit will be hosted in the museum.

Annual Meeting of the National Council on Public History

I recently received the programme for the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Public History, titled "Public Histories of Union and Disunion", to be held at The Brown Hotel, in Louisville, Kentucky, from 10 to 13 April 2008. It's an interesting gathering, particularly to someone like me who works in the public history field. Usually, however, I wouldn't mention it on this blog, except that this year there will actually be a presentation involving Canadian military history. In the session labeled "Contested History: Museum Presentations and Controversy" one of the speakers will be Dean Oliver of the Canadian War Museum, speaking on "Strategic Bombing and the Canadian War Museum".

Upcoming military history in museums lecture

Dr. Steve Muhlberger, history professor at Nipissing University (and a former prof of mine at Trent University nearly twenty years ago - I'm feeling kinda old all of a sudden), has posted notice for an upcoming lecture on his blog "Muhlberger's Early History", the information courtesy of Dr. Robin Gendron. On Thursday, 22 November, Dr. Dean Oliver, chief historian at the Canadian War Museum, will present "Bloodless Wars? Military History in Museums" at Nipissing history department's annual keynote address. Steve notes that Dean "...will be speaking about the challenges involved in presenting history and historical research at public institutions, a particularly germane topic given the controversy at the museum this past summer about its portrayal of the strategic bombing campaign against German during the Second World War." Admission to the talk is free, is open to the public, and will take place at 6.30 p.m. in room H106.

Upcoming lecture on the Bomber Command Controversy at the CWM

The Brigadier Milton F. Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society has announced an upcoming Remembrance Week Public Lecture by Dr. Serge Durflinger, Department of History, University of Ottawa, and former Second World War Gallery Manager at the Canadian War Museum, entitled "Bomber Campaign Controversy at the Canadian War Museum: Context and Perspective". This talk will take place in Tilley Hall, Room 102, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, at 7.30 p.m. on 7 November 2007. For further information, contact the centre at (506)-453-4587 or greggcentre@unb.ca.

Facelift for the Borden Military Museum

In Saturday's Toronto Star Roberta Avery penned "Smart salute to the military" (http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/232408), a piece on the recently revamped Borden Military Museum. Housed in two former hangars on the grounds of Canadian Forces Base Borden, the museum "emphasizes the role of Canada's military as a fighting force. There are about 10,000 artifacts ranging from a CF-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft to the giant tanks, pins and ribbons and a huge collection of model airplanes." Numerous displays and exhibits have been opened or revamped for the museum, ranging from a weapons exhibit with approximately 350 firearms to a First World War field kitchen to a 1950s military ambulance outfitted for use by a field dentist.

Exhibit on the Centenary of the Trois-Rivières Armoury

Marie-Eve Proulx has an article in L'Hebdo Journal (http://www.lhebdojournal.com/article-114065-Le-manege-militaire-de-TroisRivieres-a-100-ans.html) a media outlet in Trois-Rivières, Québec, announcing an exhibit in le Musée militaire de Trois-Rivières, which has just opened and runs until August 24. She writes:

"Pour la saison estivale 2007, le Musée militaire du 12e Régiment blindé du Canada à Trois-Rivières présente une exposition temporaire afin de souligner le centième anniversaire de la construction du manège militaire de Trois-Rivières. Le manège militaire abrite des souvenirs qui nous transportent dans un voyage à travers le temps. Au cours des décennies, les multiples artefacts et archives, qui ont été déposés au musée, s'ajoutent à notre compréhension de la vie militaire et préservent une page de notre histoire collective. Ainsi, alors que le manège militaire fête son centenaire, son musée présente une exposition temporaire sur ce monument historique. La nouvelle collection temporaire du musée, qui rappelle le contexte historique qui a amené le gouvernement du Canada à réformer la milice et à mettre en place et promouvoir un vaste programme de construction de manège militaire au début du XXe siècle, dresse aussi un portrait de la construction du manège militaire et de son imposante architecture. L'exposition temporaire sur le manège militaire s'ajoute à l'exposition permanente du Musée, qui traite de l'histoire des Forces canadiennes et du Régiment lors de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale (1939-1945)."

New Exhibit at the Billy Bishop Heritage Museum

On 2 June the Billy Bishop Heritage Museum (www.billybishop.org), in Owen Sound, Ontario, officially launched a new exhibit entitled "Courage in the Skies...Valour on the Ground". Mary Smith, the museum's manager, noted: "Each year we remember, respect and honour the great sacrifices Canadian veterans have made to help maintain our democracy. This is our way of thanking veterans and recognizing their contributions to Canadian society." The exhibit itself revolved around the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Billy Bishop earning his Victoria Cross. The Royal Bank of Canada provided support to the exhibit in the form of a $5,000 donation.

Funding for The Military Museums

The Prime Minister's website is reporting important news for the presentation of Canadian military history by one of the country's largest military museums. Under the title "Canada's New Government announces support for local military museum" issued on 25 May 2007, the federal government announced that it would contribute $5 million to The Military Museums (the former Museum of the Regiments) in Calgary, Alberta. Prime Minister Harper remarked: "As the national government, we must do our part to ensure projects that seek to tell Canadians the stories that have shaped the country we know and love today, just as The Military Museums will do, flourish across the country, not just in the nation’s capital.”

Expansion of The Royal Canadian Regiment museum

The London Free Press reported on 13 May 2007 under the title "We must preserve our heritage" that the regimental museum of The Royal Canadian Regiment - located in Wolseley Barracks, in London, Ontario - has begun a campaign to expand its facilities. The "Building For The Future" campaign is attempting to raise $2.3 million in the next year or so and the Ontario provincial government has already granted $240,000 towards that goal. The proposed expansion would add approximately 6,000 square feet to the museum, providing additional display space, a new entrance and a "current campaigns" exhibit, the latter including material from the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: A Glimpse of War

I had an opportunity today, fortunate that I am to live in Ottawa (you don't hear that phrase too often), to visit the Canadian War Museum. The main purpose of my visit was to take a look at the new "Afghanistan: A Glimpse of War" exhibit. As the CWM's brochure puts it: "This powerful exhibition goes beyond the headlines to capture Canada's participation in the international security mission in Afghanistan. Detailing Canada's efforts to help Afghans rebuild a country shattered by years of war, this exhibition uncovers personal stories drawn from the chaos of battle and the struggle for peace."

The exhibition was interesting, although not particularly informative for me. In the CWM's defence on that count - I'm sure I'm not their target audience, i.e. someone keeping up with Canadian Forces' operations in Afghanistan as much as time will allow. The exhibition does a good job of outlining Canada's involvement in Afghanistan since 9/11 and would, therefore, be excellent for the visitor who is interested, but hasn't kept up with the news on Canadian activities there.

It is artefact minimal, in the sense that there isn't a lot on display aside from newspaper pages, video clips, and graphic artwork. That is partly a reflection, in my opinion, of modern museum style (a style that goes way beyond the CWM), and undoubtedly a reflection of the difficulty in coming up with many items from a conflict so recent (and ongoing). That said, it was very interesting to see the .50 calibre sniper rifle Canadian troops are currently using to such great effect (it's a very impressive piece of kit) and a destroyed G-Wagen.

All in all, a very interesting display, and one well worth seeing.

A few of the events coming up at the Canadian War Museum in April and May include:

Terry Copp speaking on "The Art of Command", "...the challenges faced in 1944-45 by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, best known for his role in the liberation of Northwest Europe", at 7.00 p.m. on April 26 in the Barney Danson Theatre;

A performance of "No Man's Land: On July 1, 1916, a generation of Newfoundland's best and brightest was virtually wiped out at the battle of Beaumont Hamel. Witness this moving play and discover why this July morning will never be forgotten", at 8.00 p.m. on both April 27 and 28 in the Barney Danson Theatre;

Mark Ward speaking on "Honouring an Unlucky Lady: HMCS Athabaskan", recounting his 2003 scuba dive "in the English Channel to his grandfather's submerged gravesite. He will discuss the mysterious Second World War sinking of Canada's HMCS Athabaskan", at 7.00 p.m. on May 10 in the Barney Danson Theatre; and

Stephen Thorne speaking on "War Stories from Afghanistan", discussing how he "photographed Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2004. His work reveals his encounters with human stories of loss, conflict and reconstruction in Canada's most recent chapter of military history", at 7.00 p.m. on May 24 in the Barney Danson Theatre.

Upcoming exhibition at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

Mark Browne (mbrowne@vicnews.com) has written a piece called "Museum seeks souvenirs" for the Esquimalt News, reminding me that I need to spend more time talking about how Canadian military historians are hard at work in the numerous military museums across this country. Browne writes that "the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum is looking for souvenirs that sailors have brought back from countries they visited in more recent times." Clair Sugrue, the exhibit organizer, stated "We're looking for anything and everything." Like many other Canadian Forces' museums (I can speak to this firsthand), artefacts from the last couple of decades are often harder to get than earlier periods. (Still-serving military personnel like to keep their photos from overseas, for example - I find it best to ask for second prints or to borrow the photos and scan them - at least it's an interim solution). As the article concluded, anyone interested can call the museum at 363-4312 or contact it through e-mail at webmaster@navalandmilitarymuseum.org.

Exhibit on the Battle of the St. Lawrence at the CWM

A new special exhibition has opened in the past week at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Titled "Canada under Attack: The Battle of the St. Lawrence (1942-1944)" / "Alerte au Canada! - La bataille du Saint-Laurent (1942-1944)", the exhibit opened on December 22 and runs until 15 April 2007 and is a travelling exhibition created by le Musée naval de Québec and the Musée de la Gaspésie. The release from the museum runs as follows: "During the Second World War, a naval battle was fought on the doorsteps of Canada's coastal communities. Canada Under Attack tells the story behind this event and presents an intimate account of this naval combat, the battle of the St. Lawrence. Faced with the constant threat of German torpedoes and spies, residents of the St. Lawrence and Gaspé areas learned how to cope with military preparations, black out procedures and coastal defence. More than 60 years after the battle, explore the wreckage of ships and torpedoes collected by local residents. Discover the personal stories of Canadians who experienced this struggle and learn how it impacted their lives then, and in the decades since." / "Au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, une bataille navale s'est déroulée à proximité des collectivités qui vivaient dans les régions côtières du Canada. L'exposition relate le contexte historique de ce chapitre de la guerre et présente un compte rendu personnel de ce combat naval, la bataille du Saint-Laurent. Exposés à la menace constante des torpilles et des espions allemands, les résidants des côtes du Saint-Laurent et de la Gaspésie ont appris à composer avec les préparatifs militaires, les exigences du black-out et la défense côtière. Plus de 60 ans après la bataille, voyez les épaves de navires et de torpilles qui ont été recueillies par les résidants de la région. Découvrez les témoignages des personnes qui ont connu ce combat et apprenez quelles en ont été les répercussions sur leur vie à cette époque et pendant les décennies suivantes."

Newspaper piece on the Canadian War Museum

I've been intending for some time to write some posts on various military museums in this country. After all, not all Canadian military history projects undertaken appear in print or on the internet, much of it being presented to the public in the exhibits and displays of military museums from coast to coast. So let's start with the biggest one. I found a piece from Alan Hustak, CanWest New Service, on Saturday titled "A sacred place: Evocative Canadian War Museum - full of inspirations, experiences - will have you coming back for more". The article provides some background on the new Canadian War Museum, some highlights, and contact information. The new museum, in my opinion, is definitely worth seeing. It's huge, so if you visit, be prepared for a long stay - probably an entire day.