For immediate release

Lethbridge—Southern Alberta has been a hub for many people seeking stability and opportunity throughout the world. Our communities have participated in refugee resettlement programs and have welcomed waves of newcomers to the region. The Galt Museum & Archives will be hosting a travelling bilingual exhibition produced in English and French by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 about the experiences of refugees and Canada’s place in the experiences of refugees, which is more mixed than people may realize.

“We are really pleased to be presenting the Refuge Canada exhibition,” says the Galt’s Curator, Aimee Benoit. “It is a powerful exhibition that explores both darker themes such as fear and loss; and stories of hope, resourcefulness, courage and determination. There is much to learn from the history of Canada’s role in refugee crises over the decades as well as the experience of refugees in our country and communities.”

This exhibition showcases oral histories and objects that move visitors through a typical journey that a refugee might encounter. The refugee experience is important to explore as a part of Canada’s immigration history and the country’s mixed record in welcoming refugees. Refuge Canada looks at injustices and challenges as well as the stories of success and contributions made by people who came to Canada as refugees.

The exhibition will draw visitors through its five themes: Life Before, Fear, Displacement, Refuge, and Life in Canada, with hands-on opportunities to connect with the content. See a UNHCR tent up close, or view an inflatable boat similar to those used by refugees fleeing from Turkey to Greece. Look out a plane window as the shores of Canada approach and listen to refugees tell their stories throughout the exhibition. Refuge Canada will challenge and inspire as it brings visitors on a journey from darkness to hope, always calling into question preconceptions about what it means to be a refugee.

Three other exhibitions will also be on display at the Galt this fall, Piikanikoan: Living under a Blackfoot Sky: A Modern Winter Count guest curated by Ira Provost, Pockets of Possibilities guest curated by Kirstan Schamuhn, and Marathon of Memories: 40 years of Terry Fox Run in Lethbridge curated by Bobbie Fox.

“Our mission as a local history museum is to explore the human experience and allow visitors to both experience new perspective and to see their own experience represented within our walls,” says CEO/ED Darrin J Martens. “We hope that visitors will enjoy discovering new and powerful ways of viewing and understanding the world, and invite their friends and families to join them here this fall and winter.”

Visitors to the Galt can expect to wear masks while visiting the museum and will be encouraged to physically distance and wash or sanitize their hands frequently while visiting the museum to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Tickets to the Galt can be booked online at www.galtmuseum.com/visit.

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This media release can be found at www.galtmuseum.com/news.

Media are invited to a special preview of the exhibitions on September 30. The preview will start at 9:30 am with brief remarks from CEO/ED Darrin J Martens and Curator Aimee Benoit. Benoit and guest curators Ira Provost and Kirstan Schamuhn will be available for comments and interviews regarding the exhibitions, and Provost will be giving a short presentation about his exhibition at 10:15 am, for which media are welcome to stay as well. Snacks and coffee will be provided.

Media Contact:

Graham Ruttan (he/him)
Marketing and Communications Officer
Galt Museum & Archives | Fort Whoop-Up
graham.ruttan@galtmuseum.com
403.320.4009

About the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is located in the national historic site at the Halifax seaport where nearly one million immigrants landed in Canada from 1928 to 1971. Today, as Canada’s sixth national museum, we share the ongoing story of immigration to Canada—past to present, and coast to coast. Our exhibitions immerse visitors in the immigration experience and allow for a deeper understanding of how newcomers shape our country. Our staff and collections provide opportunities for visitors to discover the countless journeys to Canada and find their own family’s connection to the story. Countless Journeys. One Canada.

Refuge Canada

Refuge Canada is a travelling exhibition created by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and is supported by TD Bank Group.

This exhibition will help people understand Canada’s place in the current refugee crisis by showing the experience of refugees and the challenges they face and by investigating Canada’s historical track record of responding to refugees, which is more mixed than people may realize.

The exhibition showcases oral histories and objects that move visitors through a typical journey that a refugee might encounter. The refugee experience is important to explore as a part of Canada’s immigration history and to show that Canada has had a mixed record in welcoming refugees. Refuge Canada looks at injustices and challenges as well as the stories of success and contributions made by people who came to Canada as refugees.

The exhibition demonstrates that there is a large diversity of refugee groups who have sought to come to Canada from 1899 to 2017. The staff at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 did a series of in-depth, scholarly research reports on the history of refugees that was used to build and shape the exhibition.

There is challenging subject material, especially when looking at experiences of fear and loss. There are some sensitive parts of the exhibition, including some images that may be hard to look at or stories that are difficult to hear. The exhibition also tells stories of hope, resourcefulness, courage and determination. These are featured and important parts of the experience as well.

There are opportunities to rest during the exhibition as it is self-directed. We recommend that visitors go at their own pace and not feel obliged to stay in the gallery if it is overwhelming for them.

The exhibition is a challenging one and does contain sensitive content in stories and images that may evoke emotions. It will also prompt questions and lead to important discussions and education. Information is presented in an interactive way that will engage young people, however, this kind of emotional experience might not be for everyone, so the decision to bring children through the exhibition is up to the individual parents or guardians who know their children best.

Related Online Presentations

Wed OCT 28 | 2 pm Refuge with Julie Young

This online presentation will consider Canada’s contemporary refugee policies in a global context. It will also discuss the importance of local histories and geographies to understanding the impacts of these policies. Julie Young (PhD) is Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Critical Border Studies in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Lethbridge.

Wed NOV 11 | 2 pm Lethbridge Immigration Partnership with Laura Branner

Discover what a Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) is in this online presentation. Find out about the history and accomplishments of the Lethbridge LIP, and how this strong community partnership is supporting new Canadians in making the challenging transition to a new country and helping these new neighbours feel welcome and included in our community. Laura Branner is the Coordinator of the Lethbridge Local Immigration Partnership, an initiative of Lethbridge Family Services.

Piikanikoan: Living under a Blackfoot Sky: A Modern Winter Count

Guest curated by Ira Provost

Through the lens of his own musical journey, education and career, guest curator Ira Provost delves into the significance of Blackfoot music, its origins and its influence on his life story. This exhibition explores the winter count of his music, biocultural heritage, education, career, culture and its place within the southern Alberta landscape.

Related Online Presentations

Mon OCT 05 | 2 pm Piikanikoan with Ira Provost

Guest curator Ira Provost will explain the significance of his winter count and discuss his songs that are featured in the exhibition.

Pockets of Possibilities

Guest curated by Kirstan Schamuhn

For women, finding a good set of pockets in clothing is similar to finding a needle in a haystack—but this pocket dilemma is not new. The exhibition traces issues of gender and fashion through to the mid-twentieth century, exploring how pockets became symbols of independence for women.

Related Online Presentations

Wed OCT 14 | 2 pm Pockets of Possibilities with Kirstan Schamuhn

Guest curator Kirstan Schamuhn discusses all things pockets. Discover how pockets in women’s fashions of the 20th century impacted women’s interactions with public spaces, and why it’s an ongoing challenge to find a good pocket in clothing marketed to women.

Wed NOV 25 | 2 pm Pockets with Julia Wasilewski

Join Julia Wasilewski for a presentation exploring the history and development of pockets, starting in the 17th century, discussing the issues and biases experienced by women which continue still today within contemporary western fashion. Julia Wasilewski is an Assistant Professor in the Drama Department at the University of Lethbridge and a professional theatre designer specializing in the area of costumes.

Wed DEC 09 | 2 pm Blackfoot Pockets and Pouches

The Niitsitapi have many unique and effective traditional strategies for storing and carrying belongings. Blanche Bruisedhead will explain the history of these objects and strategies with examples from the Galt's collection of educational objects that students handle during their visits to the museum in this online presentation.

Marathon of Memories: 40 years of Terry Fox Run in Lethbridge

Curated by Bobbie Fox

Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope which he began in 1980 to raise funds for cancer research is a seminal moment in Canadian history. This exhibition will feature oral history interviews with the Lethbridge citizens who have organized the community runs, explore the familial connections that Terry Fox had in southern Alberta, and will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the 2020 Terry Fox Run in Lethbridge.

Note: this exhibit’s opening date and the online presentation date were rescheduled to occur later in the year due to technical difficulties.

Related Online Presentations

Wed NOV 04 | 2 pm Terry Fox and Lethbridge

Bobbie Fox will interview Terry Fox, the uncle and namesake of the Terry Fox who began the Marathon of Hope, about the history of the Terry Fox Run in Lethbridge and about the Fox family’s connection to southern Alberta in this online presentation.