New Canadian War Museum Exhibition Gallery to be named after John McCrae
Ottawa, 10 November 2003. The Canadian War Museum announced today that the special exhibition gallery in the new museum is to be named after Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who wrote Canada’s best-known poem, “In Flanders Fields”.
The naming is being made in acknowledgement of a $750,000 gift to the Passing the Torch campaign. This fundraising campaign, sponsored by the Friends of the Canadian War Museum, supports the new museum facility, which is currently under construction at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa.
The donation comes from the Musagetes Fund at the Kitchener & Waterloo Community Foundation, which distributes philanthropic gifts on behalf of Michael Barnstijn and his wife Louise MacCallum, of Guelph, Ontario.
General Paul Manson, chairman of the campaign, stated, “Their very generous contribution puts Passing the Torch over the top of its $15 million objective, which is wonderful news.” The campaign has been underway for eight years. Originally intended to fund an extension to the existing building, it was redirected and expanded in 1998 with the decision to construct an entirely new museum. Campaign funds are earmarked specifically for exhibitions, displays and outreach in the new facility. General Manson added that the campaign will continue as long as contributions are being received. “We have lots of momentum right now, and every additional dollar raised will make this a better museum,” he said.
Joe Geurts, Director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum, in commenting on the good news about this major donation, remarked that the museum is pleased with the naming of the Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae Gallery in response to a request from Michael Barnstijn and Louise MacCallum. McCrae was from their home town of Guelph, Ontario. Mr. Geurts pointed out that the naming is therefore a particularly appropriate gesture of thanks to the donors.
The McCrae Gallery will be the showplace for paintings from the Canadian War Museum’s magnificent collection of 13,000 works of war art, called the Beaverbrook Collection after its founder, Lord Beaverbrook. The inherent flexibility of the gallery’s design will allow it to be used also for temporary exhibitions on special themes, by virtue of a retractable wall between its two sections.
“I can hardly think of a better name for this gallery,” said Mr. Geurts. “It will reinforce the important point that artistic expression can convey the drama and suffering of war in ways that no other medium can. We are grateful to Michael and Louise for helping Canadians to understand their military history in this special way.”
In presenting their gift, the donors stated, “We are proud to be associated with this important educational facility for Canadians and look forward to visiting the McCrae Gallery with its major works of art and its special exhibitions, once the new museum opens. We feel, through this initiative, that our young people will learn about the devastating effects of war.”
John McCrae was born in 1872 in Guelph. Following graduation in Medicine from the University of Toronto, he served with the Royal Canadian Artillery in the Boer War, returning afterwards to his medical studies and practice, specializing in pathology. At the outbreak of the First World War he volunteered for military service, and served overseas as Brigade Surgeon in the First Brigade of Canadian Field Artillery. In May 1915, he wrote his immortal poem, “In Flanders Fields”, which was published anonymously in Punch Magazine soon thereafter. Tragically, he died in January 1918 of pneumonia and meningitis.
Universally admired by Canadians for his poignant reflections on war, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae was the author of short stories and scientific treatises in addition to his poetry. He was also a skilled artist. His famous poem, “In Flanders Fields”, is known to every school child in Canada. A less familiar passage from another of his poems, entitled “Disarmament”, will be inscribed on a bronze plaque at the entrance to the McCrae Gallery:
…Let us cease
From darkening with strife the fair world’s light,
We who are great in war be great in peace.
No longer let us plead the cause by might.
The new Canadian War Museum is scheduled to open in May 2005, the 60th anniversary of V.E. Day marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.
It will tell the story of Canada’s military history in a chronological series of galleries and special displays. The museum strives to put a human face on conflict and war, capturing not only the experiences of those in the field, but also of the contributions of Canadians on the home front.
The new museum was designed by eminent Toronto Architect Raymond Moriyama of Moriyama & Teshima Architects of Toronto, in joint venture with Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects of Ottawa.
Information (media) :
Christina Selin
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: (819) 776-8607
Cellphone: (613) 371-4402
Fax: (819) 776-8623
E-mail: mailto:christina.selin@warmuseum.ca
Pierre Leduc
Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: (819) 776-8608
E-mail: mailto:pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca
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