Opening up New Frontiers in the Canada Hall of the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Hull, Quebec, October 12, 2000 — In keeping with the ongoing expansion and renewal of its popular Canada Hall, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is unveiling two new permanent exhibits on October 12: Enduring Hardship: Chinese Hand Laundry and Frontier Resources: Alberta Oil Rig.
Enduring Hardship features a re-created Chinese hand laundry, based in part on the Central Laundry in Winnipeg, which was operated for many years by the late Ho King. Artifacts from this and other Chinese laundries, such as a head tax certificate, as well as documentary footage featuring interviews and individual recollections, give visitors an intimate and compelling look at the difficult lives led by many of Canada's early Chinese immigrants.
The centrepiece of Frontier Resources is a true-to-scale oil rig which includes actual historical parts on long-term loan from museums in Alberta and British Columbia. Through artifacts, documentary footage and text panels, Frontier Resources tells the story of wildcatters, "well shooters" and other colourful people from this fascinating period in Canadian history, while giving visitors an idea of the role natural resources have played in Canada's development as a nation.
"These two new Canada Hall modules are part of our ongoing efforts to tell a full and accurate version of Canadian history," says Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. "Canada is a vast nation with a diversity of landscape, resources and vibrant culture. We are proud to showcase our diversity in the Canada Hall, where visitors walk through episodes of our human history. They can also see the many ways in which our natural environment has shaped us as a country."
Over half a million visitors go through the Canada Hall every year, and they rate this experience as one of the top attractions in Canada's largest museum.
Enduring Hardship: Chinese Hand Laundry and Frontier Resources: Alberta Oil Rig will open in the Canada Hall at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on October 12, 2000, and will be on permanent display.
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