Gondola Gift to Arrive at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on Sunday
Hull, Quebec, July 16, 1998 — The Canadian Museum of Civilization is waiting for its ship — or rather, gondola — to come in, and this Sunday it will.
The Museum will officially accept a restored, 11-metre Venetian gondola, named Ansoeta, into its collections at a public reception on Sunday, July 19, 1998, at 3:30 p.m.
The gondola is a gift to the people of Canada, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Italian explorer, Giovanni Caboto's (known to most Canadians as John Cabot) arrival on Canadian shores. The purchase, restoration and transportation of the gondola has been made possible by the generosity and enthusiasm of the Federation of Veneto Clubs and Associations of Ontario and the Regional Commission of Veneto, Italy. Members of Ottawa's Italian community have been instrumental in making this happy event a reality.
Ansoeta, meaning "little angel", was built in Venice in 1968 by master squerariòl Nedis Tramontin. After ten years plying the canals of its native city, Ansoeta was sold by its gondolier family to the Federation of Veneto Clubs and Associations of Ontario. The Federation had Ansoeta restored in another famous gondolier yard, squèro San Trovaso, before shipping it to Canada, where it would become a symbol of Venice and Italy for Canadians of all origins.
Ansoeta will be on display at the Canadian Museum of Civilization from July 20 to August 17, 1998, but the public can see the gondola this Sunday as it makes its festive journey — starting at approximately 2:00 p.m. — from 215 Preston Street, in Ottawa, along Somerset, Kent and Wellington Streets, across the Portage Bridge and then along Laurier Street in Hull. It is expected to arrive at the Museum between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.
The public is invited to join the Museum in accepting this very special gift.
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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