Travelling Exhibit - Pier 21 Halifax Nova Scotia

March 16th - September 7, 2009

Pier 21 is proud to announce the opening of its anticipated new travelling exhibits – The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon and Acres of Dreams: Settling the Canadian Prairies – in Pier 21’s Ralph and Rose Chiodo Harbourside Gallery.

The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon explores the enduring significance of the canoe to the people of Canada. This exhibit looks at how the history, culture, society and economy of Canada are intertwined with the unique qualities of the canoe. For thousands of years the canoe has played an important part in the lives of Aboriginal inhabitants. Later, the canoe became the vehicle of the fur trade, an enterprise that formed the foundation for Canada’s boundaries and cooperative character.

An innovation of Aboriginal peoples, natural building materials, such as bark, cedar and skins, were used to produce varying styles of canoes and kayaks, each designed for different water conditions and functions. The exhibit includes a 14-foot birch bark canoe in mid-construction, giving visitors a chance to see the remarkable craftsmanship of these beautiful vessels.

The canoe’s use and size expanded with the development of the fur trade, playing a key role in the formation of strong economic relationships between First Nations and Europeans, particularly the French. The exhibit further allows visitors to participate in hands-on activities, such as loading a canoe for its journey across Canada.

Today, the canoe remains an important symbol, and like Pier 21, the Canoe was also named one of the Seven Wonders of Canada. The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon was developed by the Canadian Canoe Museum’s and is part of its travelling exhibitions.

 For more information please visit the Pier 21 website:

 www.pier21.ca

Please Note:  Our Executive Director, Dr. James Raffan, will be heading to Halifax on May 14th as featured speaker at the Opening Reception for the travelling exhibit with a presentation called "National Treasure."  The Opening Reception starts at 5:00 at Pier 21 and James will be speaking at 5:30pm.