The Canadian Government has announced that it will provide funding to the Army Museum, Halifax Citadel, for a First World War Centenary exhibition.
The announcement was made on the 10th October 2013 by Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
The exhibit will provide an overview of the First World War from 1914 to 1918. It will also include displays that create awareness on the role of the First Nations, African-Canadian, Francophone, Acadian, and Jewish communities during the conflict.
Minister Mackay said that the Government is “proud to contribute to projects that Canadians can reflect on and learn from for generations to come” and that he is “particularly proud that this exhibit will focus on Atlantic Canada’s contribution to the war effort at home and overseas”.
Minister Glover described the commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War as “an important milestone on the road to Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017”.
Minister Glover added the exhibit will “encourage Canadians to gain a true sense of our nation’s history and reaffirm pride in our achievements”.
The Project Director, Ken Hynes, announced that the funding would develop an exhibition entitled The Road to Vimy and Beyond.
“This exhibition tells the story of how Nova Scotia and Canada contributed to the Allied victory, with a focus on the individual soldiers and units that took part in the Great War. With the support of the Canadian Government, we intend to honour their service and sacrifice in a way that Nova Scotians and Canadians can be proud of”.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $223,200 through the Commemorate Canada component of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Celebration and Commemoration Program. The goal of this component is to “foster a sense of belonging and feeling of pride in Canadians by supporting initiatives of national significance that commemorate important aspects of the history of Canada”.
Source: Canadian Heritage press release
Date of press release: 10/10/2013
Images courtesy of the Canadian Heritage website
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News