Exhibition explores Canada’s place in the global refugee crisis
Credit to Author: Ramya Ramanathan| Date: Sat, 08 Jun 2019 14:24:22 +0000
Opening June 8, Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) presents Refuge Canada, a travelling exhibition from the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, just in time for the upcoming World Refugee Day on June 20.
The exhibition draws visitors through its five themes: Life Before, Fear, Displacement, Refuge and Life in Canada, with hands-on opportunities to connect with the content. You can crawl inside a UNHCR tent, look out a plane window as the shores of Canada approach and listen to refugees tell their stories throughout the exhibit. Refuge Canada will challenge and inspire as it brings visitors on a journey from darkness to hope, always calling into question preconceptions about what it means to be a refugee.
No one wants to be a refugee
Through images, soundscapes, first person accounts and artifacts, this exhibition highlights that “no one wants to be a refugee, anyone could become a refugee.” Moving through major waves of arrival from Second World War era up to present day, Refuge Canada does not shy away from portraying the darker chapters of history. Hopeful stories of optimism and success are balanced by moving accounts of shattered lives, fear and examples of Canada’s mixed record in welcoming refugees.
According to Dan Conlin, Curator, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, “Canada has had a mixed record in welcoming refugees, reacting generously to some while overlooking others. Refuge Canada provides the context for Canada’s place in the global refugee crisis and brings to light the challenges faced by refugees in Canada. The exhibition also shares stories of success and contributions made by people who came to Canada as refugees.”
Refuge Canada was created by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and supported by TD.
Key Dates
- Exhibition Opening Reception with Marie Chapman, CEO of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21: June 16, 2 – 4 p.m.
- Connections Art & Book Club in partnership with Brampton Library featuring the novel ‘The Boat People’ by Sharon Bala: Thursday, June 13, 7 – 8:30 p.m. To register call 905-793-4636
- Talk and book signing with award- winning author and Holocaust survivor, Max Eisen: Thursday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m.
Note: This exhibition has content that may be disturbing to some visitors.