Veterans past and present honoured all week at the Royal BC Museum

The Royal BC Museum is presenting five days of free talks, activities and displays to honour those who have served – and those who continue to serve.  All week, Nov. 7 to 11 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, the RBCM in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada will host displays by military historians, veterans’ associations and community groups on the museum’s main floor.

One of the new displays this year will be by Pacific Opera Victoria. Mary’s Wedding is a Canadian opera about the power of memory and innocence and a generation of Canadians caught up in the First World War. Two members of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), the regiment featured in the opera, will be in uniform at the display on Nov. 9 and 10.  Archivists from the University of Victoria will present a sample of their “World of Mary’s Wedding” exhibit and the Memory Project online forum where people can submit their own stories.

Highlights during the week include a pair of performances by the Victoria Children’s Choir on Nov. 11 at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.  Displays include a collection of trench art made by soldiers from World War I through the War in Afghanistan, a Korean military jeep in which visitors may have their photos taken, and an invaluable opportunity to speak with veterans and honour their service.

On Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, the Royal BC Museum invites all military personnel, whether serving or retired, and their families to visit the museum galleries free of charge.

As the provincial museum and archives, the Royal BC Museum preserves and shares the stories of British Columbia – on-site, off-site and online – through its research, collections, exhibitions and educational programs.

For specific information on Remembrance activities and special participants please contact:

Janet MacDonald, Event Planner 250-387-2016 or jmacdonald@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

For more information on the latest activities, events and exhibitions at the Royal BC Museum, visit

www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca or call 1-888-447-7977.

SPEAKERS

Join military historians, veterans and their families for free talks in the Newcombe Conference Hall at the Royal BC Museum:

Date	Time	Speaker	Topic
Nov. 11	2 p.m.	Military Historian Paul Ferguson	Touring the Great War in France and Flanders
Nov. 11	3 p.m.	Hong Kong Veterans’ Commemorative Association	Passing the Torch: Second generation Children of Hong Kong Veterans keep their fathers’ history alive
Nov. 11	1 to 4 p.m.	Veterans and Military Personnel	Wartime experiences

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND DISPLAYS

Victoria Childrens’ Choir

The Victoria Children’s Choir will perform songs honouring Remembrance Day. (12:30 and 1:30 p.m. on Nov 11)

Mary’s Wedding

Pacific Opera Victoria presents a display on the new Canadian opera Mary’s Wedding, a love letter to the power of memory and innocence, and to a generation of Canadians who were caught in the crucible of the First World War. Two members of Lord Strathcona’s Horse, the regiment featured in the opera, will be in uniform at the display on Nov. 9 and 10.  University of Victoria archivists will present a sample of their “World of Mary’s Wedding” exhibit and the Memory Project online forum where people can submit their own stories. (Nov 7 – 11)

Women of War

This display, researched and produced over 15 years by the late Colin McIntosh (formerly of Saanich), includes framed biographies and photographs of 20 servicewomen – many of whom were spies or served as resistance operatives during World War II. (Nov. 7 – 11)

Veterans Affairs Canada

Replicas of the National War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be on display in the glass lobby. Photo opportunities supported by VAC staff and volunteers (Nov. 7 – 11)

Trench Art

Soldiers have decorated wood, bone and metal objects for hundreds of years.Victoriaresident Stephen Lamb will display his trench art collection at the museum during Remembrance week. (Nov. 7 – 11)

BC Aboriginal Veterans and Serving Members Association / Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group

Aboriginal and Métis veterans have played major roles in Canada’s wartime contributions. Displays and veterans from the BC Aboriginal Veterans will be represented throughout the week. (Nov. 7 – 11).  Displays and veterans from te Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group will be on site only on Nov. 8, National Aboriginal Veterans’ Day.

Maritime Museum of BC
Displays featuring the contribution of the WRENs (Womens’ Royal Naval Service / Womens’ Royal Canadian Naval Service). (Nov. 7-11)

Chinese Canadian Military Museum

Display on the history of Chinese Canadian Veterans during World War II. (Nov. 7-11)

Korean Veterans’ Association, Unit 27

Display table with veterans in attendance and DVD footage. (Nov. 7-11)

 Victoria Genealogical Society

The VGS directs families to information, with a focus this week on those that served. (Nov. 7 to 11)

Bart Armstrong “Forgotten Canadians”

More than 100 Canadians, or those with connections to Canada, earned the U.S. Medal of Honor. (Nov. 7 to 11)