REVELSTOKE, British Columbia, August 10, 2010 - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation and Member of Parliament (Kootenay-Columbia), today announced funding for the Revelstoke Heritage Railway Society's Chinese Legacies Travelling Exhibition.
With this funding, the Society will tour the exhibition, which recognizes the contribution of the more than 15,000 Chinese workers who helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. The show, currently on display at the Revelstoke Railway Museum, will include stops at Exporail in Saint Constant, Quebec, the Copperbelt Mining and Railway Museum in Whitehorse, and the Prince George Railway and Foresty Museum and the Port Moody Station Museum in British Columbia.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support the efforts of local heritage institutions. Organizations like the Revelstoke Heritage Railway Society are important to the vitality of communities across Canada," said Minister Moore. "Projects such as this tell important stories, enrich the cultural life of our country, and create a legacy of excellence."
"This travelling exhibition provides an opportunity, not only to help strengthen Canadians' awareness of our rich cultural heritage, but also to recognize the important role that the Chinese community has played in building our great country," said Mr. Abbott.
"A wonderful opportunity to share an important aspect of our cultural heritage is represented by this funding," said Jennifer Dunkerson, Executive Director of the Revelstoke Heritage Railway Society. "It is our hope that the Revelstoke Railway Museum may be recognized as a nationally significant institution contributing to the success of other museum organizations by encouraging the presentation of the stories of people in their own communities."
The Revelstoke Heritage Railway Society (RHRS) was formed in 1988 with a mandate to explore and chronicle railway history in the Revelstoke region. Its vision of building a local museum dedicated to the storied past of railroading in the mountains of British Columbia was realized in 1994 with the opening of the Revelstoke Railway Museum. Since that time, the museum--under the guidance of the RHRS--has built a national reputation for the exhibitions it hosts. In addition to important artifacts and archival materials, the museum has a historic photograph collection of more than 6,000 pictures.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $26,000 through the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.
Matthew Deacon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages
819-997-7788
matthew.deacon@pch.gc.ca
Perry Boldt
A/Regional Manager
Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604-666-5739
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
