Rebecca Watson, Author at Manitoba Museum

Posted on: Tuesday February 20, 2024

A black and white photograph of a group of refugees on a small boat in the water.

(Winnipeg, MB: February 20, 2024) – The Manitoba Museum will be hosting a documentary screening and panel discussion on Friday, March 1 at 7:00 pm for the documentary Passage to Freedom.

Passage to Freedom features the powerful oral histories of Southeast Asian refugees who made dangerous journeys from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to Canada between 1975 and 1985. The film weaves archival clips of news stories, wartime footage, and interviews with former refugees and Canadian immigration officials. It delves into refugees’ integration into the fabric of Canadian life and highlights the contributions of the first generation and their descendants. Please be advised that this film addresses topics which could be disturbing to some visitors, or may trigger painful memories.

“The documentary film is a testament of the resilience of those who have been forced to find a path from violence and displacement to resettlement and integration in a new homeland. Their cultural and economic legacy is an invaluable contribution to Canada.” – Dr. Stephanie P. Stobbe, Researcher and Curator of Hearts of Freedom Exhibition, and Professor at Canadian Mennonite University.

The documentary is part of the pop-up exhibition, Hearts of Freedom: Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees, which is on display in the Museum’s Festival Hall until April 7, 2024.

The evening will take place in the Manitoba Museum’s Auditorium with opening remarks by Senator Marilou McPhedran at 7:00 pm, followed by a screening of Passage to Freedom (50 minutes). A panel discussion and Q&A session will follow.

Panelists:

Sheila Petzold – Passage to Freedom producer
Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe – Hearts of Freedom researcher, former Lao refugee
Mondy Lim – Hearts of Freedom website and digital exhibit designer, former Cambodian refugee
Tam Nguyen – Hearts of Freedom interviewee, former Vietnamese refugee
John Wieler – Hearts of Freedom interviewee, former MCC Canada representative

This event is part of the Manitoba Museum’s monthly First Friday programming, during which visitors can explore the Museum’s three core attractions – the Museum Galleries, Planetarium, and Science Gallery – at no cost on the First Friday of every month from 4 pm to 9 pm. No tickets are required.

About Hearts of Freedom

The exhibition was created by Dr. Stephanie P. Stobbe and the Hearts of Freedom Museum Exhibition Committee, in collaboration with Canadian Mennonite University, Carleton University, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Canadian Immigration Historical Society, the Vietnamese Canadian Federation, the Lao Association of Ottawa Valley, the Cambodian Association of Ottawa Valley, the Pacific Canada Heritage Centre – Museum of Migration, and the Manitoba Museum.

The Hearts of Freedom exhibition tour is funded in part by SSHRC and private funders.

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Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
Manitoba Museum
bhayberg@manitobamusuem.ca

Winter in Manitoba is not generally a time for animals to breed. Resources are scarce – many species have migrated and those that remain are often struggling to survive or have slowed their metabolism, perhaps to hibernate or essentially freeze solid.

But two Manitoba bird species are unusual finches known to breed through the winter months! Learn about these birds’ special adaptions in this video with Curator of Zoology Dr. Randy Mooi.

The city of Winnipeg turns 150 this year! Join Curator of History Dr. Roland Sawatzky in the Winnipeg Gallery to learn about some of the history of Winnipeg as an Indigenous homeland.

This series will continue throughout 2024, so keep an eye out for more #Wpg150 videos!

Do you know the history of valentine’s cards? Learn more about Valentine’s Day and check out some unique valentines cards from the Manitoba Museum Collection in this video with Cortney!

It’s teamwork! Badgers and coyotes sometimes use their unique adaptations to work together in hunting small rodents like the Richardson Ground squirrel. Learn how in this video from the Prairies Gallery with Learning & Engagement producer Erin.

Posted on: Friday February 2, 2024

By Roland Sawatzky, Curator of History at the Manitoba Museum

This year is the 150th anniversary of the City of Winnipeg. In 1874 it promoted itself from a small village nestled within the larger Red River Settlement, to a bona fide City, with all the aspirations of growth and importance it could muster. The Winnipeg Gallery at the Manitoba Museum is a great place to explore the fascinating history of our city.

The Winnipeg Gallery was completed at the end of 2019, so if you haven’t seen it yet, this year would be a great time. The gallery includes a seven-metre long wall of artifacts, related to seven themes that run through the history of Winnipeg, including Indigenous Homeland, City of Newcomers, and Celebrations, to name a few. And with special digital kiosks, you can do a deep dive into the story of each artifact, like Sergeant Tommy Prince’s authentic war medals, or a billy club from the 1919 General Strike.

Ten medals lined up slightly overlapping each other.

This set of medals was awarded to Sergeant Tommy Prince, one of Canada’s most decorated Indigenous war veterans. Sergeant Prince was born on the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation.. The medals reflect his service in WWII and the Korean War. Loan from the Prince Medals Committee. ©Manitoba Museum

Many Winnipeg Grenadiers servicemen were imprisoned during WWII at Sham Shui Po Camp in Hong Kong. One prisoner made this chess set with scraps found at the camp. H9-37-547 ©Manitoba Museum

Discover Winnipeg’s changes over time through our ground-breaking interactive digital map, which lets you explore the city from seven time periods, right up to today. You can release the floodwaters over our unsuspecting city, trace the growth of your neighbourhood, or track the various epidemics (and pandemics) that have hit the city over the last century and a half.

Indigenous history is integrated throughout the gallery, including a nine-Nation treaty established at the Forks in 1285 CE; John Norquay, the Métis premier (1878-1887); the story of Shoal Lake 40 and the Winnipeg Aqueduct; and the 1972 establishment of the era-defining “Professional Native Indian Artists, Inc.” art collective, plus much more.

The inspiring experiences of immigrants in Winnipeg are told through old artifacts and new stories, accessed through a “kitchen table,” where you can sit and listen to the challenges met and overcome by new Canadians, like adapting to the extreme cold, establishing a business, and learning a new language.

This jingle dress was made by Linda Tait from Swan Lake First Nation around 1970. Pow wows are important cultural events in Winnipeg today, and the Jingle Dress Dance is a major feature. H4-0-377 ©Manitoba Museum

During the catastrophic flood of 1950, this pair of hip wader boots was used by a volunteer to assist with relief. Around 100,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes. H9-37-632 ©Manitoba Museum

This is a Kaba dress made by Olayinka Ali in 2018 for the Manitoba Museum. Olayinka is a fashion designer and dressmaker for communities from Africa in Manitoba. H9-38-824 ©Manitoba Museum

Then explore the changes in “Winnipeg 1920.” Most visitors call it the “little town,” but Winnipeg in 1920 was Canada’s third largest city. We’ve made changes to populate it with the diverse peoples of the time.

Our city has had its fair share of important events and contributions to the Canadian story, along with deeply challenging social disparities, from 1874 right to this moment. Winnipeg’s history is tumultuous ever-changing, and contentious. But it isn’t dull. See for yourself!

Plan your visit today

Dr. Roland Sawatzky

Curator of History

Roland Sawatzky joined The Manitoba Museum in 2011. He received his B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Winnipeg, M.A. in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina, and Ph.D. in Archaeology…

Meet Dr. Roland Sawatzky

Promotional graphic for the Manitoba Museum's 2024 Tribute Gala. On the right is a photograph of honourees James Cohen and Linda McGarva-Cohen. On the left, text reads,

Winnipeg, MB: January 30, 2024 – The Manitoba Museum will honour two prominent Manitobans at its annual Tribute Gala on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Community leaders James Cohen and Linda McGarva-Cohen will share the honours at the gala event with proceeds supporting the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All community initiative.

The 2024 Tribute Gala will celebrate and highlight the exceptional contributions made by James and Linda during a conversation with award-winning Canadian broadcast journalist, Shelagh Rogers.

“The Manitoba Museum is an iconic institution in our city and province. It tells the stories of our First Peoples and the generations of others who followed from all over the world. We are all part of the fabric of this great place and the Museum strives to bring all of us together in the hopes of learning about the past and helping to create the path to a promising future. Linda and I are so appreciative to be recognized by this treasured member of our cultural community.” – James Cohen

Funds raised through the annual Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala support the Access for All community initiative by removing financial, social, and cultural barriers to visitation. Through this initiative, the Museum aims to further grow, diversify, and engage new audiences and create a place that belongs to all Manitobans. This involves the continual reflection and assessment of research, collections, exhibitions, and programs to enhance their relevance to Manitoba’s diverse populations including ethnicity, culture, age, gender, and abilities. One of the Access for All initiatives is providing Manitobans access to the Museum at no charge – those Manitobans who would otherwise not have the opportunity to engage in memorable learning experiences that bridge our understanding and love of history, nature, and science with today’s reality and hopes for the future.

The Manitoba Museum 19th annual Tribute Gala will take place in Alloway Hall on April 24, 2024. For information on reserving tables, purchasing tickets, exploring sponsorship opportunities, or donating to the Access for All community initiative, please visit our webpage or contact Cassidy Nicholls at CNicholls@ManitobaMuseum.ca or 204-988-0629.

2024 Tribute Gala Honourees

James Cohen is a Winnipeg-based community builder, business leader, volunteer, and philanthropist. He is President and CEO of real estate and energy investment company Gendis Inc., a past-Chair of several organizations including: Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Manitoba Museum, The Manitoba Museum Foundation Inc. and The Young Presidents Organization YPO Manitoba Chapter and also served a full 8 year maximum term on the board of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and began his three decades of volunteering with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football Club and the West End Cultural Centre. James is also a successful published musician and songwriter as founder of James Cohen and the Prairie Roots Rockers who released their debut album in 2011 on Soccermom Records / Warner Music Canada and featured the radio hit “So Long Sweet Deception” which appeared nationally on the Mediabase Active Rock Top 50 Chart for 16 consecutive weeks.

Linda McGarva-Cohen is a longtime volunteer, event planner and philanthropist who has served on the boards of several organizations including the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Downtown Winnipeg Biz Placemaking Committee, The Manitoba Theatre for Young People and Ace Art Inc. Previously she worked as a graphic designer, marketing specialist, and fashion illustration instructor.

James and Linda have supported a wide variety of causes in our community and abroad including the Assiniboine Park Conservancy Amur Tiger Exhibit, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Manitoba Museum, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, University of Manitoba, St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, True North Youth Foundation’s Camp Manitou, Harvest Manitoba, Ronald McDonald House, World Vision Canada, and various Winnipeg area hospitals.

They both believe in giving back by thinking globally, acting locally, and trying to help make our world of over 8 billion people a better place.

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Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
Manitoba Museum
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Long winter nights are perfect for sky watching! In this video, Planetarium Astronomer Scott Young will show you how to find the constellation Orion and the Winter Triangle.

Find the next showing of Manitoba Skies on the Planetarium schedule.

Join us for Dome@Home on the last Thursday of the month at 7 pm. We’ll be live on both Facebook and YouTube.

Did you know that vibrations and gravity can change the dioramas in the Museum Galleries? These dioramas are cared for by our Conservation team, who have a variety of challenges in their up-keep and must constantly adapt to find solutions to issues that arise! Learn about some of the work of a conservator in this video with Assistant Conservator Loren.

To learn more about diorama conservation in Loren’s recent blog post, click here.

The city of Winnipeg turns 150 this year, with today being the anniversary of the first meeting of City Council! Join Curator of History Dr. Roland Sawatzky in the Winnipeg Gallery to learn some of the amazing stories shared in this space.

This series will continue throughout 2024, so keep an eye out for more #Wpg150 videos!

Museum Galleries

Planetarium

Science Gallery

Manitoba Museum hosts Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion

Manitoba Museum hosts Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion

Posted on: Tuesday February 20, 2024

About Hearts of Freedom

Did you know some birds can breed in winter?

Winnipeg 150: Indigenous Homeland

Vintage Valentines! ❤️

Did you know badgers and coyotes sometimes hunt together?

Winnipeg at 150

Posted on: Friday February 2, 2024

Dr. Roland Sawatzky

Curator of History

Manitoba Museum Announces 2024 Tribute Gala Honourees

2024 Tribute Gala Honourees

Do you know how to spot Orion in the night sky?

Do you know how we conserve the dioramas? Part 2

Winnipeg 150: The Winnipeg Gallery