Think you know all about the history of Canada? Think again.
I was recently in Ottawa and had a chance to visit the Canadian Museum of History. It’s pretty impressive and all encompassing.
Designed by Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal, the building was inspired by how Canada must have looked thousands of years ago - resembling the Canadian landscape at the end of the last Ice Age.
The Peoples Hall is sometimes used for large dinners, as I was lucky to experience.
The building has four levels with the lower level devoted to First Nations people: Tsimshian Prehistory, the Peoples Hall and the Northwest Coast People. Upstairs is a Children’s Museum along with special exhibits.
When you roam the third and fourth levels all the way through, you pretty much walk through the history of Canada in order. The Grand Hall is dominated by Haida totem poles, a lodge and the famous sculpture exhibited in the Vancouver Airport - this time in pure white since it is the plaster cast that Bill Reid used to create his master piece ‘The Jade Canoe’. Coloured spot lights give it a magical glow.
From Colonial ships to current government, from Inuit carving tools to kayaks, from John Dieffenbaker to Terry Fox - the museum celebrates our history in the broadest sense. The displays offer costumes, tools, even houses. It might even offer a clue to why Canadians are said to be so polite and often say ‘I’m sorry’. One display with text from 1737 states that “Canadians are naturally large, nicely built, with an energetic temperament. They like honours, pride themselves on being brave and they are extremely sensitive to slights and to the smallest punishments”. (Gilles Hocquart).
The museum has displays about the first and second world wars and Canada’s role in it, complete with poppies.
I particularly enjoyed a display on Salt Spring rock & roll musician Randy Bachman from the Guess Who (1970’s).
If you ever find yourself in Ottawa with time on your hands, I highly recommend a half day visit to this museum.
Haida Lodge and totems.
Just across the river from Parliament Hill, the museum offers a great view of Ottawa and the Peace Tower.