Moving with the River exhibition opens at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

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Gatineau, Quebec, June 25, 2013 — The Canadian Museum of Civilization opens Moving with the River, an exhibition that traces the history of the St. Lawrence River and its direct link to the building and settlement of Canada. Originally inhabited by First Peoples, the banks of the St. Lawrence were the backdrop to the country’s first towns, cities, and agricultural heartland. The river provided both a means of transportation and a passageway to the Great Lakes and the Canadian West.

Developed by Parks Canada and presented in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Moving with the River was first mounted at the Musée de la civilisation in Québec City, in 2011.

“The majestic St. Lawrence River is central to the history of our great country, said Alan Latourelle, Chief Executive Officer of the Parks Canada Agency. On behalf of all Canadians, Parks Canada presents and protects significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. It is with pleasure that we share with the public cultural and historical resources about the great river which, for centuries, was the main point of entry into Canada.”

The exhibition is divided into four historical periods: the ancient Iroquoian presence on the land, dating back more than 1,000 years; Franco-Aboriginal alliances; the expansion of French settlement in the St. Lawrence Valley; and how Québec City, the second busiest port of immigration in North America after New York from 1830 to 1930, served as a gateway to the West for waves of diverse European immigrants. This rich history is depicted through photographs, audiovisual materials and artifacts — from clay vessels and bone tools to immigrants’ trunks.

“The history of the St. Lawrence River is crucial to understanding how our country was developed and we are grateful to Parks Canada for telling this significant story and for allowing us to share it with our visitors.” says Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.

The story of the St. Lawrence is the story of the earliest days of this nation — from the First Peoples who travelled its waters and built their communities on its banks, to the explorers and traders who saw in it the potential for settlement and commerce; from the seigneuries of New France to the European immigrants for whom it was a gateway to new lives in the West.

The exhibition will be presented at the Museum of Civilization until March 24, 2014.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

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