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Chris Bolin Photo by CHRIS BOLIN for The Glo
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Thursday, October 20, 2011 - Calgary, Alberta - 5-year-old Maeve Delaney tries on a Tommy Helmet at The Military Museums of Calgary on Thursday, October 20, 2011. The Military Museums new interactive program for children aged 4 to 6 years called the Travel Tales of Tommy is aimed at teaching kids the importance of protecting their heads. Photo by Chris Bolin for The Globe and Mail
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Story by KC Richards Photos courtesy The Military Museums
Driving down Crowchild Trail in Calgary you can’t miss the fighter jet pointed towards the sky, or the armoured vehicles on the front lawn of The Military Museums (TMM). The cenotaph, tanks, and statues tend to evoke thoughts of Remembrance Day and rightly so. But there is a lot to see and do at TMM all spring and summer, and there’s plenty of free day parking.
“We have so many events happening this summer, and the staff have been busy planning fun and educational activities for the whole family,” says Martin Delaney, Executive Director of The Military Museums Foundation.
For just $30 you can buy an annual family membership for the family to enjoy every event and unlimited access to the museums all year long.
War of 1812 commemorations continue across the country and TMM is hosting educational programs in the spirit of this pivotal era in our nation’s history. Weekend birthday parties feature War of 1812 themed marching drills, games, and many other exciting activities.
The summer youth program re-launches on Monday, 1 July. Summer Siege 2 features War of 1812 themed indoor and outdoor activities and games that educate and entertain.
TMM holds their 5th annual open house on the first weekend of June. This event is always a big hit with families with free admission, ample free parking, historical re-enactments, and a lot of fun activities and displays.
When the current exhibit Walls Between People wraps up in April, The Founders Gallery will become home to an exhibit called Defending a Nation: Canada and the Korean War. Opening 25 June, this exhibit tells the story of the battles Canadians fought during the United Nations mission, and the stories of the major Canadian units that served there from the navy, army, and air force.
Curator Rory Cory says the exhibit is part of the overall effort to achieve increased recognition for veterans of the Korean War.
“This exhibit will help educate Canadians about why we were in Korea and the sacrifices that were made there for the freedom of a distant nation,” says Cory.
It will feature audio and video interviews with Korean War veterans where they give firsthand accounts of their experiences in Korea. 2013 is the year of the Korean War veteran according to Veterans’ Affairs Canada.
There is always something new at TMM. Last fall the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) gallery completed a makeover with new displays depicting scenes from the Second World War, the Cold War, and Afghanistan. Starting in April, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry is preparing for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the regiment’s founding with a renovation to their gallery. The PPCLI, created to fight in the First World War, is one of Canada’s most famous regiments. The renovations are expected to take a few months so be sure to see it before April, or after to see the changes.
The Military Museums is world class facility which hosts galleries from all three services in the Canadian Forces. The Army Museum of Alberta tells the story of Alberta’s land forces from the Northwest Rebellion all the way up to the current mission in Afghanistan. The Air Force Museum of Alberta chronicles Canada’s Air Force from the development of flight to the modern era. The Naval Museum of Alberta features literally tons of artefacts including real torpedoes, cannons, and a fighter jet. There are four army regiments that call Alberta home with galleries, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, the Calgary Highlanders, the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), and the King’s Own Calgary Regiment. In addition to their on-site library, the University now curates the Founders’ Gallery which is an art gallery with the goal of contributing to Canadians’ understanding of national military experience in the field of human conflict.
For more information on entertaining upcoming events and exhibits visit www.themilitarymuseums.ca or call 403-974-2850.