Commemorating a Father of Confederation

Government supports project that pays tribute to local historical personality Sir Charles Tupper

PARRSBORO, Nova Scotia, March 21, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Government of Canada has provided $385,000 through the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program to support the restoration and renovation of the Ottawa House By-the-Sea Museum.

Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and Member of Parliament (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley), announced the funding today on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover.

With this support, the Parrsborough Shore Historical Society will commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the death of Sir Charles Tupper by updating the Museum, which was once his summer residence.

Quick Facts

• Sir Charles Tupper purchased the Ottawa House for his summer home in 1871.
• In 1981, the Parrsborough Shore Historical Society purchased the historic property built in the 1770's to preserve and restore it. It now houses a museum with over 450 artifacts.
• It will be converted into an interactive museum dedicated to retelling the region's history.

Quotes
"Our government is committed to supporting commemorative projects that provide communities with lasting reminders of the people and events that have been instrumental in shaping our country as we know it today."—Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"As a Father of Confederation, Sir Charles Tupper has made an important contribution to this province and to Canada, and it is fitting that he be remembered through the transformation of his summer home."
—Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and Member of Parliament (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley)

"Dedicated volunteers have been working diligently for the last four years on the restoration of the Ottawa House and the modernization of its associated By-the-Sea Museum. The generous grant from the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program has given us a great boost—we can now complete this worthy community project."
—Colin Curleigh, President, Parrsborough Shore Historical Society

Associated Links
Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program
Ottawa House By-the-Sea Museum
Sir Charles Tupper

Parks Canada Investing in Future of Historic Rideau Canal

image credit: Collections Canada

Rehabilitation of Poonamalie Dam to support continued animation of historic infrastructure

SMITHS FALLS, Ontario, March 20, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, on behalf of Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced today that Parks Canada is supporting communities and businesses along the Rideau Canada by investing up to $7.5 million over the next two years to rehabilitate the Poonamalie Dam and for ongoing preventative maintenance projects and visitor facilities across the Rideau Canada system.

For the Poonamalie project, Parks Canada is investing $4.3 million to rehabilitate the existing earth dam and reconstruct a waste weir to improve dam stability, visitor safety, and improve a service vehicle lane. Up to $3.2 millionwill also be invested over the next two years across the Rideau Canal for preventative maintenance projects and visitor facilities. The funding announced today is in addition to the 2014 Economic Action Plan to invest $391.5 million in funding for highways, bridges and dams in national parks and along historic canals. Details on this funding will come later.

These investments connect communities and ensure the infrastructure is safe and available to those who need it.

Quick Facts

• Planning for the Poonamalie Dam Rehabilitation Project has now begun. A contract for the design of this project will be awarded shortly.
• The Poonamalie Dam, in the Rideau Lakes Township near Smiths Falls, has been continuously maintained and monitored since the 19^th century. Parks Canada identified the dam for rehabilitation as part of its ongoing asset monitoring and recapitalization program on the Rideau Canal.
• The work will be completed by April 2017 and will not affect vessel traffic during the Rideau Canal's navigation season.
• The reconstruction of the canal cut walls at Minnow Creek Waste Weir will reuse stone facing salvaged from the existing wall to correspond with the current aesthetic look.
• The Poonamalie Earth Dam retains water from the Big Rideau and Lower Rideau Lakes and contributes to ParksCanada management of the water heading north from Poonamalie Lockstation to Ottawa Locks.
• Parks Canada is gearing up for a new summer season along its historic canals by offering boaters early bird special rates for their permits, which they can buy on-line until March 31, 2014, at www.parkscanada.gc.ca.

Quotes

"Our Government has made record investments to canals and we continue to work with our partners and communities to maintain the Rideau Canal as a navigable waterway, providing world-class experiences to visitors, which benefits communities and local businesses. These investments are integral in supporting economic development and families in the region."

Mr. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville

Additional links:

• Visitor Experience Opportunities Report for the Rideau Corridor Released
• Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada
• Government of Canada Announces the Completion of Two Infrastructure Investments Along the Rideau Canal National Historic Site

National Historic Sites of Canada

Prince of Wales Fort - Churchill Manitoba

The National Historic Sites of Canada has designed this website as a way for historians, geographers, and tourists to explore the unique heritage of Canada.

Currently, over 1,500 places, persons, and events have been formally commemorated by the Canadian government. These dedications fall into five broad themes, including Peopling the Land and Governing Canada.

Visitors can use the Explore feature on the site to browse through the register of historic places or learn about ongoing archaeological digs at some of these sites
.
Within the National Historic Sites section, detailed information on over 160 of the unique sites dotting the landscape from Newfoundland to Yellow Knife can be found. Additionally, visitors can learn more about the nation's historic lighthouses and sites that are under consideration for addition to this impressive list.

Visit the site at: http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/lhn-nhs/index.aspx

>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

The Treasures of Napoléon: A Rendez-Vous with History

MONTREAL, March 13, 2014 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - From May 16 to September 1, the Crypt of the Notre-Dame Basilica (Espace B),ordinarily closed to the visitors, will open to house the Treasures of Napoléon exhibition. More than 350 art objects that once belonged to the famous emperor will be on display, allowing the public an intimate look at the "Empire" style which characterized that historic era. Organized by Exhibits Development Group in cooperation with the Chalençon Collection in France, the exhibition is the largest of its kind ever to cross the Atlantic. For the occasion, the Hon. Serge Joyal will also be lending items from his personal collection.

"We are thrilled to be the hosts for this exhibition. Nothing like this has ever been seen on such a scale in North America," said Yoland Tremblay, executive director of the Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal, at a press conference announcing the exhibition's arrival. The choice of the Crypt of the Notre-Dame Basilica to house the pieces is not without significance, as this masterpiece of architecture in Montreal was built in Napoléon's time and, like him, it has stood the test of time as a privileged witness to history."

"I hope visitors will have as much pleasure as I do in discovering these aspects of the life of Napoléon I," said theParis collection's owner, Pierre-Jean Chalençon, who was in Montreal for the occasion. "Ever since my childhood, I've been fascinated by this figure of mythical proportions. To enter into the world of Napoléon is also a way to understand the origins of the society we live in today."

"The figure of Napoléon has long stimulated Quebecers' imaginations, and continues to do so. Even nowadays, in various areas, in advertising and video games for instance, his image is exploited, as are his qualities as a military leader," said the Hon. Serge Joyal, author of Le mythe de Napoléon au Canada français.

"It's quite a challenge to present this outstanding exhibition in an environment that's so full of history. It's an honour to be able to realize this project here in Montreal," said the exhibition's designer, Geoffrey C. Curley of Exhibits Development Group.

Paintings, sculptures, designs, prints and decorative art, including furniture, porcelain and tapestries, will combine to offer an authentic journey through the day-to-day environment of Napoléon. Four main areas illustrating the most significant aspects of the life of the little corporal who became Emperor will be presented:

ARCHITECTUREIt was Napoléon's ambition to make France an empire in which grandiose architecture would express the scale and magnitude of his power. He was quick to appreciate that architects could assist in asserting his power both in the present and in the future. To make this vision a reality, he turned to the architects Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine and Charles Percier, who published their Recueil de decorations intérieures in 1801. The present exhibition includes a number of of their sketches and drawings.

SCULPTUREDuring this period, the Italian artist Antonio Canova was the standard-bearer of the international neo-classical style. The Empress Joséphine and Grand Admiral Murat, Napoléon's brother-in-law, made it a point of honour to acquire some the most sumptuous works by the great Italian master, several which appear in this exhibition.

DECORATIVE ARTSAlthough Napoléon's policy had viewed the arts primarily as a tool in propaganda promoting an official image of his regime after 1796, as emperor he succeeded, by encouraging artists and craftsmen, in restoring the arts to their former glory, which the years of revolution had eroded.

PAINTINGNeo-classicism also thrived in painting. The pre-eminent French painter of the era, Jacques-Louis David, created one of the world's most important schools of painting, and under his influence the Empire style spread throughout Europe.

These outstanding artworks will be on display in galleries and environments recreated to bring visitors into intimate contact with this larger-than-life figure. The exhibition will be divided into five sections:

I.	JOSEPHINE AND THE CORONATION
II.	MARIE-LOUISE AND THE KING OF ROME
III.	NAPOLÉON AND HIS FAMILY
IV.	THE ARTS AT THE NAPOLEONIC COURT
V.	NAPOLÉON ON SAINTE-HÉLÈNE ISLAND

The Treasures of Napoleon: A Rendez-Vous with History.