Re: Museum

by Covert Fri 17 Jun 2022, 7:44 am

Afghanistan Exhibit Now Open At Billy Bishop Museum

Claire McCormack
Jun 17, 2022

The Billy Bishop Home and Museum has a new exhibit featuring Canadian veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

It’s called Ground Truth: Stories of Canada’s War In Afghanistan, and features stories and mementos from about ten veterans so far, many of whom have a local connection to the area.

Museum Director and Chief Curator Emily Jolliffe says the idea came from previously working with local veterans in the Honouring Our Local Veterans annual exhibit.

“I realized they had a ton of their own personal objects from tours that they had done,” says Jolliffe, noting as the Taliban began to take over Afghanistan last summer, more veterans began to talk about their time serving in that country.

She explains, “I thought that it would be a good idea to reach out to my networks and see if anybody would be interested in being interviewed about their time in Afghanistan and kind of see how they feel now after over ten years have gone by for a lot of them. It still seems to be top of mind and relevant. I think some of them just want to make sure that people don’t forget that was a war, and that many Canadians died in that war and it changed a lot of their lives forever.”

The exhibit has a large map of Kandahar Province on the wall, which Jolliffe says a veteran recommended they include, as well as other maps. “They’re real operational maps that were used during Operation Medusa and Athena…so the maps on the wall are actual artifacts too,” says Jolliffe.

The exhibit also features a video interview component that can be watched online or by scanning a QR code at the museum. They include interviews with veterans Alex Ruff, Travis Kelley, Fraser Penny, Patrick Moran, Ross Moore, Steve Lehman, Roger Wheron, Cameron Bruce, Allan Johnson, and Carol and Bob Mitchell, whose son Cpl. Robert Mitchell of Owen Sound was killed in Afghanistan.

The museum is still looking to expand the exhibit with more stories from veterans of the war in Afghanistan. Those who would like to share their stories can contact Emily Jolliffe at ejolliffe@billybishop.org

Canada had soldiers in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Over 40,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces served there over that span of time. It was Canada’s largest military deployment since WWII. 158 CAF members died and one Canadian diplomat died.

Jolliffe recommends giving yourself half an hour to tour the exhibit, but notes a person could certainly spend much longer in the exhibit if they were to read everything or watch some of the videos.

The Billy Bishop Home and Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Jolliffe says you do not need to call ahead before visiting.

Afghanistan Exhibit

by **Joker** Wed 03 Aug 2022, 7:08 pm

Cochrane man building scaled down Canadian naval ships

Published Aug. 3, 2022

Museum - Page 6 Miles-chester-scale-models-august-2022-1-6013153-1659562024888

CTV News

by **Kizzer** Sun 02 Oct 2022, 4:45 pm

Meet the Director of the Naval Museum of Alberta

By Lookout Production on Oct 02, 2022

Lookout

by Covert Thu 03 Nov 2022, 8:47 am

Canadian War Museum oral history project examines war's aftermath

Published Nov. 3, 2022

Museum - Page 6 Remembrance-day-1-6136936-1667467724018

By Keith Doucette The Canadian Press

by Geoman Thu 18 May 2023, 4:34 pm

Veterans Affairs Canada May 18, 2023

#DYK that there’s over 2,700 museums in Canada?

Why not plan a visit to one of Canada’s military museums and learn about our rich military history. Travel back in time and witness years of extraordinary stories and invaluable artifacts.

Military museums

by Looper Thu 08 Jun 2023, 4:21 pm

Survey wants feedback on Lancaster Bomber future location

Melanie Borrelli

Published June 8, 2023

Museum - Page 6 Lancaster-bobmer-1-6354731-1681423599543

CTV News Windsor

by Echostar Thu 06 Jul 2023, 8:17 pm

Comox says farewell to the ‘fastest aircraft that ever served in the Canadian Forces’

The F-104 Starfighter is moving to the BC Aviation Museum in Victoria

OLIVIER LAURIN / Jul. 6, 2023

On the evening of July 6, a small group of people gathered at the Comox Heritage Airpark to pay homage and wish farewell to the 731 F-104 Starfighter.

Among this crowd was retired Lt.-Col. Dan Dempsey, who piloted the aircraft in its glory days.

“The Starfighter was the fastest aircraft ever served in the Canadian Forces,” said Dempsey. “It was a Mach 2 airplane that would fly twice the speed of sound. This particular airplane happens to be one of the fastest starfighters that we ever flew. It has actually flown as a test flight up to Mach 2.4 (2960 km/h).”

Faster than the emblematic F-18 and the current F-35, this supersonic fighter jet was stationed in Cold Lake, Alta., before ending up at the Comox Heritage Airpark following its retirement.

Originally designed in 1954 by Lockheed’s legendary aeronautical engineer Kelly Johnson, most of the Canadian aircraft fleet was manufactured in Montreal.

Added to the Canadian military inventory in 1962, the aircraft was used for its reconnaissance and nuclear strike abilities.

“Fortunately, we never had to use it,” said Dempsey. “But the whole idea was to prevent and deter conflict by being ready. And we were ready. Canadians did very well with this airplane and were very highly respected in NATO.”

Flown by more more than 15 countries in Europe, the aircraft rapidly became a favourite of many member states.

A new beginning

After spending the last three decades sitting in Comox’s Heritage Airpark, the aircraft is now on its way to Victoria’s BC Aviation Museum.

“We’re going to strip the airplane right down to bare metal and then hopefully refinish it back in the original form that it flew in when it first came off the assembly line,” said Dempsey. “It’s been rendered unflyable, but it’s going to be a beautiful static airplane.”

Though Dempsey said that the renovation of the plane will take several months, the plane will be ready in time to be unveiled for the museum’s 100th anniversary.

Comox Valley Record

by **Powergunner** Mon 25 Mar 2024, 6:19 am

New exhibit at The Military Museums in Calgary pays tribute to the Great Escape

Amy Stalker . Published March 24, 2024

CTV News Calgary

by Magnum Mon 08 Apr 2024, 11:09 am

A missing piece of Canadian military history highlighted at The Military Museums

Amy Stalker . Published April 8, 2024

The Military Museums is celebrating Sikh heritage month with an exhibit on Sikh soldiers in Canada's military.

Photographs and other artifacts showcasing the Sikhs’ role in our military have been collected from different sources, including the Indian military and Canadian military.

“When they come here, they're going to see some of the soldiers they might not know, some of the presently serving soldiers, as well as soldiers from World War One World War Two and post-World Wars,” said Charan Kamal Singh Dullat, the Military Museums event organizer and an active member in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Among the artifacts are several medals belonging to Harry Sekhon, a veteran, who joined the Calgary Highlanders in the late 1980s.

Sekhon is also proud of a unique first.

“I was first Sikh which had the turban on and in the Canadian army,” he said. “My goal was to merge it in a proper and professional fashion and not artificial because it’s a question of the history of the Sikhs.”

Organizers say that kind of information is important to pass along.

“I think education of both members who have served Canada in the past from the Sikh community and bring their stories up,” says Dullat.

“This is one of the chapters from the history which has been missed.”

For some of the exhibit’s first visitors; it was an emotional experience.

“I’m very proud of Canada because of what they have put together today,” said Rajinder Singh Gill, whose father was a veteran.

“My dad was in the Second World War and the militia and the exhibit has profoundly effected me and I’m very sentimental about it.”

The exhibit runs at The Military Museums at 4520 Crowchild Tr. S.W. until April 30.

CTV News Calgary

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