THE MILITARY MUSEUMS (TMM) HOSTS WESTERN CANADIAN DEBUT OF AFGHANISTAN: A GLIMPSE OF WAR

Posted on: 04/03/2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE MILITARY MUSEUMS (TMM) HOSTS WESTERN CANADIAN DEBUT OF AFGHANISTAN: A GLIMPSE OF WAR

Calgary, Alberta, March 3, 2010 — An exhibition from the Canadian War Museum (CWM) will have its Western Canadian debut on March 8, 2011 at The Military Museums (TMM) in Calgary.

From the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to the deployment of Canadian troops to the region, to their continuing operations, Afghanistan: A Glimpse of War moves beyond the headlines to show Canada’s response to global terrorism, its involvement in the rebuilding of a country shattered by years of conflict, as well as the human cost of Canada’s most deadly and significant military actions since the Korean War. The exhibit will open to the public on March 6, 2011 and it runs until July 4, 2011.

Based principally on photographic and video records captured during several visits to Afghanistan by Canadian journalists Stephen Thorne of The Canadian Press and Garth Pritchard, a freelance documentary filmmaker from Priddis, Alberta, this exhibition provides a glimpse of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan’s unfinished conflict.

“This exhibition is an opportunity to learn more about the conflict in Afghanistan as well as the contribution of Canada and the sacrifice of Canadians to the global war on terrorism,” said Tom Doucette, Executive Director of The Military Museums. “I applaud all, including journalists like Stephen Thorne and Garth Pritchard, for their significant contributions in helping Canadians to understand the contributions of their men and women in uniform, and the complex missions on which they serve.” He added that he is honoured to have an excellent relationship with the CWM, and appreciates its valuable contribution and support to TMM.

“The Canadian role in Afghanistan is a subject of immense national interest. This powerful exhibition reminds visitors of the immediacy of history and its importance to their lives,” said Mark O’Neill, Director General of the Canadian War Museum. “We are pleased to bring this exhibition to Calgary and to Western Canadians.”

Since its original presentation in Ottawa, the exhibition has been updated three times to include new material. A powerful series of photographs by award-winning photographer Finbarr O’Reilly documents a firefight between the Taliban and a joint Canadian-Afghan National Army patrol in 2008. Photographs by Louie Palu document the medical evacuation in July 2010 of an Afghan boy who was seriously injured by an Improvised Explosive Device meant for Canadian soldiers. Supporting artifacts from TMM’s collection explore how Canadians have remembered the fallen and show how some of the comforts of home brought overseas maintain troop morale.

Afghanistan veterans will showcase military vehicles at TMM until 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 10. The Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) will display a Leopard Battle Tank.

About The Military Museums
The Military Museums (TMM) contains seven of 68 accredited Canadian Forces museums. TMM’s recent $18.5