Canadian War Museum Exhibition Features Royal Canadian Legion Halls

Posted on: 14/01/2011

Canadian War Museum Exhibition Features Royal Canadian Legion Halls

Ottawa, Ontario, January 17, 2011 — The Canadian War Museum is pleased to present Legion Halls, an exhibition by Toronto photographer Tobi Asmoucha, which captures everyday activities at branches of the Royal Canadian Legion across Canada.

What started as an assignment for Canadian Geographic in 2007 turned into a passion for Asmoucha. Twenty-five black-and-white images capture the sense of timelessness, and the connections between past and present, that she experienced in her visits to Legion halls from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. The photos, ranging in subject from  lively St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to sombre D-Day commemoration ceremonies,  illustrate the role that Legion halls continue to play in many Canadian communities.

“I felt it was important to document the activities happening in Legion branches across Canada,” said Asmoucha. “The face of the Legion is changing because the demographics of Canada’s veterans are changing.”

In recent years, Legion branches have been going through a period of change. With the number of surviving Second World War veterans declining, the Legion is seeking to attract new members while continuing its traditional pursuits.

“Military history reaches far beyond the front lines, encompassing a wide spectrum of experiences in times of war and peace,” said Mark O’Neill, Director General of the Canadian War Museum and Vice President of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “Legion Halls celebrates an iconic institution and highlights the important transition it is undergoing as it seeks to redefine itself.”

Legion Halls was developed by the Canadian War Museum from Asmoucha’s powerful photographs. It opened to the public on January 15 and will remain on display until November 20, 2011.

About Tobi Asmoucha
Tobi Asmoucha is a Toronto-based freelance photographer and photography teacher. Her work often explores themes of community, and the traditions and rituals that bind them. Asmoucha has won a National Magazine Award as well as grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Jewish Arts Council. She is a member of PhotoSensitive, a collective of photographers who use their work to advance social justice.

About The Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a national non-profit organization founded in 1925 and incorporated in 1926. Its mission is to serve veterans and their dependants, promote remembrance, and act in the service of Canada and its communities.

The Legion also supports a variety of community programs, from sports and educational programs for young people to long-term care and housing for seniors, and is the driving force behind the well-known annual Poppy Campaign.

The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada’s military history in its personal, national, and international dimensions.

Photographer Tobi Asmoucha available for interviews.

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