ABOYNE – Digital displays and immersive experiences highlight the Refuge Canada exhibition, making its way to the Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA) on May 31st.
The exhibition was created by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and will attempt to, among other things, help people understand how Canada has responded before, and how they do now amid a global refugee crisis.
Hailey Johnston, Curator at WCMA, says this crisis is persisting, and reflection is a powerful tool for handling what’s to come.
The interactivity of the exhibit lies within its immersive nature, Johnston says. She explained that one of several tools used to connect attendees to the exhibition is a take on a certain time and space during a refugee’s life.
Visitors will journey through five thematic areas: Life Before, Fear, Displacement, Refuge and finally Life in Canada.
Attendees will also be offered the opportunity to crawl through a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees tent. Johnston says the exhibit is aimed at breaking certain misconceptions and reinforcing the fact that anyone could become a refugee.
Johnston added she hopes the exhibit provides those coming through with an insightful look at the life of a refugee.
Johnston says the exhibition still has room for school classes, summer camps or homeschool groups, despite already booking a number of school programs over a busy month of June.
Educational programming is available as well to “enhance the experience.” Those interested can head online to the WCMA website for more information.
