The Lake Country Museum has a new exhibit that it has posted its website, www.lakecountrymuseum.com, click on Collections and Exhibits and then Archives. It is also posted on the national museum website, www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca.
The Japanese Canadian Pioneers of Lake Country, BC 1899-1939 is a 168-item collection of photography and video commentary showing this important piece of Lake Country history.
The core themes of the exhibit are courage, perseverance and resilience. The historical documents tell the stories of these Japanese Canadian pioneers of the community until World War II. Many of the videos feature personal memories of the children and grandchildren of these early Lake Country residents. The museum has worked in partnership with the Japanese-Canadian community for more than a year to develop this historic exhibition. Stories have been gleaned from descendants living in Lake Country, across Canada and the Western United States.
“This is a significant project for the museum and for the community as a whole. The Japanese Canadians were some of the earliest settlers of Lake Country and the opportunity to present their history has been incredibly rewarding,” says Dr. Duane Thomson, Museum president.
The Virtual Museum of Canada has accumulated a large swath of community memories and artifacts from across the country. The Japanese Canadian Pioneers of Lake Country, BC 1899-1939 exhibit is in the company of 405 exhibitions looking at the history of Canadian communities. It is a rich and deep resource for any Canadian. To find the Lake Country exhibit at the Virtual Museum of Canada, use the term ‘Lake Country’ in the search box available on the website.