The voice of a nation: 75th anniversary of CBC/Radio-Canada
August 6, 2011
A national museum documents, preserves and shares a collective heritage. A public broadcaster analyses and diffuses day to day information. The past and the present are joined in a common goal – to create our national identity and open our horizons. The Canadian Museum of Civilization and CBC/Radio-Canada will converge over the course of two conferences to highlight the 75th anniversary of the public broadcaster. When the headlines become history…
A national sport
Have you ever examined the back of a five-dollar bill? The picturesque winter scene depicts children playing hockey, our national sport. But if we look carefully, we note that one of the players is sporting a Montreal Canadiens jersey bearing the number nine. The Queen is no longer the only national symbol on this piece of currency – she is in the company of one of our best-known hockey players, Maurice Richard!
In April 2003, the Canadian Museum of Civilization unveiled an exhibition honouring a hockey superstar: ‘Rocket’ Richard – The Legend, The Legacy. Under the guidance of Dr. Sheldon Posen, Director, Ethnology and Cultural Studies, the exhibition retold the story of the Canadiens’ number 9, exploring the role of this sports legend as a Quebec folk hero and Canadian icon.
As part of panel discussions marking the 75th anniversary of CBC/Radio-Canada, Dr. Sheldon Posen will be joined by sports commentators Richard Garneau and Mark Lee to discuss hockey – how and why has it become our national sport. How has CBC/Radio-Canada contributed to the creation of the heroes of the day and the French lexicon used to talk about them? All of this will be punctuated with tales of the “Rocket” and his influence on the game, on Québec, and Canadian culture itself. An event not to be missed – Thursday, September 15, 2011.
An international showcase
Expo 67: over 50 million visitors; 62 countries represented; nearly 90 provincial, national and private pavilions…what better way to celebrate Canada’s centennial than through a grand universal exposition? It was a golden opportunity to welcome the world and greet it as a proud and modern country.
Nearly 45 years later, what has remained of this planetary gathering? Man-made islands built on the St Lawrence and, of course, Montreal’s Metro, built during the flurry of construction activity surrounding Expo 67. The French pavilion eventually became the Montreal Casino; the US pavilion is now the Biosphere. Habitat 67, the stunning early achievement of architect Moshe Safdie, still draws stares of admiration.
Beyond these obvious landmarks, however, Expo 67 profoundly affected our vision of Canada and the world. On Thursday, October 27, 2011, join Alan Elder, Curator, Canadian Crafts, Decorative Arts and Design, as well as personalities from CBC/Radio-Canada, Mark Starowicz and Simon Durivage, in a fascinating journey into the cultural legacy of Expo 67.