Museum of Civilization commemorates the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s journey up the Ottawa River

June 4, 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, June 4, 2013 — The Canadian Museum of Civilization will present a number of special activities throughout the spring and summer to mark the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploratory journey up the Ottawa River.

On his arrival in what is now Ottawa/Gatineau on June 4, 1613, Champlain passed by the site of the future Museum and no doubt set foot here as he portaged around the Chaudière Falls.

Commemorative events will include the display Champlain, the First Account, which will be presented from May 29, 2013 until April 27, 2014. This new display focuses on the Aboriginal peoples who inhabited the region long before the coming of Champlain; the journey of the French explorer in the Ottawa Valley in 1613; and the impact of his arrival on the First Peoples. Visitors will see approximately 50 artifacts, some dating from 5,000 years ago, others from the time of Champlain and afterwards. The display includes the astrolabe attributed to the founder of New France. 

And to commemorate the occasion, the Departmental Archives in Charente-Maritime, France, has kindly loaned what is widely believed to be Champlain’s authentic baptismal certificate to the Museum. Recently discovered, this rare artifact that has never been seen by the public will be on view from May 29 to August 25, 2013.

“The Canadian Museum of Civilization is delighted to offer visitors a wide range of activities to commemorate the arrival in our region of one of Canada’s most iconic figures, the explorer, founder, diplomat and governor known as the ‘Father of New France.’ We are very grateful to the Departmental Archives in Charente-Maritime for the generous loan of the baptismal certificate attributed to Champlain, an artifact that brings us closer to this highly influential figure in our nation’s history,” said Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.

Finally, in collaboration with the Réseau du patrimoine gatinois, and the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nation, the Museum will host Champlain 2013, History of an Encounter, an outdoor celebration of First Nations and Québécois culture on the banks of the Ottawa River. On August 5, from noon until 5 p.m., visitors are invited to discover this legacy through dance performances, live music and traditional knowledge demonstrations and meet canoeists who have retraced Champlain’s voyages in the region’s waterways, arriving throughout the afternoon.

Helping visitors to walk in Champlain’s footsteps will be two half-hour talks by Museum archaeologists, presented in both English and French. Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon will examine archaeological evidence on the ancestors of the Anishinabeg who welcomed Champlain 400 years ago, while Dr. Yves Monette will draw on many archaeological findings made over the past two centuries to set the scene for Champlain’s various sojourns, including at Québec and Port Royal.

Visitors can find out more about Champlain at several complementary exhibitions this summer. Double Take, presented until October 14, 2013, features a portrait of the explorer. The impact of Franco-Aboriginal alliances, including Champlain’s role, is one of the themes of Moving with the River, opening June 21, 2013 — an in-depth look at the direct link between the St. Lawrence River and the settlement of Canada. The permanent exhibition Face to Face has a module devoted to Champlain, as does the Virtual Museum of New France https://www.historymuseum.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

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Media contacts:

Patricia Lynch
Manager, Media Relations, Partnerships and Special Events
Telephone: 819-776-7167
patricia.lynch@historymuseum.ca
Stéphanie Verner
Media Relations Officer
Telephone: 819-776-7169
stephanie.verner@historymuseum.ca