Canada/Living Memory Museum: “Memory, a Collective Heritage,” a new exhibition

The Musée de la Mémoire Vivante in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is offering visitors a new exhibition this summer. Titled “Memory: A Collective Heritage,” it has been on display since mid-May and will remain on view for several years.

The brand-new permanent exhibition, “Memory: A Collective Heritage,” is directly linked to the institution’s motto: “A museum dedicated to people.” This symbolic and meaningful phrase embodies the institution’s values and mission.

“We meet people who share their expertise with us and who, each in their own way, play a role in passing on knowledge in their field,” begins Bianka Roy, executive director of the Musée de la Mémoire vivante.

The exhibition explores eight themes.

“Maple syrup production, Mid-Lent, mycology, Wolastogey culture, correspondence, ice canoeing, folktales and legends, and life stories,” explains Bianka Roy.

More life stories will be added shortly.

“This is a practice that primarily spans the 21st and 20th centuries. We have some accounts that go back to the early 20th century, particularly in maple syrup production, where we have two generations,” adds the executive director.

The collection also includes old letters that were donated.

“A soldier during World War II, from 1939 to 1943,” specifies Bianka Roy.

The collection complements the permanent exhibition on Philippe-Aubert de Gaspé, the last seigneur of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. This delights the public.

“People love the variety of stories on display and the range of topics. Even if I’m not interested in maple syrup production, for example, I can keep exploring and find other fascinating subjects,” say visitors.

These spaces are designed for the whole family and offer opportunities to learn new things. They’ve been crafted in the shape of little houses to give the impression of going out to meet people. In the museum’s garden—which recently received a prestigious award for its landscaping—there are several varieties of plants.

“They also serve as memory triggers that will bring back memories—of our ancestors, for example, or those of our grandparents,” concludes Bianka Roy.

Source: cimtchau.ca/nouvelles/