Peterborough Museum and Archives Presents An Exhibition on Lost Liberties Starting June 20

The Peterborough Museum and Archives is bringing ‘Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act,’ a travelling exhibition from the Canadian Museum of History that invites visitors to reflect on the difficult balance between national security and individual liberties in times of crisis.

File Photo.

The exhibit runs from June 20 to Sept. 13.

It explores the fears, racism and crises that drove the suspension of civil liberties in Canada during the First World War, the Second World War, and the 1970 October Crisis. In each crisis, the federal government applied the War Measures Act, which had serious impacts on the civil liberties of many individuals, groups and communities in Canada. 

Lost Liberties examines, notably, the internment of Canadians of Ukrainian origin and other nationalities during the First World War, the internment of Italian Canadians and the internment and forced relocation of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War, and the arrest of hundreds of people in Quebec during the 1970 October Crisis. 

“The exhibition sheds new light on the enduring impact of this act on Canada and its people, and allows the public to learn more about these difficult chapters in Canadian history,” said Dr Xavier Gélinas, curator, political history of the Canadian Museum of History and co-curator of the exhibition.  

“Lost Liberties not only places these crises in their historical context, but it also examines them through multiple perspectives and, above all, presents poignant first-hand accounts from the men, women and children who lived through them,” said Dr Mélanie Morin-Pelletier, historian war and society of the Canadian War Museum and co-curator of the exhibition. 

Developed by the Canadian Museum of History and generously supported by a grant from the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives, 300 Hunter St. E., is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays. 

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