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A part of Ponoka’s history pays museum a visit

Military travelling history exhibit makes stop at Fort Ostell Museum
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One wall of the room hosting the exhibit lined with banners showing some of the historical accounts from WWI and WWII battles Canadians participated in. Photo by Jordie Dwyer

A significant portion of Ponoka’s past was on display at the Fort Ostell Museum.

Entitled ‘From Vimy to Juno’, the travelling exhibition documents Canada’s role throughout the First and Second World Wars — and the Fort Ostell Museum in Ponoka is the final stop of five in rural Alberta.

Museum curator Sandy Allsopp stated the opportunity to host this important exhibition was realized following an agreement with four other small town museums — Rocky Mountain House, Sundre, Millet and Trochu.

“We were the last one to have it stop and it’s nice to see it here,” she said.

The travelling exhibition — from the Juno Beach Centre Association located in Burlington, Ont. — helps people of all ages learn about Canada and how the nation grew during war time from 1914 to 1945.

There are four parts to the presentation — Canada’s experience in both conflicts, how Canada and France both transformed from the First World War until the present day, how the Canadian National Vimy War Memorial was created and details of the Juno Beach Centre located in Normandy, France.

The hope is this legacy exhibition will allow Canadians that haven’t been able to visit the facilities in France to experience defining moments in history.

Allsopp added there is local content that’s part of the exhibition, as books of historical documents along with various research on Ponoka connections to these conflicts are available to view.

“These books have been made available to us through Ponoka Secondary Campus, which have been created by the students that participated in the Broncs World Tour trips overseas,” she stated.

In conjunction with the tour, the Juno Beach Centre has created a web portal — Vimytojuno.ca — to provide educators, students and the general public with access to much of the vast collection of stories and lesson plans that revolve around the conflicts, the inter-war years and just how the remembrance of these events has changed across the country.

The exhibit, along with all of the other pieces of local history, are available for viewing Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum located on the north end of Centennial Park off 54 Street.

The exhibit arrived Sept. 10 and will conclude Sept. 28.

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This is one of two large banners in the exhibit that are focused on one of Canada’s biggest fights and top WWII accomplishment - the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Photo by Jordie Dwyer
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There are many WWI and WWII artifacts - from uniforms and other equipment to photos and books - make up a portion of the travelling exhibit. Photo by Jordie Dwyer