Peterborough Museum & Archives Showcases Images of Canada’s Triumphs and Tribulations

Peterborough, ON — Canada’s triumphs, failures and sacrifices are on display at Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) in a new travelling exhibition from the Canadian Museum of History and Canada’s History Society. Showcasing unforgettable images and thought-provoking texts, Snapshots of Canada will be presented from December 12, 2024 to March 23, 2025.

From the trial of Métis leader Louis Riel to Paul Henderson’s winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series, and from the deportation of Japanese Canadians after the Second World War to the standoff at Oka, the exhibition pairs 50 powerful photographs with texts by well-known Canadian historians, authors and journalists.

"The PMA is thrilled to host this exhibit," said Kim Reid, Curator of the Peterborough Museum & Archives. "It will create lasting memories for our visitors—memories that become the stories we love to share."

“The Canadian Museum of History is delighted to share Snapshots of Canada with the people of Peterborough,” said Caroline Dromaguet, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History. “The exhibition invites visitors to relive both iconic and lesser-known moments that have shaped Canada’s history.”

The photographs, ranging from depictions of high drama to simple joy, were drawn from “100 Photos That Changed Canada (2009)” and “100 Days That Changed Canada (2011)”, published by Canada’s History and HarperCollins Canada. The images and accompanying text explore Canada from four perspectives: Building a Country, Living Together, Seeking Justice and Celebrating Culture. Contributors include literary non-fiction writer Charlotte Gray, best-selling novelist Lawrence Hill, historian Desmond Morton, archivist Jim Burant, award-winning military historian Tim Cook, and journalist Peter Mansbridge.

“We selected the photos for their emotional impact, their aesthetic appeal, their uniqueness, and the significance of the subject they depict,” said Mark Reid, Editor-in-Chief of Canada’s History Society and the editor of the two bestselling books that inspired the exhibition. “But most of all, we chose them for the way they reflect who we were, who we are today, and who we can aspire to become as Canadians.”

Other emblematic events covered in the exhibition include the fight for women’s rights, the residential school system, the election of the Parti Québécois and the second sovereignty referendum, the Winnipeg General Strike, the legalization of same-sex marriage and Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope.

Snapshots of Canada is presented at the Peterborough Museum & Archives, 300 Hunter St. E., from December 12, 2024 to March 23, 2025. The arrival of this powerful exhibit will be celebrated with a public opening on December 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can create their own keepsake magnet, enjoy Canadian-themed refreshments and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount in the gift shop.

This travelling exhibition was developed by the Canadian Museum of History in partnership with Canada’s History Society. It is an expanded version of the Snapshots of Canada outdoor exhibition presented at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC, from May 17, 2017 to October 2, 2017.

The PMA is thankful to be receiving funding in support of its exhibition “Snapshots of Canada” from the Federal Government, through the Department of Canadian Heritage – Museums Assistance Program – Exhibition Circulation Fund (MAP ECF).