On Thursday October 29^th, Undercurrents will be co-presenting "National Treasure: Canoes, Canada and the Wonders of The Canadian Canoe Museum," a fascinating presentation about canoes in Canadian society as can only be seen through the ‘eyes' of the Canadian Canoe Museum.

The presentation begins with a fun look at the various odd things that Canadians do in and with canoes, including a quick tour of the myriad and often curious ways in which canoe imagery is used in advertising.  From there, with maps and images drawing on the canoes in the collection representing building traditions-older and newer-that span the country, the presentation includes facts, snippets, stories and music that show what a totally unique material and cultural portrait of Canada is contained in the collection of the Canadian Canoe Museum.  The presentation is about 75 minutes long with an intermission.  A draw for door prizes will be available to anyone attending the presentation that fills out a ballot. Museum memberships and merchandise will be available for sale.

The presentation starts at 7PM in Jenkins Theatre, Mount Royal University (click for map). Admission is by donation.

The Presenter: Dr. James Raffan, Executive Director of The Canadian Canoe Museum, is one of Canada's foremost authorities on canoes and wilderness experience.  He is a Fellow and past Governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, past Chair of The Arctic Institute of North America and a Fellow International of the Explorer's Club.  Author of 15 books including Fire in the Bones, Wildwaters, Summer North of Sixty, Deep Waters, Tumblehome, Bark, Skin & Cedar, and Emperor of the North, his work has been translated into several languages and adapted for radio and television.  Raffan has journeyed winter and summer throughout Canada by canoe, snowshoe, bicycle and by almost every other conveyance available-from ATV to icebreaker-and his stories about these adventures have been spun to rapt audiences across Canada and around the world in places like Australia, Cuba and the United Kingdom.  A canoeist at heart, there's probably no one in the country more passionate or qualified to speak about Canada's hidden National Treasure. 

Canoe Museum Facts: · The Canadian Canoe Museum contains the world's largest collection of canoes-stories of their origin and construction constitute a unique material and cultural portrait of Canada. · The collection includes 600+ canoes and kayaks representing all major building traditions across the country as well as select international craft. · About one fifth of the collection is on display in ten fixed and two rotating exhibits. A traveling exhibit called "The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon" spent the summer at Pier 21 in Halifax and is moving to The Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre. · The museum is run with a staff of 6.5 full time equivalent positions and a corps of 130 volunteers who average 12,000 hours/year in donated time and services. · The museum currently attracts about 25,000 visitors per year, including 6000 school children who take part in the CCM's award-winning education programs. Those visitors are 75% Canadian, 10% American, 15% International. · The museum's logo is based on pictograph from Picturing Lake, near Thunder Bay.