Press Release: Nova Scotia Museum-- Dedication and Presentation Ceremony for Halifax Explosion Remembrance Book
17 September 2002
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A special ceremony occurred today at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic at 1:00 p.m. when Alan Abraham, vice-chair of the Halifax Foundation, presented the Halifax Explosion Remembrance Book to Michael Murray, director of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
The Remembrance Book contains a list of the 1951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion or from resulting injuries shortly thereafter. In addition to the names of the victims will be the ages and local residential addresses at the time of the explosion, in addition to their burial sites.
During the dedication and presentation ceremony, Mr. Murray installed the book as a permanent feature in a display case at the threshold of the museum's exhibit Halifax Wrecked: The Story of the Halifax Explosion. "The Remembrance Book is a fitting addition to our exhibit and complements the displays we have here" said Mr. Murray referring to the exhibit which opened in 1994. "It puts a personal face on the disaster which became a defining moment for the people of Halifax."
The Halifax Foundation's research coordinating committee began working on the project one year ago. Today's ceremony is a culmination of the efforts spearheaded by former Halifax Mayor and Chair of the Halifax Foundation Edmund Morris who, unfortunately due to ill health, was unable to attend. The research undertaken was comprehensive and thorough and resulted in "a truly defensible list" says Brian Cuthbertson, chair of the research committee.
The Halifax Foundation is a charitable organization formed a decade ago whose mandate is to support endeavors in, among other things, arts, culture and heritage that benefit primarily the people of the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The creation of the Remembrance Book, and the searchable database which will follow and be available through Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management in the months to follow, is a project that "bears the unmistakable influence of Edmund Morris and the Foundation is most pleased and proud to dedicate this event to him" says Alan Abraham.
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FOR BROADCAST USE:
Members of the Halifax Foundation presented the newly produced Halifax Explosion Remembrance Book to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic today at 1:00 p.m.
The Remembrance Book lists the names of nearly 2,000 people who died in the explosion on Dec. 6, 1917. During today's ceremony, the book was installed as a part of the exhibit on the Halifax Explosion and will remain on permanent display.
The book started as a concept proposed one year ago by Edmund Morris to the Halifax Foundation. Unfortunately, for reasons of ill health, Dr. Morris was unable to attend today's ceremony.
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Contact: Alan Abraham
Vice-Chair, Halifax Foundation
902-423-2699
E-mail: alanabraham@ns.sympatico.ca
Gerry Lunn
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
902-424-8793
E-mail: lunnge@gov.ns.ca
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