GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Representatives of the Canadian Museum of Civilization will be in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday, November 20 to invite the public to participate in the creation of the new Canadian Museum of History.

The new exhibition gallery, which will be inaugurated in 2017, will present the national history of Canada and its people. The Museum is hitting the road to ask Canadians across the country what they would like to see in this new exhibition.

And now, people in the St. John's area will be able to give their opinions on the personalities, events and milestones that tell the Canadian story, and choose the objects that they would include in the new Canadian Museum of History.

The public is invited to attend a presentation by Museum historian Dr. John Willis on History and the Empress of Ireland, followed by a roundtable discussion on the new Museum on Tuesday, November 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Centre scolaire et communautaire des Grands-Vents.

For those who cannot attend the evening event, an interactive station will be set up at Memorial University at the University Centre on Tuesday, November 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Public Presentation: History and the Empress of Ireland
by Museum Historian Dr. John Willis
and Roundtable Discussion on the new Canadian Museum of History
(bilingual presentation)
Tuesday, November 20
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Centre scolaire et communautaire des Grands-Vents
65 Ridge Road, St. John's

Interactive station
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Memorial University, University Centre 1 Arctic Avenue, Room 3018
St. John's, Newfoundland

Throughout November, public engagement sessions will also be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia (November 21-22) and Fredericton, New Brunswick (November 23-24). In December, sessions will be held in Edmonton, Alberta (December 4), Toronto, Ontario (December 11-12) and Montréal, Quebec (December 13-14). In January, sessions will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (January 15-16) and Gatineau, Quebec (January 31).

Visit the "My History Museum" website at www.civilization.ca/myhistorymuseum to confirm your attendance at the panel discussion and roundtable. If you cannot attend a session, you can also share your ideas with us on the website by participating in a range of activities and by completing the online survey.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada's largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization's principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

SOURCE Canadian Museum of Civilization