halifax exhibit challenges canadians to walk the path of a refugee - interactive display

HALIFAX—
It can happen to you: fear, loss, escape, and discrimination.
The idea of "anyone can be a refugee in due course" is the focus of a new exhibition in Halifax that takes you through someone's trip to Canada, and the country's humble history in dealing with those seeking security.
The Canadian Immigration Museum opened at Pier 21 last month.
4,000 square meters
Foot exhibit has interactive presentations that push observers into the mindset of refugees, as well as amazing statistics on how Canada treats refugees.
"We want people to know about the refugee experience --
"The challenges they face, the institutions and their decisions about coming to Canada," said curator Dan Conlin . ".
"We also want to explore Canada's record on refugee issues, which is not as optimistic as many people think.
"The structure of the exhibition is to represent the path of refugees from being thrown into danger to finally arriving at safety, although many do not go that far.
The road begins with the word "fear" on the wall.
"Fear is the basis of the refugee experience," says Conlin . ".
"Fear and persecution are actually part of the definition of official law.
A "universal living room" is set up in the exhibition to represent the common feeling of safety and comfort for families around the world.
The television broadcast a program to interview refugees, reflecting life before all problems.
One step further, the same living room was looted.
Conlin said the TV now plays footage of people talking about "what it looks like when a secret police officer shows up or runs away.
At the stage of fear, documents exposing Canada's treatment of Jewish refugees in the Holocaust are at the forefront.
From a prime minister, William Lyon-McKenzie, who refused to call me to a safe place, to give the country a "not much" attitude with a limited number of Jewish refugees at 5,000, the exhibition depicts how Canada closed its doors at a critical moment before the massacre.
The terrible situation escalated to complete
On confrontation
You sit in a room and listen to the Inquirer on the phone trying to pressure you and grill and then go a little further and you answer the doomed "knock on the door ".
"We're playing with the concept --
"Someone knocked on the door "--
This will appear in many people's stories, "says Conlin.
"We built these doors with motion detectors, triggered a knock on the door and opened the terrible images of persecution.
Heather Perkins, a tourist from Montreal, opened three doors seriously.
Although the photos were not as vivid as she had expected from the warnings issued, she remembered a friend, an Armenian refugee, who is now an immigration lawyer.
"For people like me who have never experienced this, it makes you feel very, very slight about this," Perkins said . ".
"Fortunately, it is slight.
Because you don't want a complete impact.
Next is the story of escape.
Through land, water and air.
There is a seat back display on the plane seat that plays interviews with refugees about major flight anxiety.
According to Conlin, groups are invited to try to cram into the raft, one of the most dangerous escape ways.
"It's as big as the raft Alan Kurdi took," Conlin said of the Syrian boy who drowned in the Mediterranean on a flight to Greece.
"A raft like this --
Built for eight people
It's often 16 to 20.
"In the next stage, the loss appeared in the form of a sweater torn by a quilt bullet hole, and a Rwandan refugee retrieved the hole from his father's body.
The exhibition also explains the historical opportunities that Canada has lost through Lt to intervene more in the Rwanda genocide. -Gen.
Darren's beret.
The "lost Gallery" shows the photos and tells the stories of those who are not safe and are remembered by those who have to move on without them.
"When refugees flee the places where they are facing persecution, they begin this life --in-
"They are on the verge of temporary settlement in the third country," says Conlin . ".
Today, a real UNHCR tent is used in many refugee camps in Africa, and in addition to entering the windows of apartments representing temporary accommodation, the rest of the refugees who are not in the camp also live in it.
The concept of refugees was also reviewed.
People are asked to write down their own definitions and then turn around to meet the official definition, "a person who is forced to flee persecution, a person who is located outside the motherland.
"Understanding the changing definition is one of the main objectives of the exhibition," says Conlin . ".
He added that the definition has changed, including the rights of LGBT people, and may change with threats such as climate change.
"Myth balloons" are spread all over the world, and each balloon has a common myth about Canadian refugees that can "pop up" by lifting the flaps and revealing the facts ".
For example, "refugees pose a threat to security" gives location to the details of security review and criminal statistics.
Next, you can interact with life.
About the size of the person who became a Canadian refugee assessment process.
The historic milestones are highlighted here, and the moment when Canada has successfully welcomed and accepted refugees --
For example, the number of Vietnamese refugees in their 60,000 S was 1970, or how Canadians took the lead in sponsoring projects.
Conlin tells the story of a plastic doll that she gave to a Vietnamese girl when she arrived at Edmonton airport.
"In a wonderful historical twist, she continues to be a very successful doctor in Alberta and has a huge family practice," says Conlin . ".
"In 2015, she sponsored a Syrian family, where she met a Syrian little girl at the airport and gave her a doll.
"Life is often difficult to adjust in Canada, as evidenced by persistent stereotypes in the media, as well as objects representing cultural differences, such as fireworks.
The placard says: "The sign of celebration, or the terrible reminder of war?
"But, the journey through the exhibition ends with a positive attitude, celebrating the achievements of the famous Canadian refugees.
Among them are German chemist and physicist Gerhard Hertzberg, whose Nobel prize is on display.
"There are governors, Supreme Court judges, rulings --
"Award-winning writers, broadcasters and artists," says Conlin . ".
"These people end up giving more back to Canada than we have invested in them.
The exhibition is open from 10: 00. m. –5 p. m.
Except for Monday, business starts at 9: 30 a day. m. –5:30 p. m. starting May 1.
On November 11, after the last visitor walked out of the exhibition gate, Conlin will try to reduce the exhibition to less than half its current size so that it can travel around the country.
"We're not just looking at big cities," says Conlin . ".
"We are a national museum and we have to talk to all Canadians and it's a great way to show on the road.
What about the information?
"There are some very inspiring chapters in Canada, and there are some very dark ones that we should remember," says Conlin . ".
"I really hope Canadians will find that some of their stereotypes about refugees are challenged, and the stereotypes about Canadians are challenged.