#N.A.R. Station Museum

[rabbitcruiser]

International Museum Day

According to the International Council of Museums (ICOM), a museum is "a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment." International Museum Day, founded and organized by the ICOM, aims to raise awareness that "museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples."

International Museum Day got its start in 1977 when a resolution was adopted at the ICOM General Assembly in Moscow to create an annual event "with the aim of further unifying the creative aspirations and efforts of museums and drawing the attention of the world public to their activity." The number of museums participating in the day has increased in the decades since. Since 1992, there has been a unique theme each year that is devoted to an issue that deals with the role of museums in the development of society and is at the forefront of the global museum community. There has been an official poster for the day since 1997, and in 2011 online resources were expanded.

Participating museums plan events and activities related to the year's theme, engage with the public, and "highlight the importance of museums as institutions that serve society and its development." All museums around the world can take part, with equal access to museums for everyone being a value of the day. Events may last the day, for a weekend, or for the whole week.

How to Observe International Museum Day

Observe the day by visiting a museum! Check the International Museum Day interactive map for official events near you and the International Museum Day Facebook page for up-to-date information about the day. If you are associated with a museum, organize free events that promote the role of museums in society and are related to the year's theme. Posters, information about the theme, and a communications kit can be found on the day's official webpage. You could hold your event today, on the weekend, or throughout the whole week. Make sure to list your event on the day's interactive map.

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[esquimaltnanaimo]

Hello again, everyone! I apologize once again for not posting for the past few days, but we've essentially been traveling non-stop since Halifax, and we've been busy since we arrived here! We're in Edmonton, Alberta now, the final stop on our trip before returning home to Vancouver.

The Mun played a board game with some other passengers called Catan, and they managed to build what I believe is a trans-continental railway! Their pieces are the orange ones in the photo. They ultimately didn't win the game, but they came close second!

As we arrived in Edmonton, we passed through CN's large railyard, right past the ready tracks and storage sidings. An old, retired SW1200RS switcher, with her number scrawled messily over a black patch and missing some parts, rested beside some stored SD75i engines. Despite her condition, she certainly looked friendly - I wish I could have met her, but we were behind two layers of coach window glass. We exchanged smiles, at least. There was also a GMD1, like Greg in Winnipeg, operating as a switcher in the same yard. The Geep next to him was also running, leaving the yard with two of their siblings on a short mixed freight train. I must say, it's wonderful to see these older diesels being given an extension on their lives here - you'd never see them on the mainline anymore, as everything is run by the big General Electrics and newer Electro-Motives, but it's still great to see these old diesels soldiering on. It reminds me of my days as a mixed traffic engine, when diesels were first introduced.

Anyway, speaking of older locomotives, we also visited the Alberta Railway Museum just north of the city. It was wonderful! So many old diesels, plenty of Northern Alberta Railway artifacts and memories, and two of my older Montreal steamie cousins! I'll post another photo set of the rest of the engines there; they're all very friendly, and they have lots of stories to share. In particular, Chief, the N.A.R. GMD1, was quite imposing for a road switcher. He certainly takes after his namesake, Chief Moostoos of the Woods Cree First Nation.

After the museum, we relaxed as the mun re-packed their bags, until we heard fireworks and dashed outside. It was Klondike Days in Edmonton, a large annual fair with rides and live music, and a nightly fireworks display. The finale was spectacular, as can be seen in the final GIF!

Anyways, we're at the station now, awaiting the arrival of a very late westbound Canadian to take us home to Vancouver. We're almost done on this incredible journey - I can hardly believe it!

~Gloria

[rabbitcruiser]

To the Door

What do you think about my pic?