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NLIS 4 June 30, 2004 (Executive Council) (Tourism, Culture and Recreation) Premier Danny Williams and His Excellency Mr. Philippe Guelluy, the French Ambassador to Canada, today officially opened the exhibition Newfoundland's French Shore Depicted, 1713 - 1904 at the Provincial Museum, St. John's. The bilingual exhibition, which was created by the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, highlights the economic importance of Newfoundland's French Shore to France and views the French Shore in the context of Newfoundland's cultural transformation and the formation of a unique national identity. "I am delighted to be joined by the French Ambassador to Canada to mark the official opening of an exhibition that portrays a piece of our history that forever links this province to France," said Premier Williams. "The timing of this opening is appropriate as we mark the anniversary of 500 years of French presence in our province. The exhibition raises the profile of the French influence in Newfoundland and Labrador which continues to shape our province and our people. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Biblioth�que nationale de France in Paris, and I learned a great deal about the history and relationships between our province and France. I am delighted to be here to mark this occasion today with Mr. Guelley." The fully bilingual exhibition was created using original maps, documents and photographs from the collections of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and Library and Archives Canada, as well as reproductions of rare documents from French archival collections never before seen in North America - more than 90 documents in total. The exhibition represents the work of a project undertaken by the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL) and includes a survey of records undertaken in a variety of French archives that were specifically related to France's late 18th, 19th and early 20th century treaty-based fishery off the coasts of Newfoundland. The project also located extensive collections of published and manuscript hydrographic charts for Newfoundland's coastal waters and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. These documents provide new information on the important international consequences of France's historic treaty rights to fish off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. "While the exhibition will be featured in St. John's, through a partnership with the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives and Soci�t� 2004, a travelling exhibit will be created as a version of the main exhibition," said Paul Shelley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "Using high quality copies and flexible panels, an exhibition will travel throughout the province focussing particularly on the communities on the former French Shore. It will be accompanied by a booklet and CD rom which will highlight the documents used in the exhibition and their significance, and may be used as a resource for schools and individuals interested in learning more about the French Shore." The exhibition was created by the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador in partnership with the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives, Library and Archives Canada, Soci�t� 2004, the Biblioth�que nationale de France and the Minist�re des Affaires �trang�res. Media contact: 2004 06 30 5:30p.m. |
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