Corner Brook school children benefit from FULL CIRCLE: First Contact Exhibit

More than 1,800 school children in Corner Brook and surrounding communities will gain valuable knowledge on Viking and Aboriginal history in our province as they tour the FULL CIRCLE: First Contact exhibit during the next three weeks.

Make the Journey is a school program developed to complement the classroom curriculum on Viking and Aboriginal history for children in grades four, five and six. It is comprised of a 45 minute exhibit tour followed by a 45 minute hands-on activity which focuses on exhibit themes.

"Make the Journey is a bridge between the FULL CIRCLE exhibit and our province�s school children. It has been developed to enhance the school curriculum and to deliver our province�s rich history in a way that�s educational and entertaining," said Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "Children will experience first-hand, Viking sagas, Aboriginal artistry and ancient Scandinavian and North American artifacts as these items have been brought together for the first time to retell the story of Viking and Aboriginal contact at L�Anse aux Meadows 1,000 years ago."

Each tour is led by an interpreter providing opportunity for discussion and immediate answers to questions from students.

FULL CIRCLE: First Contact is a travelling exhibit of the Newfoundland Museum and is presented under the patronage of UNESCO. The exhibit displays an array of 300 Nordic and Aboriginal artifacts, Viking legends and artistry. It is presented in English and French. Visitors are guided through the exhibit with a self-directed personalized audio unit and headset. International journalist and historian, Gwynne Dyer, narrates the contact story.

FULL CIRCLE: First Contact is an event of Vikings! 1000 Years: Make the Journey, a project of the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, Parks Canada and the Viking Trail Tourism Association. The Government of Canada, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canada Millennium Partnership Program are the funding partners for Vikings! 1000 Years. The three major corporate sponsors for the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations are Petro-Canada, NewTel and Newfoundland Power. Supporting sponsors include Dominion, Eimskip, FMC Kongsberg Subsea, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, Interprovincial Airlines and JVC Canada. The Nordic Council of Ministers has provided generous financial support to FULL CIRCLE: First Contact. The exhibit is housed in the Canada Games Centre Annex, Corner Brook.

Media contact:

Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928
Nancy Daly, Communications, FULL CIRCLE exhibit, (709) 729-1967
Josh Carey, FULL CIRCLE Exhibit, Corner Brook, (709) 634-1265.

2000 09 18 11:30 a.m.