New Disorder

The last time I was in the War Museum, the final section was blocked off, as a reorganization of the large space at the end of the Cold War section was underway. It was open this time, starting with an introductory set of panels.

This is a section of the Berlin Wall, given to Canada after the government hosted a conference of foreign ministers in the wake of the events of the fall of 1989 to determine the future of Germany. The graffiti is on the side that once faced West Berlin; there is no such graffiti on the side that faced East Berlin.

Canada sent military assets- navy and air force- into the Persian Gulf as part of the Desert Storm coalition, which is examined here.

Canadian peacekeepers were dispatched into the former Yugoslavia in the 90s. This light utility vehicle came under attack by Serbian forces in Croatia in 1994- 54 bullets hit it, with ten of those hitting the passenger and driver.

Another case of an attack is here. Canadian forces were in Afghanistan from 2001 through 2014 as an active combatant against the Taliban. Afghan insurgents used an IED to destroy the front of this vehicle, which used to stand in Lebreton Gallery. Three soldiers and one journalist were saved by the protective armour of the rest of the vehicle.

This is the typical uniform and equipment being used on patrols by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan during that period.

This is a portion of a Chinook helicopter from the Afghan conflict. A corporal painted the design onto the helicopter- this is a hockey term, but also references the helicopter's two hooks on the belly for lifting equipment.

The Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour comes after one has emerged from the permanent galleries, and focuses heavily on commemoration. One of the display areas focuses on peacekeepers, including a model of the Peacekeeping Monument that stands downtown.

Another item here is the original plaster model for the War Memorial.

The next stop from here is Regeneration Hall, another focal point for the museum's design, pointed squarely towards the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. Walter Allward's sculptures for the Vimy Ridge Memorial are here.

With some of the Vimy sculptures off in the temporary exhibit, part of Regeneration Hall had space for a different kind of exhibit, a collaborative effort. War Flowers was done by sculptor Mark Raynes Roberts and a specialist in scents, Alexandra Bachand, with museum curator Viveka Melki. Crystal sculptures, photographs dating back to the First World War, and stored scents in various combinations could be experienced with several different examples.