Tim Foran, Curator, Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum (Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada)

Tim Foran is Historian, Early Canada, at the Canadian War Museum (CWM). Specializing in the material history of pre-Confederation Canada, Foran recently developed an exhibition on Canada and the American Civil War at the CWM. He curated significant portions of the Canadian Museum of History’s Canadian History Hall, which opened in 2017. His current research focuses on Indigenous Peoples on British colonial frontiers.

Claire Champ, Creative Development Specialist, Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum (Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada)

Claire Champ is a Creative Development Specialist at the Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum where she creates engaging experiences for visitors in exhibitions as a part of multidisciplinary teams. Her focus is on adapting topics for museum audiences; structuring storylines, messages, and experiences; as well as collaborating with a wide range of partners on authentic representation and storytelling in the exhibition medium.

Close to Conflict: Developing an Exhibition about Canada and the American Civil War at the Canadian War Museum

Close to Conflict – Canada and the American Civil War is a special exhibition developed by and currently on display at the Canadian War Museum. The exhibition examines the enduring legacies of the American Civil War for Canada and Canadians.

The exhibition’s thematic structure, immersive design, artefacts, and images bring visitors into the Canada of the mid-1800s – a time when the threat of violence from south of the border was a catalyst for transformative change. The Civil War accelerated the development of Canada’s Armed Forces and political system; Black Freedom Seekers crossed the Canada-US border in search of legal freedom and launched struggles for equality that continue today; and treaty relationships with Plains First Nations – and the meaning of the border itself – shaped lives, identities, and responsibilities then and now.

At the core of the project’s development was our commitment to sharing authority with external experts and community members. The involvement of co-creators from Black and Indigenous communities ensured accurate and respectful presentation of history and framing of difficult subject matter.

Our presentation highlights how building relationships with co-creators and working collaboratively were critical to conveying to visitors the enduring legacies of the Civil War as well as to presenting complex, cross-border histories in clear, engaging, and inclusive ways, connecting past events to Canada’s identity today.