150 stories for 150 years
Fourteen national, provincial and territorial institutions across Canada have selected 150 images and stories for an exhibition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.
The stories and images illustrate how people have traversed this nation over years, decades and centuries, with a major focus on the role of the railway. The Public Archives and Records Office of Prince Edward Island is among the institutions taking part in the exhibition.
The online exhibition, called The Ties that Bind Canada (http://rbcm.ca/tiesthatbind), gives life to the stories of the development of transportation links over land, sea and ice.
The completion of Canada’s railway system and its impact on building the nation is the starting point for this online gallery, but it’s not the only story. Even today, the movement of people and goods in This was one of the earliest tank engines on the Island, made by the Hunclet Engine Company of Leeds, England, and shipped to P.E.I. as one of six tank engines arriving between September 1872 and June 1873. The P.E.I. Railway officially opened in 1875.
remote areas of Canada relies on ingenuity and alternate forms of transportation, sometimes in very harsh conditions.
“This is an outstanding collection of images that tell the story of our country,” said Education, Early Learning and
Culture Minister Doug Currie. “I encourage Islanders to view the online exhibit or visit the provincial archives to learn more about the role of the railway in our history and development.”
This online exhibition was built for all Canadians to enjoy, but it’s also a valuable resource for students of Canadian history, educators, train enthusiasts and transportation fans. Visitors to The Ties that Bind Canada may be surprised by the vastness of the northern Inuit transportation network or by the various ways people travelled from the prairies to coastal communities. Text is written in both of Canada’s official languages.
The complete exhibit can be viewed at The Ties that Bind Canada (http:// rbcm.ca/tiesthatbind). The P.E.I. Public Archives and Records Office’s contribution to The Ties that Bind Canada can also be found at http://www.gov.pe.ca/ onlineexhibits/display. php3?cat=38.