| OTTAWA,
June 1, 2000 --
The National Archives of Canada will inaugurate its new exhibition, On
the Job -- A Century of Canadians at Work, on June 5 in the
presence of John O’Leary, President of Frontier College. This
exhibition will be presented at the National Archives from June 6,
2000 to January 7, 2001.
High technology
may be driving the "new" economy and constitute an essential
part of today’s work environment but for much of the 20th
century, Canada’s economy was mostly based on natural resources. The
environments on the job varied greatly; they could be natural,
man-made, industrial, technical or domestic. Each environment
presented its own challenges such as weather, long and irregular
hours, physical danger, isolation, cramped quarters and repetitive
tasks. The work of Frontier College is well illustrated in On
the Job. Its staff continues to face many of these challenges
in bringing knowledge and education to workers and their families, who
earn their living in remote areas of Canada.
On the Job
is a photographic testimonial to ordinary Canadians of all ages at
work. The photographic styles are as diverse as the work and the
photographers. They produced the images for various reasons-
communication, program promotion and administration, advertizing, or
simply as personal mementos or art. This selection of fifty-five
photographs spanning the last century is taken from the National
Portrait Collection of the National Archives and represents but a
small part of the varied records on labour in its care.
If you sometimes
wonder "how do people work without computers?", On the
Job will help answer your question. This exhibition, at 395
Wellington St. in Ottawa, will be open to the public daily,
starting June 6, 2000 until January 7, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission
is free. Group tour reservations can be made at (613) 992-2618 and
information obtained at 613-996-5115. Thanks to the computer age,
you will also be able to view this exhibition on the National Archives
Web site at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/on-the-job/index-e.html.
The National
Archives of Canada preserves the recorded memory of Canada,
including the essential record of the government of Canada. By opening
these records to Canadians, the National Archives contributes to the
protection of the rights of all Canadians and enhances their
understanding of Canada. In this way, it serves Canadians by
connecting them to the sources of their past, their histories.
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For more
information:
Pauline Portelance
Media Relations Officer
Telephone: (613) 996-6128
E-mail: media@lac-bac.gc.ca
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