Summer Starts Here

THE CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS A PLACE OF PASSION AND INSPIRATION THAT PROVIDES A DEEPLY MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO VISIT. But some parents might wonder if a visit to the museum is right for their children. Amber Parker, interpretative program de- veloper, says the answer is a definitive yes. "The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) presents Family Day every Sunday with programming for families with children and youth," Parker says. "On Family Day, the museum highlights stor- ies in the galleries accessible to children, with many of them showing the difference that youth and children can make to human rights. Our staff work very hard to engage the children in these stories to show how they can apply them to their lives as well." Throughout the summer, Family Day features different themes with related activities. "For example, on the theme of reconciliation, we will be having a demonstration of traditional Cree beading," Parker says, referring to the mu- seum's participation in Project of Heart, a nation- al initiative in collaboration with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. "Children can decorate tiles that will be put together as part of a mosaic and encouraged to express what reconciliation means to them." The theme "children's rights and the right to food" features Growing a Better Future, which shows what an average lunch looks like around the world and explores ideas of food scarcity and food insecurity. Peace Blossoms will let families learn about Sa- dako Sasaki. "Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on her home town of Hiroshima and she later developed leukemia from radiation exposure," Parker says. During her illness, she was told of a tradition where anyone who can fold one thousand cranes can be granted a wish. She folded over a thousand before she died and these cranes became a symbol of hope and peace for children everywhere. "Museum visitors can make an origami peace lily out of water resistant paper and let them float in the water pools like the peace lilies in the Gar- den of Contemplation," Parker says. The theme "inclusion and diversity" offers an opportunity to learn to read braille. A free booklet at the level one coat check fea- tures a seek-and-find activity which takes families on a one-hour adventure from family-friendly ac- cess points throughout the gallery. There is no registration required and these ac- tivities, ideal for ages five and up, take place every Sunday in the galleries from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. More programming and event details, includ- ing extended hours and reduced admissions, are at the CMHR website (humanrights.ca). FAMILY FOCUS SUNDAYS ARE FAMILY DAY AT CMHR BY WENDY KING Starts here! 04 "ON FAMILY DAY, THE MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS STORIES IN THE GALLERIES ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN, WITH MANY OF THEM SHOWING THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOUTH AND CHILDREN CAN MAKE TO HUMAN RIGHTS." – Amber Parker, CMHR interpretive program developer.

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