<div dir="ltr">
<div><u>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</u></div><div><br></div><div>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-1ec0daf2-7fff-3877-0520-5c4be9126f01"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">New Feature Exhibit, The Animals of Point Ellice House, Launches at Historic Home</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Since becoming a Provincial Heritage Site in 1975, the visitor experience at Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens has been centered on the stories of human relationships. That focus is changing as the heritage site launches its latest feature exhibit, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Animals of Point Ellice House</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">At this historic home, located along the water in Victoria’s Rock Bay neighbourhood, the O’Reilly family had relationships with animals that were directly tied to their social status, religion, and lifestyle. Join us as we meet the dogs, horses, cats, chickens, and other animals who also made this place their home over 100 years ago.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“This exhibit draws upon the vast collection of our museum to bring the stories of historical human-animal relationships to visitors,” notes Assistant Curator Christeah Dupont. “The centrepiece of the exhibit is Kathleen O’Reilly’s sidesaddle which shows how Victorian women were expected to handle a horse while maintaining a lady-like appearance.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Rich with illustrations and photographs, the exhibit has something for the whole family. Learn about horse whispering, “cats with two hats,” and the O’Reilly family’s multi-generational love of dogs. “During these difficult times, this exhibit is a reminder of the joy that animals bring to so many people’s lives,” explains Kelly Black, Executive Director of Point Ellice House.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Animals of Point Ellice House</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> opens to the public on Saturday, July 2nd. Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 15pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Point Ellice House is located at 2616 Pleasant Street in Victoria’s Rock Bay neighbourhood. Built in 1861-2, Point Ellice House is a National and Provincial Historic Site and boasts a collection of over 12,000 artifacts and 2 acres of heritage gardens. Today, the site offers changing exhibits that connect the house and its occupants to the rich history of Victoria and British Columbia. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Media Contact:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kelly Black, PhD</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Executive Director</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mobile: 250.580.3420</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Email: </span><a href="mailto:Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:216pt;text-indent:36pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">-30-</span></p>

</div><div><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font size="4" color="#000000">Kelly Black, PhD (he/him)<br></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><font color="#000000">Executive Director, </font><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens</span></span></font></div><div><i><font size="2"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Victoria's Historic House Museum </span></span></font></i><b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></span></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Phone: <a href="tel:(250)%20580-3420" value="+12505803420" target="_blank">250.580.3420</a> (cell)</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Email: <a href="mailto:Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com" target="_blank">Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com</a></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Address: <span style="font-size:12.8px">2616 Pleasant Street, </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">Victoria, BC, </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">V8T 4V3</span></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></font></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><a href="http://www.Pointellicehouse.com/" style="font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">www.PointElliceHouse.com</a><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><i>Operated by the Vancouver Island Local History Society</i></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Lekwungen</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> Territory</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> [Songhees & Esquimalt Nations] </span><br></font></div></div><div><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font size="4" color="#000000">Kelly Black, PhD (he/him)<br></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><font color="#000000">Executive Director, </font><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens</span></span></font></div><div><i><font size="2"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Victoria's Historic House Museum </span></span></font></i><b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></span></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Phone: <a href="tel:(250)%20580-3420" value="+12505803420" target="_blank">250.580.3420</a> (cell)</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Email: <a href="mailto:Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com" target="_blank">Kelly@PointElliceHouse.com</a></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000">Address: <span style="font-size:12.8px">2616 Pleasant Street, </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">Victoria, BC, </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">V8T 4V3</span></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></font></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><a href="http://www.Pointellicehouse.com/" style="font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">www.PointElliceHouse.com</a><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><i>Operated by the Vancouver Island Local History Society</i></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Lekwungen</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> Territory</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> [Songhees & Esquimalt Nations] </span><br></font></div></div><div><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>