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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black">NEWS RELEASE
</span></b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black">For Immediate Release<br>
</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black">May 3, 2024
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto">Des Pardes
</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto">Wins Highest Honours at Heritage BC Awards
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto">Abbotsford, BC -
<i>Des Pardes, </i>an exhibition on view at The Reach Gallery Museum until June 15, has taken home
</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Roboto">an <b>Outstanding Award</b> <b>
in the Education, Communications, and Awareness category at the Heritage BC Awards</b> hosted in Nelson, BC on May 2.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">Developed by The Reach Gallery Museum,
<i>Des Pardes</i> is <a name="_Hlk119679879">a community-engaged project that focuses on the history and contributions of Abbotsford’s significant and diverse South Asian Canadian communities.
</a>Over three years, hundreds of community members contributed ideas, knowledge, and stories, as well as historical objects and archival documents, to achieve the goals of the project.
<i>Des Pardes</i> culminates in a major community-based exhibition, a robust suite of educational programs, and increased digitized access to heritage.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto;color:black;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">The exhibition is a large-scale multi-sensory experience that uses historical
photographs, oral histories, contemporary interviews, family heirlooms, and works of contemporary art to illustrate themes like migration, family, and oppression & opposition. Interpretive texts in the resulting exhibition are presented in four languages:
English, Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto">The project enriches the representation of South Asian Canadian community history while simultaneously making primary resources digitally accessible to the public. This
was accomplished by collecting over 100 oral histories and creating digitized archival resources that are showcased on touchscreen kiosks in the exhibition. These resources will further be incorporated into a legacy website at the conclusion of the exhibition
in the coming months. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto">"<i>Des Pardes</i> shows the importance of investing in contributors and collaborators to create impactful community-oriented programs", says Britney Dack, Chair of Heritage
BC. "Through innovative storytelling in multiple languages, and in leading the way with community engagement, the project's impacts go well beyond the local, to a national level."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto">According to Dack, “The quality of nominations that we received this year made for a difficult decision with our panel of judges. The quality and breadth of heritage projects
that are being developed in communities big and small across British Columbia is impressive. It demonstrates how important it is to dig deep to learn about the heritage that makes our communities what they are today, and the value in sharing and preserving
what we learn. It is an exciting time to be recognizing achievements in heritage.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto">The run of the award-winning exhibition at The Reach has been extended, by popular demand, until June 15. Admission to The Reach is by donation and everyone is welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<a name="_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">END -<o:p></o:p></span></a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</div>
<b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:auto">
</span></b>
<div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><b><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Media Contact for Special Projects:
</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Laura Schneider, Executive Director Email:
</span></span><a href="mailto:lschneider@thereach.ca"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">lschneider@thereach.ca</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The Reach Gallery Museum
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">T: 604-864-8087
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">32388 Veterans Way
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Abbotsford, BC
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk165297794"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">V2T 0B3</span></span><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always">
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<div class="WordSection3">
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><img border="0" width="597" height="398" style="width:6.2187in;height:4.1458in" id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DA9D62.162EC290" alt="A person standing in front of a television
Description automatically generated"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto">A visitor to The Reach enjoys one of several
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto">thematic “Community Voices” videos</span><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto"> featured in the
<i>Des Pardes </i>exhibition</span><span lang="en-AS" style="font-family:Roboto">.
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Roboto">Photo by Dale Klippenstein.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height:115%"><img border="0" width="597" height="398" style="width:6.2187in;height:4.1458in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image002.jpg@01DA9D62.162EC290" alt="A person standing at a podium with a microphone in front of a group of people
Description automatically generated"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Roboto"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">Curatorial Assistant Gureena Saran speaking at the opening of
<i>Des </i>Pardes. Photo by Dale Klippenstein.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS"><img border="0" width="597" height="398" style="width:6.2187in;height:4.1458in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.jpg@01DA9D62.162EC290" alt="A group of women standing in a room
Description automatically generated"></span><span lang="en-AS"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">Des Pardes
</span></i><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">includes voices, stories, and ideas, drawn from a three-year community</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">-</span><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">engaged
exhibition development process. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto">Photo by Dale Klippenstein.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS"><img border="0" width="597" height="398" style="width:6.2187in;height:4.1458in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.jpg@01DA9D62.162EC290" alt="A young child looking at a screen
Description automatically generated"></span><span lang="en-AS"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">Digitized community collections are shared on touchscreen kiosks throughout the
<i>Des Pardes </i>exhibition. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">Photo by Dale Klippenstein.</span><span lang="en-AS"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS"><img border="0" width="602" height="398" style="width:6.2708in;height:4.1458in" id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image006.jpg@01DA9D64.B4EF6810" alt="A group of kids looking at a person in a room
Description automatically generated"></span><span lang="en-AS"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none">Des Pardes</span></i><span lang="en-AS" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Roboto;mso-ligatures:none"> has been well received by educators, engaging over
1,000 students to date in school tours and in-classroom activities. </span><span lang="en-AS"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-AS"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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