Human rights museum launches outdoor exhibit at Festival du Voyageur

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights unveiledits first outdoorexhibit atFestival du Voyageuron Thursday.

The 10-dayfestival beginsFriday and runs until Feb. 21.

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The exhibit, Let Them Howl: 100 Years in theWomen's Rights Struggle, features 12 portraits of Canadian women who helpedbreak down gender barriers.

This year marks the100thanniversary of some womenwinning the rightto vote in Canada. Manitoba was the first province to grantwomen the right to vote in 1916.

"Manitoba is the centre of a national celebration - the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote. We were the very first place in Canada where women got the right to vote," saidJuneCreelman,Director of Learning and Programming atCMHR.

The name of the exhibition comes from a famous quote by suffragistNellie McClung, who said,"Never retreat, never explain, never apologize. Get the thing done and let them howl."

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Creelman says that having this display coincide with Festival gives the anniversary more exposure and reminds people of the sacrifices that have been made in the past, as well as those in the present.

"We think of things happening 100 years ago and that we obtained the vote and that's it and it's over. But the real story is that women throughout history, right up to the present day, are still fighting and struggling to ensure that women are treated equally in every aspect of society," said Creelman.

Many of the works on display are replicas of portraits not currently on display in any museum.

"Library and Archives Canada has taken some things out of their vault and put reproductions of them on the wall here at Fort Gibraltar," said Creelman.

The exhibit is in partnership with Library and Archives Canada and a similar exhibit is also on display in Ottawaalong theRideau Canal as part of the city's Winterlude Festival.

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The Winnipegexhibitwill run the duration of Festival at Voyageur Parkand will beinstalled on the outside wall of Fort Gibraltar in Whittier Park.

The cost to see Let Them Howl is included with Festival du Voyageur admission.After Festival is over, the exhibit will re-openonMarch 8at the same location.