The Awards Go To ... The Nova Scotia Museum

Two national awards were captured by the Nova Scotia Museum recently as the top achievements in Canadian museums were celebrated in Toronto on May 1.

The Canadian Museums Association presented the award for outstanding achievement in publications to the Nova Scotia Museum for the book titled Roland's Flora of Nova Scotia. The museum received honourable mention for outstanding achievement in the exhibits category for the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic's Titanic exhibit.

"These awards are a tribute to the quality and ingenuity of the Nova Scotia Museum," said Education and Culture Minister Wayne Gaudet. "Being honoured twice on the national stage is a considerable and proud achievement."

The two-volume Roland's Flora of Nova Scotia has built upon the original publication, which first appeared in 1944. This definitive text offers the reader concise, user-friendly descriptions of almost 1,500 species. It includes information on plant folklore, the origins of plant names, edible and poisonous species and herbal applications. It also has simplified keys, drawings, maps and illustrated glossaries. The volumes appeal equally to nature lovers, students, environmental planners and scientists.

The Titanic exhibit has helped Nova Scotians and visitors from around the world learn the story of the famous ocean liner. Halifax has a strong connection to the Titanic story. In 1912, the first ships dispatched to the scene of the sinking came from Halifax, and almost 150 victims were laid to rest in three local cemeteries. Part of the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic was shot here. The exhibit is located in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

The Titanic exhibit also garnered the best indoor site honour at the Attractions Canada Awards on April 28 in Montreal.

The Nova Scotia Museum is a family of 25 museums located throughout the province. With its roots dating back to the founding of the Halifax Mechanics Institute in 1831, and the Nova Scotian Institute of Science in 1862, it is one of the oldest provincial museums in Canada.

The 52nd annual Canadian Museums Association Awards are presented annually to celebrate the finest achievements in the museum sector.