Can You Find Funky?

Museums across the province are challenging Nova Scotians and visitors alike to take part in the Funky Museum Roadshow. The roadshow, which starts today, is a summer-long, fun-filled program aimed at getting to know Nova Scotia and the neat stuff in museums.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to uncover off- the-wall, wacky stories about Nova Scotia's heritage by visiting the 52 museums in the roadshow. The best time to start your mission is this weekend, as museums present special events for Museum Day Weekend on June 10 and 11.

This collection of unusual facts will be known as Funky Finds, and they can be recorded on Funky Museum Roadshow Passports, available at participating museums and provincial Visitor Information Centres. Museum stamps can also be collected on the passport while on the funky find mission.

Last year, the dynamic-duo of Garry Sowerby, professional adventure driver, and Peter Duffy, columnist for the Chronicle Herald and Mail Star, travelled the province and compiled a list of their 25 funkiest finds. However, there are still lots of unusual treasures to discover.

"Funkiness is in the eye of the beholder," said Mr. Sowerby. "Last year, Peter and I had nine mad-cap days to uncover the Funky Finds. This year we're challenging the public to dig a little deeper over the summer, and document it in their handy- dandy funky passports."

Mr. Sowerby says he is excited to see what will be discovered this summer when he and Mr. Duffy will travel the province for several days in vehicles donated by O'Regan's Chev-Olds-Cadillac of Halifax.

The funkiest title this year could go to a female urinal prototype, a fishing reel made from the pistons of a car, or a wreath made from human hair. Or it may go to the weirdest- looking duck or Nova Scotia's largest insect.

Kids of all ages are invited to share their thoughts on Nova Scotia's funky stuff by posting a message on the Funky Finds electronic bulletin board on the website at museum.ednet.ns.ca , or by mailing details or drawings to: Funky Finds, Nova Scotia Museum, 1747 Summer St., Halifax, N.S., B3H 3A6.

When the roadshow wraps-up this fall, the funkiest finds, craziest stories and most museum visits will be awarded.

The Funky Museum Roadshow looks at Nova Scotia's cultural and natural heritage in a unique way, and showcases museum events across the province on Museum Day Weekend, and all season long. Event participants include community museums and the 25 sites of the Nova Scotia Museum family.

For updates on what is funky throughout the summer, watch Breakfast Television weekday mornings and follow Peter Duffy's column in the Chronicle Herald and Mail Star.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A complete list of Funky Museum Roadshow participants and Museum Day Weekend events is available by e-mailing [email protected] . Updates on Funky Finds can be found on the Nova Scotia Museum website at museum.ednet.ns.ca .