Canadian War Museum
Highlighting contributions of Black Canadians throughout war history
A temporary exhibition revealing the impact of Canada’s Black military service members
Client
Canadian War Museum
Project type
Temporary and travelling exhibition
Collaborators
Bringing to life the lives and legacies of 22 Black men and women who served their country honourably and courageously, the Canadian War Museum in partnership with the Niagara Military Museum asked us to design a truly unique exhibition. Their goal was to illuminate the broader experience and profound contributions of Black Canadians to military history from the American Revolution to the present day.
Our goal was to create an immersive exhibition that celebrated the resilience and sacrifices of these remarkable individuals while authentically depicting the challenges they faced due to systemic racial barriers. To ensure this exhibit honoured the truth of these narratives, we worked closely with CWM and the Niagara Military Museum and their Black historians who consulted with families during their research process.
Inspired by Black history in North America, we curated a visual language that balanced celebration with solemn reflection. In addition to fonts designed by Black creators, concepts were refined through community focus groups to ensure their voices and perspectives were heard. As a result, the Canadian War Museum presented an evocative and dynamic exhibition.
The virtual opening during COVID-19 received such strong support that the Canadian War Museum later asked us to reimagine the exhibition as Portraits: Stories of Black Canadian Military Service, expanding its reach to communities across Canada. We’re proud to have helped carry these important stories of service, resilience, courage, and sacrifice into a new travelling format.
