Concrete and Light: Moriyama Regeneration Hall

The Canadian War Museum’s podcast The Long War: Canada in Afghanistan explores the meaning and impact of Canada’s participation in the war in Afghanistan. Twenty-five years ago, Canada went to war in Afghanistan. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States, Canada joined a coalition to pursue al-Qaeda and unseat the Taliban. Canadians served across Afghanistan, from the rural battlefields of Kandahar to the bustling city of Kabul, until 2014 when Canada ended its presence there. The consequences of the war in Afghanistan continue to ripple through our politics, the military, and the lives of those who served. The Long War: Canada in Afghanistan tells their stories. We examine why Canada went to war in Afghanistan, what happened there, and the war’s complicated legacy. Listen on the War Museum website or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

What’s it like to visit a museum of war? What’s it like to work there? “Concrete and Light” is an intimate look at the Canadian War Museum, a building designed to challenge the conscience and serve as a source of healing and regeneration. This 27-minute audio experience begins with the Museum’s Lobby and explores four of its iconic spaces: the Lobby / Memorial Hall, the “Canadian Experience” galleries, Moriyama Regeneration Hall, and the LeBreton Gallery. Hear from the building’s designers, curators who develop exhibits, and staff who work with visitors every day. Learn about the many reasons people visit: to learn, to remember, to mourn, and to find hope.

Hear about a powerful encounter between a Museum staff member and a grieving mother at 21 min, 40 sec in your downloaded file or use the player above. Please use headphones or keep speaker volume on low. Thank you. “Concrete and Light” is an intimate look at the Canadian War Museum, a building designed to challenge the conscience and serve as a source of healing and regeneration.

Hear about this damaged Iltis jeep and a unique encounter with a visitor at 14 min, 45 sec in your downloaded file or use the player above. Please use headphones or keep speaker volume on low. Thank you. The next stop in “Concrete and Light” is Moriyama Regeneration Hall. You can find it on the main level, at the end of the corridor heading east from the central map of the galleries. It is number 15 on the map in the Museum Guide.

Hear about this quiet space for reflection at 8 min, 30 sec in your downloaded file or use the player above. Please use headphones or keep speaker volume on low. If you do not have headphones, please listen to the episode before you enter Memorial Hall. Thank you. The next section of “Concrete and Light” takes us into the main Galleries, and to the Iltis Jeep on display in Gallery 4. It is number 13 on the map in the Museum Guide.