Central Albertans are invited to celebrate the first anniversary of Veterans Voices of Canada’s micro museum at Parkland Mall on Canada Day.
Al Cameron, the founder of Veterans Voices of Canada-History Interest and Learning Centre, and museum volunteers, including Indigenous veteran Darryl Lickers, will be serving anniversary and Canada Day cake on Monday from noon until 2 p.m.
Cameron called it a dual celebration, with an opportunity for people to take in some military history, including a 1942 Daimler Dingo reconnaissance vehicle used in Second World War on loan from the Prairie Motor Brigade.
"This type of vehicle was used in Dieppe Raid in 1942 so it's a really interesting piece of history," said Cameron about the Dieppe mission. Almost 5,000 Canadian soldiers took part in the raid on occupied France, and nearly 3,400 were captured, injured or killed.
The next big event at the museum will be held on August 19 to recognize the anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. Anyone who can donate artifacts from the raid is encouraged to contact the museum.
The museum also pays tribute to those who fought in the First World War, the Korean War and in Afghanistan.
He said the museum's collection of military artifacts has grown significantly through the year with some really unique pieces, and it's time for a larger space.
"It's pretty much jam-packed. Because we only have a certain amount of room, we're cycling the displays, so there are always different things to see."
Cameron said administrators with Parkland Mall have been amazing to work with, but there's a lot more history to be put on display, so hopefully, a larger space at the mall will be available in the future.
He said the mall has been a great location to reach people who wouldn't usually visit a museum.
"It's working out really well in that we're passing on history and we're helping educate people."
Veterans Voices of Canada-History Interest and Learning Centre will be open until 5 p.m. on Canada Day.
The museum is regularly open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m in unit 404, next to Stitches on the west end of the mall. Admission is by donation.