Special Events

Using real human hair to create keepsakes for mourning may seem unusual to us now, but for centuries, it carried profound emotional and symbolic meaning. Although this art form reached its peak popularity in the Victorian era, its roots stretch back much farther. Join Zen Hansen, hairwork artist and founder of Hair Anthropology, as she explores the sentimental and mourning traditions that treated hair as a cherished material for preserving love and memory.

Jewellery made with real human hair was common in Queen Victoria's time, yet the skill has nearly vanished today. Join hairwork artist and Hair Anthropology founder Zen Hansen for a hands-on workshop introducing the foundations of table braiding. This historic technique uses long hair, weighted bobbins, and a specially designed braiding table to create intricate jewellery.

Join us for a screening of Animal Nation   Bison, which details how Indigenous communities like the Kainai Blood Tribe revive their deep cultural and ecological ties to the bison with the help of Elk Island National Park, which reintroduces them to the prairies they roamed in vast herds before colonization.

This film is appropriate for all ages.

This film is recommended for visitors aged 14 and up.

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, you’re invited to join us for a screening of Birth of a Family.

Four siblings, Betty Ann, Esther, Rosalie, and Ben, were among 20,000 Indigenous children in Canada taken from their families between 1955 and 1985 and placed in foster care or adopted by white families. As they uncover their shared past, they rebuild their connection and begin to form a family. Courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada.

This screening is included with General Admission.

Join us for a special screening of Nanekawâsis, a documentary spanning four decades of Indigenous artist George Littlechild’s storied career.

As a two-spirit person and ‘60s scoop survivor, Littlechild’s artwork draws from a unique perspective of pain, joy, and exemplary merit. Through archival footage and new interviews, this documentary gives viewers the opportunity to get to know a major player in the Indigenous art world, while highlighting the impacts of colonialism in Canada on both art and artist.

Please be advised: This film is rated PG and contains artistic representations of nudity.

Join us for a screening of Animal Nation – Beaver, which takes you on a cross-Canada journey to reveal how beavers shape ecosystems, restore wetlands and connect Indigenous communities to the land. From Algonquin Park, Ont., to Nicola Valley, B.C., the industrious beaver emerges as a vital symbol of renewal and resilience.

This film is appropriate for all ages.

Archaeologists uncover artifacts and piece together Alberta’s history. Become a junior archaeologist and learn from the materials left behind by people of the past!

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll dive into a mock dig-pit and learn the skills that help archaeologists make their discoveries. Practice repairing broken artifacts and learn how to figure out just how old these objects are.

This workshop is designed for youth in Grades 4– 8 (ages 9 –14); no previous experience is required.

Note: Due to limited space, this is a drop-off activity; parents cannot accompany participants during the workshop.

Join us for a screening of Animal Nation – Caribou. In the Northwest Territories, researchers brave the barren lands to study caribou, using traditional knowledge to seek solutions to their decline. In Quebec, Innu mentors teach youth about their sacred bond with the boreal caribou, a species in crisis.

This film is appropriate for all ages.

Join us for a screening of Animal Nation – Bear, in which the Ktunaxa highlight their deep spiritual connection to grizzly bears through research, conservation and efforts to protect their sacred habitat.

This film is appropriate for all ages.

Palaeontologists study fossils to uncover what life was like thousands of years ago. Become junior palaeontologist and learn about what animals lived in Alberta during the Ice Age!

In this workshop, get hands-on with real fossils and learn the skills that help palaeontologists make their discoveries. Learn how to tell the difference between Ice Age fossils and how to piece together Alberta’s frozen past.

This workshop is designed for youth in Grades 4 – 8 (ages 9 –14); no previous experience is required.

Note: Due to limited space, this is a drop-off activity; parents cannot accompany participants during the workshop.