To mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) will be a host to the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Poster Exhibition that will be on display until Aug. 15 on the main floor of the library’s downtown Central Branch.
Presented in partnership with the Victoria Peace Project, the exhibit is part of a coordinated national effort to honour this milestone anniversary and foster public reflection on the impact of nuclear war and the global call for peace.
“As a public library, we believe strongly in our role to support informed conversations, hold space for truth, and create opportunities for meaningful learning,” said Maureen Sawa, CEO of GVPL, in a news release. “This moving and powerful exhibition helps community members of all ages learn from the past and engage with the future.”
The project features 30 photographic posters, combining images, survivor testimonies, and historical accounts of the events of August 1945. It also includes a message from Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui to the people of Victoria, encouraging continued dialogue on peace and remembrance.
“The images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been hidden from public view, especially in North America. The photographers and journalists made extraordinary efforts to pass on the true face of atomic bombing to the next generations. Hibakusha, the people who were exposed to radiation, are not limited to Japan, but also live in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, where nuclear weapons have been produced or tested," said Midori Ogasawara, a member of the Victoria Peace Project.
"It is important to know what happened under the atomic clouds and protect all children from the increasing risk of nuclear war and disaster."
A free event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Central Branch. The program will include remarks from Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto, Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi, Ogasawara, and Sawa. Families can also enjoy themed activities such as paper crane folding and storytime, with children’s activities beginning at 2:30 p.m.
