If you’ve wondered what it feels like to have a puck fly at
your face at 105km/h, you have a couple days left to experience it at
THEMUSEUM. The force alone of the puck smacking the plexiglass just inches in
front of your eyes as they’re pressed up against an outline of a goalie mask,
is enough to send shivers down your spine and make you call it quits- if only
it weren’t for every other interactive goody, educational treasure and at times
simply brilliant displays of art in Canada’s favourite sport, hockey.

THEMUSEUM (one word, uppercase), is an ode to the evolution of Kitchener, Ontario. It is located on the downtown strip in the historical home of what was once Western Ontario’s most successful independently-owned department store, Goudies. The building went dormant in the late ‘80s after nearly eight decades of service, and in 2003 found new life re-opening as a Children’s Museum. Some obvious changes have been made in the years since, but only to enhance the overall sophistication of the world class exhibits that pass through these regional museum doors, this time being ARENA.
ARENA - The Hockey Exhibition is a rare collection of
glorious hockey artifacts stemming from various sources, including Nova
Scotia’s ‘The Art of Hockey’ exhibit, private collectors and local organizations
like the Kitchener Rangers and the Stratford Hockey Club, which existed in the
early 1900’s. With hockey woven into the cultural fabric of Kitchener, it’s
only fitting some of the finest pieces make their way here – nearly half of the
memorabilia displayed is courtesy of private collectors. Comprised of three
sections – Art, History and Interactive, as you go up each floor in THEMUSEUM
you will notice the design becomes more and more sophisticated than the primary
colours of the main floor, which has kept with the children’s vibe.

The History section forces you to imagine hockey in its more prehistoric days with skates, goalie equipment, and all other team gear going into one travelling box. From Tim Horton’s $9,000 contract to the document that certifies the Toronto Maple Leafs as a franchise in the NHL, the old puzzles and cereal boxes sure take you back to a time when the Leafs were good and the equipment was shabby. The evolution of hockey pads is displayed by decade, as it leads you to the final area on the exhibit.

The Interactive section boasts a massive Stanley Cup replica made out of nickels, a smoke and light induced tribute to goalie masks and a hub that spreads awareness on concussions in hockey. You can try your hand as a goalie or play other kinds of ice sports - not on ice. Amidst the action are displays from the local Rangers, established in 1963, along with the Canadian teams in the NHL and yes, the Winnipeg Jets are in there. They also showcase ringette, sledge hockey and women’s hockey, as it embodies Canada’s love of ice and the passion that comes with success.
ARENA will close its doors to the public on May 6th, 2012 and the pieces that make this exhibit unique will be separated and may never come together again.


xoxo,
Upcoming events to THEMUSEUM include the Instructional Works of Yoko Ono in the ADDCOLOUR exhibit as well as a Dinosaur exhibit and a Treasures from China ancient rock exhibit.
I'd like to thank Derek Weidl from the Accelerator Program on behalf of THEMUSEUM for providing such an informative tour of ARENA.
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