Have You Dived the Empress of Ireland: Canada’s Titanic?

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is looking for film footage and photos of the Empress of Ireland

photo credit: Maritime Museum of BC

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is proud to be opening a temporary exhibit commemorating Canada’s most infamous maritime disaster: the sinking of the Empress of Ireland on May 29, 1914.

The 100th anniversary of this tragedy is on May 29, 2014, the same day as the official opening of the exhibition, which will have a soft opening on April 29th and run until October of 2014. In support of the exhibit, the Museum is hosting a small panel discussion and presentation by divers who have experienced the wreck firsthand, which will focus on the excitement and risk of diving this challenging site. The story of the Empress did not end with her sinking and the loss of over 1000 lives, but continues to this day as an evolving historic dive site.

To aid this presentation, the Museum is seeking any photographs or film footage of the Empress in her final resting place that the diving community may have. Digital copies are preferred wherever possible, but hard formats will be gratefully received.

Dan Downes of TDI is our point of contact for the panel, so if anyone has such footage and is willing to share it, please contact him at dan.downes@tdisdi.com or contact TDISDI Headquarters.

Any such footage would be fully credited back to the owner if they so desired.

We are excited and honored to have the opportunity to enhance the public’s knowledge and understanding of this largely hidden Canadian National Historic Site.