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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Marion Kelch,
writer and producer of the play <EM>Empress of Ireland, </EM>which
was<EM> </EM>first staged by the Czar theatre Guild in Czar, Alberta, in
February 1993, has asked me to circulate this letter. The play was
attended by many people who actually sailed to Canada on the ship. Famed
diver Philippe Beaudry came from Québec to attend the play.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Denis Salter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT
face=Helvetica><STRONG>Empress of Ireland Artifacts: Keep them in
Canada!!!</STRONG> June 10, 2002<BR><BR> There is great
interest in and protest of the impending sale of 401 artifacts and 600 archival
items to a collector in the United States. All of these items were
legally salvaged from the ³Empress of Ireland² or purchased from other
collectors by diver Philippe Beaudry.<BR><BR> The Canadian Cultural
Property Export Review Board has recently denied Mr. Beaudry¹s second
application to export these items....for now.<BR><BR> I have queried many
museums across Canada to see if they would be interested in purchasing this
collection for the Canadian appraised value of $1.5 million dollars.
The<U> only</U> museum which believed the collection would fall
within its mandate was the <U>Canadian National Museum of Science and
Technology</U> located in Ottawa. The question is whether this museum can afford
to pay $750,000. The Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage has
indicated that it will provide a grant for the other half of the fair
purchase price. Mr. Beaudry has indicated he would be willing to
take $750,000 over a five year period if the other half was paid
immediately.<BR><BR> At present, I believe negotiations are being
carried on between this museum and the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review
Board.<BR><BR> On June 8, I had the opportunity to meet with MP Anne
McLellan at a function totally unrelated to this issue. Ms. McLellan is well
aware of the situation and asked me ³What more do you want us to do?² A very
good question.<BR><BR> If negotiations go well and the purchase can be
made, Canadians will be getting out the champagne.<BR><BR> But
what if the Canadian National Museum of Science and Technology cannot afford to
pay <U>all</U> of $750,000?<BR><BR> My answer is: ³<B>Let Canadians <U>be
given the opportunity</U> to help this museum purchase the collection!²
</B>( For example: 7,500 Canadians donating $100 each would complete the
purchase.)<BR></FONT><B><BR><FONT face=Helvetica> </FONT></B><FONT
face=Helvetica>Canadians will be outraged if discussions break down and it is
suddenly announced that the Export Review Board will allow the collection to be
exported before we are given the chance to help out. These Canadians represent a
cross section of our society... professors, divers, historians, writers,
artists, ranchers,teachers, collectors and authors to name just a
few.<BR><BR> A huge network of people continues to keep Canadians
informed of the latest developments. We are grateful for the responses shown by
the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, MP Anne McLellan, MP Bill Blaikie, MP Loyola
Hearn, and MP Kevin Sorenson.<BR>We remain <U>determined</U> to keep
the artifacts in Canada!</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT
face=Helvetica></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT
face=Helvetica>Please send a letter, fax, or email to these people. And
please also get in touch with your MP.</DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR>Marion Kelch < czardust@telusplanet.net><BR>Box 72,
Czar, Alberta TOB OZO Phone (780)
857-2340</FONT><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>*************************</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>