MARQUETTE, Mich.—An opening reception for a new exhibition titled “Across the Border: Canadians in the Upper Peninsula” will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University. The gallery is located in 105 Cohodas Hall. The reception is free and open to the public. It will feature refreshments, treats and a performance of French-Canadian songs.

Across the Border focuses primarily on the immigration of Canadians to the Upper Peninsula during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It also traces back further to the Anishinaabeg people who have lived on both sides of what they view as purely a political border for centuries.  The very nature of this border, which has been seen at times as irrelevant and porous, will be addressed, as will the nature of Canadian identity as it relates to the immigration of people to the Upper Peninsula from Québec and Ontario.   

The exhibition also spotlights specific families who came from Canada to the Upper Peninsula and their experiences before and after they immigrated to the region. These sections will feature family photographs and artifacts. There will also be a focus on specific communities that had significant settlements of Canadian people. One example would be the Garden Peninsula, which was settled by several Canadian families who came to work at the iron works in Fayette and later in the lumber and fishing industry.

Across the Border will be on display through July 23. Funding for the exhibition and associated programming comes from Cliffs Natural Resources, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Province of Québec, Chicago Delegation. The Beaumier Center’s hours are 12:30-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.nmu.edu/beaumier.