Calgary, AB (June 17, 2021) – Heritage Park is pleased to announce an innovative new collaboration with energy economist and bestselling author Peter Tertzakian that will connect the past to the present through state-of-the-art digital technology.
As a living history museum, Heritage Park Historical Village combines in-character interactions with historical artifacts, buildings and exhibits to create immersive stories about the past. This new collaboration with Tertzakian will provide an innovative way for the Park to link thought-provoking stories to its extensive collection of energy and natural resource artifacts.
“This collaboration is about a shared belief in the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the past,” says Lindsey Galloway, Heritage Park’s President and CEO. “Through Peter Tertzakian’s innovative online platform, visitors to the park and our fans online will be able to interact with Heritage Park’s amazing historical energy artifacts in a dynamic new way. By showcasing how past energy transitions connect to the present, we hope to inspire possibilities for the future.”
As Heritage Park was redeveloping its newly opened Prospect Ridge area – which features a giant working water wheel, restored coal mine, and an operating replica of the Dingman Number 1 Discovery Well to tell the story of Alberta’s natural resources – Peter Tertzakian was in the midst of conceiving Energyphile; part museum, part library and part business school. Tertzakian’s passion project is designed to provoke a deep thoughtful look at energy throughout history. Both parties saw this collaboration as a perfect way for Heritage Park to provide a bridge from Western Canada’s energy past to its energy present and future – a first for the living history museum.
Tertzakian-known as a teller of stories and collector of energy-related artifacts himself- has been working with Heritage Park’s team in developing content and curating stories that relate to Heritage Park’s collection of energy artifacts. These stories will come to life digitally on an industry-leading, patent-pending interactive software platform developed by Tertzakian’s other company, Collection Science, and donated to Heritage Park by Tertzakian.
“Heritage Park is exploring how to use new technology to enhance our storytelling and deepen engagement, so this collaboration is a big leap forward,” says Galloway. “The idea behind Peter’s Energyphile platform – Learn from the past, understand the present, transform the future – fits perfectly with our mission as a not-for-profit historical society.” Having devoted his career to understanding our energy story and promoting energy literacy, Tertzakian agrees, adding, “Through this project, I hope to see Calgary establish itself as a technology leader in the science of experiencing collections.”
About Heritage Park
Heritage Park Historical Village preserves and presents Western Canadian heritage and culture. Since 1964, the Park has grown into one of Calgary’s premier tourist attractions and one of North America’s largest and most successful living history museums. As a registered charity, Heritage Park Historical Village relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations to make the preservation of the past possible.
About Energyphile Media and Collection Science
Energyphile Media and Collection Science were launched in 2020 by energy economist and bestselling author Peter Tertzakian. Energyphile tells stories from our energy past to help people understand the present and transform our energy future. Explore Energyphile at energyphile.org. Collection Science is the creator of patent-pending software designed to reinvent the way collections are curated and presented. For more information, visit collection.science.
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For media inquiries contact:
Dominic Terry, Strategic Communications Manager
Heritage Park Historical Village
Phone: 403.519.3409
dterry@heritagepark.ca