500,000 visitors to Canadian War MuseumOttawa, Ontario, January 30, 2005 — The Canadian War Museum (CWM) has welcomed its 500,000th visitor since its May 2005 opening.
Museum Director and CEO, Joe Geurts stated: "Our initial projections were 400,000 visitors yearly, and we surpassed that estimation during Remembrance Week 2005. Compared to the last few years at the Sussex Drive location, we have more than tripled our visitorship, demonstrating that Canadians are very interested in their military history."
The President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC), which includes both CWM and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, is equally impressed: "The Corporation is very pleased with this success," said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch. "This new Museum is helping visitors understand Canada's military history in its personal, national and international dimensions. Our two museums are where people and history come to life."
The Canadian War Museum is Canada's National museum of military history. It introduces visitors to the role and importance of the military in the development of Canada both at home, and on the world stage. Its Permanent Exhibitions present the military history of Canada from earliest times to present day, as well as Canada's history of honouring and remembrance. The CWM's design and materials reflect both the restorative power of time and nature in soothing the scars of war, and the necessity of remembrance as part of an active, critical engagement with the country's military past. The Museum houses some 500,000 artifacts, nearly 10,000 square metres of exhibition, research and educational facilities and a fully equipped, multi-purpose theatre.
Designed in a joint venture by Moriyama & Teshima Architects of Toronto and Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects of Ottawa, the Museum was already been awarded a number of design and construction awards, and has been featured in architecture and design magazines both in Canada and across the world.
"Visitor feedback to the new museum is tremendous," said Joe Geurts. "They are taking the time to express how they feel about the experience. In fact, I recall two comments that were very memorable; one visitor summed up their visit as 'An excellent way to present war. You've done a great job at making me feel proud of my Canadian heritage,' and another expressed just how much they enjoyed the new museum by stating 'What an amazing, inspirational, hopeful (museum) but TRUE to the good and bad of war'."
The Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization are centres for collections, research, exhibitions and information on the social, military and human history of Canada. Combined, the two museums have already attracted over 1.7 million visitors in 2005–2006.
Information (media):
Christina Selin
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: (819) 776-8607
E-mail: mailto:christina.selin@warmuseum.ca
Pierre Leduc
Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: (819) 776-8608
E-mail: mailto:pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca
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