Canada’s first museum Web site celebrates its 10th anniversary
Gatineau, Quebec, December 14, 2004 — Civilization.ca, recognized internationally as one of the best museum sites on the Web, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The site is the online home of the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It is an authoritative and wide-ranging source of information about Canadian society and history.
“Our national museums exist for the benefit of all Canadians, not only for those who can visit Ottawa and Gatineau,” said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC), which manages both museums. “By providing Internet access to our collections, research and knowledge, Civilization.ca has enabled a better understanding — at home and abroad — of Canadian identity, history and culture.”
The range of information available on the site is remarkable. It includes over a hundred virtual exhibitions and it offers visitors teachers’ guides, research essays on historic events and even eclectic Canadiana. The site features an assortment of reference tools, searchable databases, interactive games and virtual reality experiences.
As part of its 10th anniversary, Civilization.ca is introducing several new online features. They include Written in the Stone, a look at the world-renowned architecture of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, designed by Douglas Cardinal; Journey to Kitigaaryuk, an interactive adventure for children; Passions and Pastimes, explaining the ancient history of the Ottawa Valley; and Before E-commerce, which revisits the history of Canadian mail order catalogues.
Launched in December 1994, the site was the first of its kind in Canada and among the first museum Web sites in the world. It has since won over 30 awards and citations, including one from the International Council of Museums, an organization affiliated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is also a favourite destination for Canadian students and teachers, with virtual visits peaking during the school term.
This year alone, Civilization.ca will record six million visits and receive 56 million page requests from around the world.
CMCC Web site chronological highlights:- 1995 – Kick-off of the first online retail service within the federal government, the CyberBoutique;
- 1996 – Launch of the first Canadian “Virtual Museum” concept on the Web;
- 1996 – Introduction of an electronic distance education programme called CyberMentor;
- 1997 – Launch of a second virtual museum, the Virtual Museum of New France;
- 1997 – Presentation of a Quicktime virtual reality tour of the Canada Hall;
- 1998 – Creation of a virtual reality tour of Tutankhamun’s tomb;
- 1998 – Production of online databases giving the public access to the artifact collections and the library and archival catalogues;
- 1999 – Webcast of an exhibition opening;
- 2000 – Set-up of a micro-payment system selling genealogical information to those researching family history;
- 2001 – Web site revamped to facilitate navigation.
Visit the CMCC English Web site at www.civilization.ca and the French Web site at www.civilisations.ca.
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7169
Fax: (819) 776-7187
|
|
