2002–2003 a year of achievements
for the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
Gatineau, Quebec, September 22, 2003 — Record-breaking attendance, the completion of a major permanent exhibition and the start of construction on a new museum are the highlights in the latest annual report from the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC).
The Corporation, which includes the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum, tabled its 2002–2003 Annual Report to the House of Commons. The report describes the CMCC’s challenges and accomplishments during the past year in its role as a national museum of the human history.
President and CEO Victor Rabinovitch described 2002-03 as “a year of achievements. These reflect our mission as a national cultural institution responsible for protecting and exhibiting Canada’s heritage.”
In the Annual Report, Dr. Rabinovitch cited the Canadian Museum of Civilization’s very strong attendance, including a record for visitors between January and March 2003. The total for the fiscal year was 1,387,000 visitors. The Museum also completed its First Peoples Hall, a permanent exhibition on Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. It occupies 2,000 square metres, a major portion of the Museum’s permanent exhibitions space. In addition, construction of the new Canadian War Museum began in November 2002 and should be completed by 2005.
Dr. John English, Chair of the Board of Trustees, stressed that last year was exceptionally successful. “There were about 4.3 million visits to the CMCC Web site, a significant increase over the previous year. And Passing the Torch, the fundraising campaign for the new Canadian War Museum, has now raised above $14 million, making it an exceptionnally successful fundraising campaign for a federal cultural institution.”
The main achievements of the CMCC in its 2002–2003 fiscal year include:- Fifteen special exhibitions presented at the CMC and three at the CWM. Additionally, 14 CMC touring exhibitions travelled to 27 locations around the world, and seven CWM exhibitions were displayed in 11 museums in Canada.
- Several prizes and mentions awarded to the Corporation. The Web site Civilization.ca won a prestigious international award as one of the best museum sites in the world, and the exhibition The Mysterious Bog People was selected by the American Bus Association as one of 100 top attractions in North America in 2003.
- Acquisition of three important collections — Maurice Richard, Ruth McKendry and Nettie Covey Sharpe — comprising thousands of valuable heritage artifacts.
- Opening of the First Peoples Hall, the largest permanent exhibition devoted to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada.
- Start of construction of the new Canadian War Museum on LeBreton Flats, near downtown Ottawa.
- More than $14 million net in pledges for the Passing the Torch campaign, whose $15 million objective should be reached well before the end of the 2004–2005 fiscal year.
- Total attendance of 1,387,000 visitors to the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) and 127,000 visitors to the Canadian War Museum (CWM). A total of 34,596,232 pages consulted on the Corporation’s Web site.
- A total of $9.2 million dollars in onsite revenues at the CMC and the CWM.
Readers can download a copy of the 2002–2003 Annual Report of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation from the Corporation’s Web site: http://www.civilization.ca/societe/annrpt02/arpt0203e.pdf
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
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