2001–2002: A Year of Challenge and Achievement for the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
Gatineau, Quebec, August 26, 2002 — The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC) — which includes of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) and the Canadian War Museum (CWM) — tabled its 2001–2002 annual report last Thursday in the House of Commons. The report outlines the Corporation’s challenges and achievements over the past year, in its role as Canada’s national museum of human history.
“One of our highest priorities for 2001-2002 has been the building of a new Canadian War Museum,” writes Chairman Dr. John English in his message. “As of the end of March 2002, we had chosen the new Museum’s architectural and exhibition design teams. Government funding had been secured for the project, and our own Passing the Torch fundraising campaign has achieved more than $11 million of its $15-million goal — the largest-ever fundraising achievement by a federal institution. Over the past year, this has indeed become a project of national significance with supporters across Canada.”
Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Corporation, remarked on the many activities undertaken by the Corporation and how these support the institution’s mandate. “Our many activities serve to bring the historical information and meaning found in the CMCC’s collections to a vast public. With 1.4 million-plus visits to the CMCC’s museum sites, with virtual visitors on the Internet and with travelling exhibitions around Canada and in other countries, the CMCC carries out its national and international responsibilities as a public cultural institution, offering the world to Canadians, and Canada to the world.”
Some of the Corporation’s achievements this year include:
- Attendance of 1,307,363 at the CMC and 133,074 at the CWM; 20,686,227 Web site accesses; 1.9 million promotional pieces in circulation; and an advertising reach of 72,334,750.
- Onsite revenues of over $7.7 million for the CMC and $339,000 for the CWM.
- A cumulative total of $11 million raised towards the CWM’s Passing the Torch campaign, with achievement of the targeted $15 million in cash and pledges expected by the end of the 2002–2003 fiscal year.
- Fifteen special exhibitions at the CMC and two at the CWM. In addition, 17 CMC exhibitions travelled to 49 separate venues around the world, and seven CWM exhibitions crisscrossed the globe, appearing in 10 venues from Halifax to London, England and to Australia.
- Numerous awards for publications and research undertaken by Museum staff. In addition, Attractions Canada named the CMC the Best Indoor Site in Canada in May 2001. The CMC’s special exhibition Lifelines: Canada’s East Coast Fisheries received an Outstanding Achievement award from the Canadian Museums Association in 2002.
Commenting on the Corporation’s approach to its mandate during a year marked by global tragedy, Dr. English writes: “Museums of human history are a comforting touchstone. They remind us of where we’ve been, who we are, and where we could go if we chose. In our role as a museum corporation in the service of all Canadians, we will continue to share what we do with as wide a constituency as possible. And we will do our best to ensure that our choices serve a public whose very diversity is our most important asset.”
The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation annual report is available at http://www.civilization.ca/societe/rapporte.html
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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