Canadian Museum for Human Rights facts for kids
| Musée canadien pour les droits de la personne | |
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Canadian Museum for Human Rights in 2014
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| Established | 13 March 2008 |
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| Location | The Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Type | Human rights museum |
| Visitors | 295,300 (2016/17) |
| Founder | Israel Asper and The Asper Foundation |
| Owner | Government of Canada |
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Building details
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| General information | |
| Groundbreaking | 19 December 2008 |
| Construction started | 2009 |
| Cost | $351 million |
| Height | |
| Observatory | 100 m (328.08 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | alabaster, basalt rock, glass, Tyndall limestone, steel |
| Floor count | 8 |
| Floor area | 24,155 m2 (5.97 acres) |
| Lifts/elevators | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Antoine Predock |
| Awards and prizes | 14 national & international awards related to its architecture and construction |
| Other information | |
| Number of restaurants | 1 (ERA Bistro) |
| Agency overview | |
| Type | Crown corporation |
| Minister responsible |
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| Key document |
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The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) is a special national museum located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It's the first national museum in Canada built outside the capital city. The museum's main goal is to help everyone understand human rights better. It also encourages respect for others and inspires people to think and talk about these important topics.
The museum was officially created in 2008 and opened its doors on September 19, 2014. It is a Crown corporation, which means it's owned by the Government of Canada. A group called the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights helps raise money to support the museum.
Contents
How the Museum Was Built
The Idea Begins
The idea for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights came from Izzy Asper, a Canadian lawyer and businessman. He first thought of building this museum on July 18, 2000. Mr. Asper wanted it to be a place where students from all over Canada could learn about human rights.
He also hoped the museum would help make downtown Winnipeg a more exciting place to visit. Most importantly, he wanted it to raise awareness about human rights and encourage people to respect each other.
In 2003, Izzy Asper started a charity group called the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This group was created to help build the museum. On April 17, 2003, the plan to create the CMHR was announced in Winnipeg. Many groups worked together on this project, including the governments of Canada, Manitoba, and Winnipeg.
Sadly, Izzy Asper passed away suddenly in October 2003. His family, especially his daughter Gail Asper, promised to continue his dream.
Designing the Museum
The Friends of the CMHR held a big international competition to find the best design for the museum. Over 100 designs came in from 21 different countries! The winning design was chosen from Antoine Predock, an architect from New Mexico.
Mr. Predock imagined the museum as a journey. Visitors would start by going down into the "roots" of the museum, then move through large spaces and ramps. The journey would end at the "Tower of Hope," a tall glass spire reaching into the sky.
He was inspired by Canada's natural beauty, like trees, ice, and the northern lights. He also thought about the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Building the Museum
Before construction started, archaeologists carefully dug up the land. They found over 400,000 old items, showing respect for the ancestral lands.
Construction officially began in April 2009. On July 3, 2010, Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, visited the site. She unveiled the museum's special cornerstone. This stone has a message from the Queen and a piece of stone from Runnymede, England. That's where the Magna Carta, an important document about rights, was agreed upon in 1215.
The last of the 1,669 custom-cut glass pieces were put in place in September 2012. The main building was finished a few months later. The museum officially opened in 2014. A road in front of the museum was named "Israel Asper Way" to honor Izzy Asper.
Funding the Museum
Building the museum cost about $351 million. Money came from the Canadian government, the Manitoba government, and the City of Winnipeg. Many private donations were also given by people and groups across Canada.
The Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, led by Gail Asper, raised more than $130 million from private donors. The Canadian government also provides money each year to help the museum operate.
Museum Architecture
The museum building is very unique. The ground floor has a gift shop, a restaurant, and places for visitors to get information. Different levels of galleries are connected by beautiful, glowing alabaster ramps. One of these is called the Hall of Hope. There's also a Garden of Contemplation with calm pools of water and dark stone.
The visit ends at the Israel Asper Tower of Hope. This is a 100-meter glass spire that offers amazing views of downtown Winnipeg.
During construction, special medicine bags were placed into the ground by elders from Thunderbird House in Winnipeg. This was done to show respect for Mother Earth. The Hall of Hope used over 15,000 pieces of alabaster, making it the largest project ever done with this material.
What You Can See and Do
Exhibits and Galleries
The museum worked with a design company from New York to create its exhibits. The galleries cover many themes, including Canada's human rights journey and current human rights issues.
The museum also has a library called the Carte International Reference Centre. It's a great place to find resources for learning and research about human rights.
In 2009, the museum started a project called "Help Write the Story of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights." Researchers visited 19 cities across Canada. They talked to thousands of people about their human rights experiences. This helped the museum decide what stories to tell.
The museum has 10 main galleries:
- What are human rights?
- Indigenous perspectives.
- This gallery includes a film about Indigenous ideas of rights and responsibilities. It also features a large artwork called "Trace" by artist Rebecca Belmore.
- Canadian journeys.
- This section explores important moments in Canadian history. It includes stories about residential schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and the forced relocation of Inuit people. It also covers the experiences of Japanese Canadians during World War II, the Chinese head tax, and the Underground Railroad.
- Protecting rights in Canada
- Examining the Holocaust and other genocides.
- This gallery looks at five major genocides recognized by Canada.
- Turning points for humanity
- Breaking the silence
- Actions count
- Rights today
- Inspiring change
Indigenous issues are discussed in many galleries, but they are especially highlighted in the "Canadian Journeys Gallery" and the "Indigenous Perspectives Gallery."
Museum Partnerships
The CMHR works with many schools and government groups. These partnerships help the museum offer better information and more learning opportunities. Some of these partners include:
- University of Manitoba
- University of Winnipeg
- Library and Archives Canada
- The Manitoba Museum
- Manitoba Education (the Province of Manitoba)
See also
