CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The 'Canadian Museum for Human Rights' ('CMHR') is a proposed national museum to be built in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at the historic Forks.

Contents

Site

Features

Funding

Funding announcements timeline

Operations

References

External links

Site

The location of the museum was chosen primarily for four reasons:

★ The Forks, being the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, has been a meeting place for thousands of years and is the place where First Nations peoples first assembled to settle disputes peacefully through negotiation. It will once again serve as a meeting place— this time for learning, reflection and fostering positive change in a global sense.

★ Winnipeg has a rich history of human rights struggles, including labour rights through the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, French language and Métis rights through Louis Riel, and Women's rights through suffragette Nellie McClung.

★ Winnipeg is located near the geographic centre of North America and has historically been seen as the ''Gateway to the West''; it is ideal for the student travel program and accessible to people from around the world.

★ Winnipeg is a city of immigrants with dozens of ethnic and cultural communities - each of which has been touched by the issues that animate the field of human rights.
Another reason for locating in Winnipeg is that it is hometown of Izzy and Gail Asper and location of the Asper Foundation. Izzy and Gail Asper spearheaded the campaign to gain support for the museum, and Gail Asper continues to play a role in the museum's advancement.

Features

★ The museum will have educational and interactive components that chronicle Canada’s human rights journey, and will feature compelling stories and inspirational groups and individuals from around the world. The Museum's content will include both human rights triumphs and failures, as it is felt both are necessary to provide an honest and balanced account of the state of human rights through the ages.

★ The museum will also be a forum for dialogue, where legislation such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will be explained and discussed.

★ Historical events such as the Residential School placements will be explained through the unique storytelling techniques employed by Aboriginal Canadian elders.

★ The museum will serve as an education facility for peacekeepers, where they will learn about the culture of other nations before they are deployed.

★ There will be an observatory with current (i.e real-time) information on human rights issues and situations from embedded journalists and activists situated around the world. Visitors will be able to access information about international rights groups and can immediately register to be advocates of these groups if they choose.

Funding

The project began with the vision of the late Izzy Asper, the Canadian media magnate, who wanted to create a world-renowned museum in Western Canada; indeed, it will be the first Canadian national museum beyond the area of Canada's capital city, Ottawa. The museum is also seen as an opportunity to further revitalize the downtown core of Winnipeg and the city's tourism industry.
The museum was designed by architect Antoine Predock, and features a "glass sculpture" stylization. The project has been primarily promoted by Izzy Asper's daughter, Gail Asper, and the Asper Foundation, which has committed C$20 million in funding.
These parties envision the museum as a public-private partnership, in which the Canadian federal government would commit to a share of the development costs, estimated at C$311 million, and the operational costs, estimated at C$22 million annually. C$20 million of the total development costs will come from the Province of Manitoba, C$20 million from the City of Winnipeg, and the remaining C$160 million from the private sector.
Depending on funding, construction will begin in the fall of 2007 and the Museum is targeted to open in 2011.

Funding announcements timeline

★ April 17, 2003: Premier Gary Doer, on behalf of the Province of Manitoba, announced a provincial commitment of $6 million as part of a broader commitment that could result in up to 10% of the capital project – or $20 million.

★ April 17, 2003: The Forks North Portage Partnership announced its support in areas of design and planning and, together with the City of Winnipeg, a donation of an 8.0 acre site at The Forks.

★ April 15th, 2005: the Government of Canada confirmed a total investment of up to $100 million. The announcement was made by then President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament Reg Alcock, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister Responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, and Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State Stephen Owen. The $100 million includes the previously announced $30 million investment in the Museum.

★ January, 2006: The Asper Foundation announced a total donation to the Museum of $20 million.

★ June 28, 2006: Winnipeg City Council, led by Mayor Sam Katz, unanimously approved a $20 million contribution to the Museum in cash and in-kind donation in the form of land, infrastructure, and forgiveness of property taxes.

★ February 1, 2007: the Museum had raised $72 million from private donors leaving approximately $89 million to go.

★ April 20, 2007: Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the Canadian federal government would pay for building (price unknown) and the operating costs of the museum, which are estimated to be $22 million/year. This will make the Human Rights museum the first national museum outside of the National Capital Region and marks the first time that three levels of government and private donors have joined to create a national museum.

Operations

In terms of economic impact, it is estimated that the museum will generate a minimum of C$171 million in direct expenditures and an estimated C$122.7 million in spin-off expenditures into the Canadian economy. 1,710 jobs will be created during construction, as well as 495 direct and indirect jobs annually by the third year of operations. An expected 250,000 tourists will visit the museum in the first year.
Half of the operational budget requested from the federal government will be allocated to fund a national student human rights education and travel program. This program, unique to the CMHR, will bring 20,000 Grade 9 students from across Canada by the second year of operations to participate in a special human rights educational trip.
The program is intended to make students aware of human rights issues, instill values of respect and tolerance and inspire them to become advocates for human rights in their respective communities and throughout their lives.

References

★ CBC News, "Ottawa will pay human rights museum's operating costs"

★ Colin Campbell, "Building Izzy's dream: does Canada need to fund a national museum of human rights—located in Winnipeg?". ''Maclean's''; March 27, 2006.

External links

★ Canadian Museum for Human Rights web site

★ Predock Wins Canadian Museum for Human Rights Architectural Design Competition, with illustrations

★ Government of Canada funding announcement - April 17, 2003

★ An address by The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport) Winnipeg, Manitoba April 15, 2005

★ CBC News photo gallery

★ Canadian Museum for Human Rights One Step Closer to Reality (Canadian Heritage Media Release)

★ Charles Coffey, "Creating a Canadian brand for human rights leadership"