National museums of Canada
Encyclopedia
National museums of Canada (NMC) is the corporation name of the National Gallery of Canada
, the Canadian Museum of Civilization
, Canadian Museum of Nature
and the National Museum of Science and Technology
. Also within the corporation umbrella are the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Museum Assistance Program, The National Museum Library, and other miscellaneous museum and administrative offices. The NMC Corporation is operated by four Crown corporations, established on July 1, 1990, by the Museums Act (1990): The National Gallery of Canada Corporation, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, the Canadian Museum of Nature Corporation, and the National Museum of Science and Technology Corporation (now the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation).
authorized the Geological Survey of Canada to establish a Geological Museum in Montreal
(then the capital of the province). After a later move to Ottawa, the scope of this museum gradually expanded until the National Museum of Canada was officially created from what was then the Museum Branch of the federal Department of Mines on January 5, 1927. From April 1, 1968, the newly-created National Museums of Canada Corporation operated four museums, until 1990 when the four present corporations came into being.
Pier 21
was jointly opened in Halifax, Nova Scotia
by the Government of Canada
, Pier 21 Society, Pier 21 Foundation and the Halifax Port Authority
in 1999 and operated mostly as a non-profit site. As of February 2011, this museum became known henceforth as the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and so there are now six national museums in Canada. This is the second national museum not within the National Capital Region. The other five Canadian National museums are
(CMHR) was estimated to be constructed for CA$100 million in 2007 and projected to open in 2011 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred in December 2008.
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
, the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
, Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Museum of Nature
The Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its collections, which were started by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1856, include all aspects of the intersection of human society and nature, from gardening to gene-splicing...
and the National Museum of Science and Technology
Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway .-Mission:...
. Also within the corporation umbrella are the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Museum Assistance Program, The National Museum Library, and other miscellaneous museum and administrative offices. The NMC Corporation is operated by four Crown corporations, established on July 1, 1990, by the Museums Act (1990): The National Gallery of Canada Corporation, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, the Canadian Museum of Nature Corporation, and the National Museum of Science and Technology Corporation (now the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation).
History
The concept of a national museum in Canada had its beginnings on May 16, 1856 when the government of the Province of CanadaProvince of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
authorized the Geological Survey of Canada to establish a Geological Museum in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(then the capital of the province). After a later move to Ottawa, the scope of this museum gradually expanded until the National Museum of Canada was officially created from what was then the Museum Branch of the federal Department of Mines on January 5, 1927. From April 1, 1968, the newly-created National Museums of Canada Corporation operated four museums, until 1990 when the four present corporations came into being.
Pier 21
Pier 21
Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal, is Canada's National Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia.It operated as an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971 and became an immigration museum in 1999. Pier 21 is Canada's last remaining ocean immigration shed...
was jointly opened in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
by the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
, Pier 21 Society, Pier 21 Foundation and the Halifax Port Authority
Halifax Port Authority
The Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
in 1999 and operated mostly as a non-profit site. As of February 2011, this museum became known henceforth as the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and so there are now six national museums in Canada. This is the second national museum not within the National Capital Region. The other five Canadian National museums are
- Canada Science and Technology MuseumCanada Science and Technology MuseumThe Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway .-Mission:...
which encompasses the Canada Agriculture MuseumCanada Agriculture MuseumThe Canada Agriculture Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, houses a modern working farm. Its purpose is to illustrate how advances in farming science and technology have transformed the lives of Canadians...
as well as the Canada Aviation MuseumCanada Aviation MuseumThe Canada Aviation and Space Museum is Canada's national aviation history museum. The museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at the Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport... - Canadian Museum of NatureCanadian Museum of NatureThe Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its collections, which were started by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1856, include all aspects of the intersection of human society and nature, from gardening to gene-splicing...
(Was formerly named the National Museum of Natural Sciences) - Canadian Museum of CivilizationCanadian Museum of CivilizationThe Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
which encompasses the Canadian War MuseumCanadian War MuseumThe Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
(This Canadian Museum of Civilization was formerly named the National Museum of Man) - National Gallery of CanadaNational Gallery of CanadaThe National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
which encompasses the Canadian Museum of Contemporary PhotographyCanadian Museum of Contemporary PhotographyThe Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography is an gallery of Canada's best art and documentary photography. Founded in 1985 and affiliated to the National Gallery of Canada, it is housed at the National Gallery of Canada, located at 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.The roots of the collection reach... - Canadian Museum for Human RightsCanadian Museum for Human RightsThe Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a national museum currently under construction in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the historic Forks where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet...
which has had its ground breaking ceremony.
Future
The Canadian National Human Rights MuseumCanadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a national museum currently under construction in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the historic Forks where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet...
(CMHR) was estimated to be constructed for CA$100 million in 2007 and projected to open in 2011 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred in December 2008.