CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2008 | 2009 CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION CORPORATION CANADIAN MUSEUM OF Civilization 100 Laurier Street Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M8 www.civilization.ca CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM 1 Vimy Place Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M8 www.warmuseum.ca Information and Services: 819.776.7000 / 1.800.555.5621 Teletype (TTY): 819.776.7003 Group Reservations: 819.776.7014 Facility Rentals: 819.776.7018 Membership: 819.776.7100 Volunteers: 819.776.7011 Financial Support for the Corporation: 819.776.7016 Publications: 819.776.8387 Cyberboutique: www.civilization.ca Friends of the Canadian War Museum: 819.776.8618 Published by Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Publishing Cover photos: Steven Darby, IMG2008-0663-0001-Dm and IMG2009-0123-0001-Dm Design by: greenmelon inc. Cat. no. NM20-1/2009E-PDF ISBN 978-1-100-12256-4 ISSN 1495-1886 © CMCC TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 4 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO 6 HIGHLIGHTS 8 CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION CORPORATION 11 Mandate 12 Guiding Principles 12 Corporate Governance 13 Objectives and Achievements 17 Operations 22 Human Resources 24 Marketing 26 IMAX® Theatre 27 Partners and Donors 28 CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION 33 Exhibitions 34 Collections 40 Research 45 Public Programs 47 Communication of Knowledge 52 Public Affairs 54 CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM 55 Exhibitions 56 Collections 60 Research 63 Public Programs 64 Communication of Knowledge 67 Public Affairs 69 DONORS AND SPONSORS 71 MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 83 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 87 4 CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION CORPORATION MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR In uncertain and turbulent times — the was presented in Beijing, China, during the economy, the conflict in Afghanistan — there 2008 Summer Olympic Games, exposing an is something uniquely reassuring about a walk international audience to the history, diversity through our national museums of human and and creativity of Canada’s First Peoples. military history. By telling the story of Canada This exhibition — the largest and most and its people from earliest times to the present comprehensive of its kind ever sent abroad by day, our Museums remind us of our resilience the Museum — is now on a three-continent tour. and tenacity as a country, and of our ability as First Peoples of Canada was developed and Canadians to overcome the most daunting presented in conjunction with the Olympics at challenges, be they rooted in our climate, our the invitation of the National Museum of China, geography or caused by human activity. Beijing. That invitation (and the current tour) not History museums cannot cure our troubles, of only bespeaks worldwide interest in the cultures course, but they can put them in perspective. of Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples, but also testifies They can also greatly aid our understanding of to the international reputation of the Canadian what is happening, how it came to be, and what Museum of Civilization. might happen next. And they can help us to On behalf of the Board, I offer my sincerest learn what can be achieved when great congratulations to the Museum and its staff. societies persevere. As you will read in this report, our Museums APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD continue to do an exemplary job of preserving As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I have and presenting the remarkable story of Canada had the pleasure this year of welcoming for the benefit of all Canadians, thereby six new members appointed by the contributing to our sense of national identity. Governor-in-Council, including the new They serve us well. Vice-Chair, André E. Audet. Mr. Audet has extensive experience in the financial sector National AND International and a long association with the arts. OUTREACH The other new Trustees are: Linda Cardinal, a The primary focus of activity for both the Professor in the School of Political Studies at the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum University of Ottawa; Duncan Dee, a marketing remains the National Capital Region, where and communications specialist; Ken Langille, a their artifact collections and permanent galleries former Deputy Mayor of New Glasgow, Nova reside. With the encouragement and support of Scotia; Ruth Ramsden-Wood, President of the our Board of Trustees, however, both Museums United Way of Calgary and Area; and Laurie will expand on their strong tradition of reaching M. Watson, president of a communications out to other parts of the country, and other parts company specializing in marketing, investor of the world, to bring the stories of Canada and relations and corporate communications. its people to a wider audience. Elsewhere in this report you will find more One initiative that merits special mention detailed profiles of all our Trustees. I thank them this year was First Peoples of Canada: for their service thus far, and look forward to Masterworks from the Canadian Museum their contributions in the year ahead. of Civilization. This beautiful exhibition ANNUAL REPORT 2008 | 2009 5 VALUABLE AND Relevant Also in 2008, Canada as a whole, and Quebec residents in particular, celebrated the 400th Our overriding objective under the anniversary of the founding of the City of Corporation’s current corporate plan is to make Québec. It was a joyous and momentous the Museums ever more valuable and relevant occasion. The Canadian Museum of Civilization to Canadians. I am pleased to note continuing contributed significantly to the celebration progress towards the achievement of that goal. by presenting two special exhibitions: Heart You will find evidence of this throughout this and Soul: Quebec Folk Art and Jamestown, document; however, I would like to cite two Québec, Santa Fe: Three North American accomplishments in particular. Beginnings. On November 11, 2008, Canada marked the On March 26, 2009, I had the pleasure of 90th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice. A major attending the awards dinner at the Canadian documentary by the National Film Board, Museums Association annual conference in marking this event, premiered the night before Toronto, Ontario. Sylvie Morel, former Vice at the Canadian War Museum, with the Governor President of Exhibitions and Programs for the General in attendance. The Museum was also Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation among the film’s sponsors. This shows how the (CMCC), received an Award of Distinguished War Museum is serving Canadians, not only Service for her 35 years of service to the CMCC through its collections and exhibition galleries, and to Canadians. Her example is a testament but also as a national venue and facilitator for to the kind of devotion the CMCC inspires and informed discussion of military affairs, past and so, on behalf of the Board, I congratulate all present. It is a vital role, especially in these members of staff and management on another difficult times. successful year. Fredrik S. Eaton, O.C., O. Ont. 6 CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION CORPORATION MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO Twenty years ago, the Canadian Museum of Civilization curators also received honours for their Civilization welcomed the first visitor to its work, as described on pages 9 and 10). dramatic complex on the northern bank of the These awards bring much-deserved attention to Ottawa River, across from Parliament Hill. Since the quality of scholarship demonstrated by staff at then, more than 26 million visitors have passed both our Museums. Their research and expertise through our doors — a number almost equivalent is reflected in our exhibitions, publications and to Canada’s total population. website, and is well recognized in academic and With every success comes the search for further professional circles. improvements. And this year, our results have been reinforced not only by solid attendance, but also PartnersHIPS AND OUTREACH by numerous awards and accolades received by There is a longstanding corporate commitment members of our staff. to reach beyond our Museums’ home base in While we work with great energy as a corporate the National Capital Region, in order to make team to continually improve operations at the our artifacts, exhibitions and expertise more Museum of Civilization and the War Museum, accessible to Canadians in their own communities, we are still thrilled every time we reach an and to foreign audiences in their own locales. important milestone or gain new recognition. A new initiative was launched last year with Such achievements underline how important our the travelling exhibition, Acres of Dreams: two museums are to Canadians, and attest to Settling the Canadian Prairies. It began a the quality of our exhibitions, national collections, national tour with presentations in St-Constant curatorial research and public programs. (QC), Medicine Hat (AB), and Halifax (NS). Acres of Dreams has been specially created for the A YEAR OF HONOURS purpose of travelling, and was designed for The Canadian War Museum received a notable flexible installation in different types and sizes honour in 2008, when its groundbreaking of museum settings. This reflects a new priority exhibition, Afghanistan: A Glimpse of War, identified by our Corporation’s Trustees which was recognized with an Award of Outstanding will result in significant efforts to make more Achievement in Exhibitions from the Canadian top-quality shows available across the country. Museums Association. Following its highly Exhibition exchanges can operate in both successful presentation at the War Museum (which directions, as can be seen especially in our was extended to meet popular demand), we international partnerships. This past year, we re-designed the exhibition and it has begun to were able once again to host some exceptional travel to other locations across the country, starting presentations informing Canadians about at The Rooms in St. John’s, Newfoundland. This events and cultures beyond our borders and, in award is another “first” for the War Museum. some cases, before our time. These included The Canadian Museum of Civilization was the important and haunting exhibition, Deadly honoured with several major awards for members Medicine: Creating the Master Race, an of its staff.