Canadian Museum For Human Rights Opening Ceremonies And Gallery Content

A highlight of my experience during the Opening Ceremonies and a sneak peek into the galleries of the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg!

Excitement was in the air Friday morning (September 19th) as guests arrived for the official opening ceremony of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR). I could not have been more excited myself as I arrived on site early to watch the ceremony before my afternoon volunteer shift in the galleries. The ceremony was being broadcasted live on the museum’s website in addition to being shown across the nation on TV. There was a large screen set up outside for a public viewing at the Forks and approximately 800 special guests, dignitaries and stakeholders were invited to the ceremony, reception and sneak peek through the galleries.

With the forecast of imminent rain the decision was made 30 minutes before the start to distribute some 800 umbrellas to the guests, media, staff and volunteers. Since I arrived early I proceeded to help unpack and hand out umbrellas. Soon I found myself participating in the ceremonies as I was asked to hold an umbrella for one of the sign language interpreters. I had a front row spot to the show and truly felt like I was part of the opening ceremonies myself!

The rainy weather could not dampen the mood, and while I felt sore from holding the umbrella for an hour, the sun began to shine for the last 30 minutes. During the ceremony protests could be heard from outside on the street. Security and police were visibly present. The protests were peaceful and emphasized the importance of the museum as a place of dialogue, debate and reflection on past and present human rights issues. The ceremony itself was beautiful. From powerful speeches; particularly the emotional Gail Asper honouring her father’s vision; to wonderful performance by The Tenors, Maria Aragon and Sierra Noble. I stood a mere 15 feet from The Tenors!

It was so fun to be involved in this historic event and see all the media and production cameras running around. If you missed the opening ceremonies broadcast you can find it online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3taV6SXMO7o You will need to skip forward to about 58 minutes for the start of the broadcast. I can be seen quite often standing off to the side holding an umbrella and later on I am standing against the stone wall.

After the ceremonies, and a quick lunch break, I was stationed on the alabaster ramps (fun fact: the alabaster stone is from Spain and the ramp is meant to reflect a path of illumination through your journey) to greet and welcome guests as they walked through the galleries.

Everyone seemed genuinely happy, excited and amazed by what they were seeing! I was greeted with friendly, smiling faces and many Hello/Bonjour’s. I even caught a glimpse of The Tenors taking in the Holocaust gallery. I got the opportunity to roam through the galleries myself and they are looking good! I am really looking forward to seeing the finalized touches and getting up to the top of the Tower of Hope.

During my volunteer training and orientation I have learnt quite a bit about the museum’s architecture and the content of the galleries. Antoine Predock is the architect who designed the museum building. The stone base is meant to represent the roots of the Earth. It welcomes the visitor into the heart of their journey. One of the roots will be home to the outside amphitheatre while the other roots are covered in wild Prairie grass. There is over 1km of ramps inside the building and the dark to light pathway is meant to reflect your spiritual journey through human rights. The large glass windows represents the cloud and houses the galleries. The design symbolizes dove wings (the dove being a symbol of peace). Finally as you ascend through the cloud you will end your journey at the Tower of Hope, a beacon of light for all. The tower is approximately 100m in height (23 stories) and offers a 340 degree view of Winnipeg.

Inside the museum there are ten permanent galleries and one temporary exhibit space. There is a restaurant, gift shop, rental space(s), classrooms, offices and Buhler Hall. Buhler Hall is where you enter and will be welcomed quite literally by the Welcome Wall which contains 24 international languages and 12 indigenous languages. The 750 year old footprint (that was discovered during the archaeological dig conducted before construction) will be on display, as well as a donor wall. The first introductory gallery is What Are Human Rights. This gallery aims to set up the concept of human rights across time and cultures, providing both Canadian and international contexts. The largest feature of this gallery will be the multi-media projection wall that explores different stories and journeys. There will be a human rights timeline of 100 significant events as well as several display cases housing important artifacts. The second introductory gallery is Indigenous Perspectives. The largest feature is the basket theatre that will show a 360 degree, 10 minute film. There is also a ceremonial terrace (with the intention to be used for smudging ceremonies) and many beautiful and symbolic art pieces.

The third, and largest, gallery is Canadian Journeys. This gallery looks at people’s experiences with rights in Canada. The largest feature is the digital canvas that will include 6 video stories and 17 single image stories, along with individual digital kiosks for further exploration. This gallery is also home to several independent alcoves and exhibits focused on different issues. The Lights of Inclusion game is one of the children-friendly features.

The fourth gallery is Protecting Rights in Canada. The largest feature is the debate circle that will allow you to explore 10 different cases and vote on the outcome, comparing your votes to the Supreme Court rulings. This gallery is more focused on the legal perspective in Canada and is home to the living tree and charter wall.

The fifth gallery is Examining the Holocaust. The largest feature is the broken glass theatre. There are monumental display cases of photos and artifacts, along with 3 interpretative text panels.

The sixth gallery is Turning Points for Humanity. This gallery introduces important events, documents and people that made significant transition(s) in the fight for human rights. The largest feature are the big digital books (imagine large tablets) that will allow you to explore different honorary Canadians, issues and events.

The seventh gallery is Breaking the Silence. The largest feature is the study table that allows for multiple users to explore 16 mass atrocities around the world. There are also 5 small carriers that give you the opportunity to investigate personal testimonials. Another significant feature of this gallery is the replica “Bitter Memories of Childhood” statue. The original statue is located in Kiev, Ukraine.

The eighth gallery is Actions Count. This youth-focused gallery highlights young Canadian’s efforts and actions in the field of human rights. The largest feature is the People Who Made A Difference exhibit that features 7 individuals. The “It’s Your Choice” interactive game is the second child-friendly feature. The ninth gallery is Rights Today. This contemporary gallery is internationally-focused and signifies how human rights are always changing. The largest feature is the Human Rights Now interactive map wall that will highlight current events around the world, updated with live tweets and news headlines. There is also an informal theatre that addresses the media impact and influence on human rights and a Everyday Object Array art installation. The tenth gallery is Inspiring Change. This is the last gallery that you will visit and it is focused on the commitment to change in your own community. The largest feature is the People Making Change display case that will highlight the actions of ordinary people who inspired significant change. The eleventh gallery is the Expressions temporary gallery. At the time of opening this space will be home to the Peace Exhibition from the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Lastly, there is the Garden of Contemplation which is designed as a space for reflection and offers access to the Tower of Hope.

I cannot wait to take my own tour once it is open to the public in order to get better acquainted with the content and way finding. I also want to be able to take in everything myself since I have been eagerly awaiting this opening for years!

The opening festivities continued through the weekend of September 20th and 21st, with the Rightsfest (featuring music, art and children’s programming) and the Human Rights Concert Saturday evening. I was unfortunately unable to attend the concert in person but I did watch from home! The Museum is open to the public for general admission September 27th. So if you live in Winnipeg, or are planning a visit, make sure to come by and say hi! We will love to see you. I can likely be found in one of the galleries and could not be prouder to be part of this monumental new museum. Make sure to check out CMHR’s website at http://museumforhumanrights.ca/ for everything you need to know about admission, hours and further general information.

Be inspired.

Stephanie