Canadian War Museum welcomes millionth visitor
February 14, 2007 |
Canadian War Museum welcomes millionth visitor
Ottawa, February 14, 2007 — The Canadian War Museum marked an important milestone today by celebrating the arrival of its one-millionth visitor since the new museum opened in Ottawa on May 8, 2005. A surprised Chris Hanson was greeted by music, media and Museum staff upon his arrival this morning. The Museum then released a special commemorative booklet, Reflections on the Canadian War Museum.In addition to the warm greeting complete with the rousing sound of bagpipes, Chris Hanson a 32-year-old man from Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC, received a prize package from Joe Geurts, Director and CEO of the CWM. The gift basket contained a limited-edition print of Battle for Carpiquet Airfield, by renowned Canadian Second World War artist Orville Fischer, and an autographed copy of In Search of a Soul: Designing and Realizing the New Canadian War Museum, architect Raymond Moriyama’s account of creating the award-winning facility. The prize also included a one-year membership to the War Museum and its sister museum the Canadian Museum of Civilization, recent War Museum publications and a vase by glass artist Robert Held.
Mr. Geurts commented on this milestone. “When the Canadian War Museum opened in 2005, we never imagined just how popular it would become,” he said. “We owe this remarkable success in part to this magnificent building and to the innovative, engaging experience visitors discover inside. But the most important reason for the Museum’s success is Canadians’ desire to learn more about how war and events in military history have impacted Canada and Canadians.”
The Museum encourages visitors to share their thoughts in writing. “The written comments visitors leave behind tell us that a visit to the Canadian War Museum is a moving, learning experience,” said Geurts. “So, in anticipation of our one-millionth visitor, we decided to publish a selection of their comments in a booklet called Reflections on the Canadian War Museum.”
Many visitors to the Museum leave with a renewed sense of pride in Canada.
The War Museum’s latest attraction, Afghanistan: A Glimpse of War, opened last week to critical acclaim. This compelling exhibition presents Canada’s participation in the war in Afghanistan through personal stories drawn from the chaos of battle and the struggle for peace in a country shattered by years of war. It is on display until January 6, 2008.
Information (media):
Christina Selin
Senior Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819 776-8607
E-mail: christina.selin@warmuseum.ca.
Pierre Leduc
Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: 819 776-8608
E-mail: pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca.
2007-02-14 00:00:00.000
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