May 18 is International Museum Day, so we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to showcase some of the great museums where our members work.
The Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg is one of the newest Locals to join the Union of National Employees. Our members there are already hard at work conducting research and preparing exhibits. The museum is set to open in 2014. If you want to take a look at what the museum looks like, you can look at it live via its construction webcams… it looks spectacular!
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is definitely worth a visit – especially if you have kids. The museum is located in Gatineau, just across the river from Ottawa (you can walk there from the Market, very easily, using the Alexandra Bridge). One of the most impressive parts of the museum is its grand hall, which features totem poles and house facades from First Nations on the pacific coast.
If you have more of an artistic penchant, head on over to the National Gallery of Canada; whether you’re into medieval art or contemporary art, you’ll be sure to have a great time. Yes, you’ll find pieces by the Group of Seven, but for something a bit more dramatically Canadian, check out Benjamin West’s The Death of General Wolfe. If you’re looking for something more contemporary, check out Ron Mueck’s Head of a Baby. And finally, there are great photo-ops outside the gallery, among Maman’s eight long legs!
Also close to Ottawa’s downtown is the Canadian War Museum, where, this summer, there will be an exhibition named Peace. The exhibition explores “events and issues that have propelled Canadians to act for peace.” Among its permanent exhibition, visitors will find impressive examples of military technology. There is also a hall that showcases the many ways that Canadians have commemorated fallen soldiers. Finally, take a moment to rest and reflect in the Memorial Hall.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is also a great spot to check out, especially with the kids. Best of all, it’s only a short walk from the UNE’s head office, in Ottawa’s Centretown! The building is impressive; it looks like a castle – and in 1916, it became the emergency headquarters of the Canadian government after a fire engulfed the Parliament buildings. Kids will be sure to love the impressive dinosaur collection and the animalium (those who are scared of tarantulas and other creepy-crawlers, beware!).
Outside of the downtown core, there’s another really cool museum to check out with the kids: the Canadian Science and Technology Museum. Everyone who’s ever been on a school trip to this museum will undoubtedly remember the Crazy Kitchen: a bizarre kitchen that messes up your body’s balance! Hang on to that railing! And yes, there are actual steam locomotives inside the museum!
If you’re in the mood for something a bit more warm and cuddly, check out the Canada Agriculture Museum, where you’ll find pigs, horses, cows… and even Alpacas! There are daily demonstrations that are worth checking out, like cooking with grains, milking a cow and grooming a calf.
Finally, be sure to check out the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. If you’re a bit nerdy, you’ll be happy to hear that, this summer, the museum is hosting an exhibition about Star Wars! But what’s most impressive about the museum is its collection of planes – and just recently, the museum added the Canadarm to its collection.
So next time you’re in Winnipeg or in the National Capital Region, be sure to check out some of the great national museums where our members work!