Canadian War Museum receives major gift to support youth educational programs

MEDIA RELEASE

Ottawa, Ontario, September 5, 2019 — The Friends of the Canadian War Museum has generously given $100,000 to the Canadian War Museum in support of educational programs for the 2019–2020 fiscal year. This is the first year since the organization was established in 1985 that the majority of the Friends’ gift will support projects dedicated to educating the next generation about our military heritage.

“The Friends has supported the Museum in a variety of ways for many years,” said Caroline Dromaguet, Acting Director General of the Canadian War Museum. “Our educational programs are an invaluable way for us to keep youth connected with Canada’s military history, and this gift enables us to continue to share that history in a number of meaningful ways.”

The Friends of the Canadian War Museum was established to support and assist the Museum in its mandate to educate, preserve and remember. The Friends donate their time and expertise through their active involvement in the collection of oral histories, in-gallery visitor interaction, and hands-on restoration projects.

The Friends’ 2019–2020 contribution will further the ability of the Museum to engage and inspire youth at the Museum and all over Canada. Within the walls of the Museum, the donation will support the School Access program, the World at War International Speaker Series and the enhancement of programming materials for in-gallery activities. A portion will also fund the creation of a signature Remembrance Day event for youth groups visiting the Museum.

“The Friends is excited to be participating with the Museum in enhancing understanding of Canada’s military history,” said Commodore (Ret’d) Robert Hamilton, President of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum. “We are especially delighted to make this contribution toward inspiring youth.”

The Friends of the Canadian War Museum is also one of the supporters of the soon-to-be-launched Second World War Discovery Boxes to schools throughout the country. This is a new addition to the Museum’s highly successful Supply Line travelling educational program, available free of charge to Canadian schools, following the launch of the First World War Discovery Box in 2014. The Supply Line Discovery Boxes provide students with hands-on curriculum-linked materials, complete with authentic artifacts and reproduction objects, for in-class exploration.

About the Canadian War Museum

The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada’s military history in its personal, national, and international dimensions. Work of the Canadian War Museum is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

About the Friends of the Canadian War Museum

The Friends of the Canadian War Museum is a federally incorporated registered charity that contributes volunteer expertise, knowledge and financial assistance to promote and support the Museum, its programs and its activities. Find out more at http://www.friends-amis.org.

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Media contacts:

Avra Gibbs Lamey
Senior Communications and Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819-776-8607
avra.gibbs-lamey@warmuseum.ca

Bob Argent
Friends of the Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819-776-8618
Email: reargent82@gmail.com