Rebecca Watson, Author at Manitoba Museum

Organization Summary:

The Manitoba Museum is the province’s award-winning heritage and science centre. It is unique in its combination of human and natural history themes and renowned for its vivid portrayal of Manitoba’s rich and colourful history, Planetarium shows, and Science Gallery exhibits. The Museum features immersive dioramas, multi-dimensional interpretation, science and astronomy education, and quality school and community programs. The Museum has collected and protects over 2.8 million artifacts and specimens, including the Hudson’s Bay Company Museum Collection.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Manager of School & Public Programs, the Learning Facilitator (Museum Galleries) delivers in-person and virtual interpretive programs on themes related to the Museum in both English and French and assists in other public program events for the general public, especially school children and organized groups. The incumbent must exercise initiative and independent judgment in working with the Museum’s various audiences while maintaining an energetic and lively approach. The incumbent must be able to work with minimal supervision and be available for weekday, weekend, and evening work. Fluency in English and French is a requirement for this position.

Salary/Rate:

The wage for this position is $19.01 per hour.

Conditions of Employment:

Child Abuse Registry Check
Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a resume including a cover letter and your availability to:

Manager of Volunteer & Employee Relations
Manitoba Museum
190 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0N2
HR@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Fax: 204-942-3679

The Manitoba Museum is committed to inclusion and employment equity and welcomes diversity in the workplace. The Manitoba Museum recognizes the importance of building a workforce reflective of the visitors it serves. Therefore, the Manitoba Museum supports equitable employment practices and promotes representation of designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities).

Employment Equity is a factor in selection for this position. Consideration will be given to Indigenous people, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities. All applicants are encouraged to self-identify if they are members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities) in their application.

This document is available in other formats and accommodations will be provided throughout the selection process upon request. Contact Human Resources at 204-956-2830 if you have an accommodation request.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for interviews will be contacted. We are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications submitted via Fax or mail.

Job Description

Pay Group: 3

General

Reporting to the Manager of School & Public Programs, the Learning Facilitator (Museum Galleries) delivers in-person and virtual interpretive programs on themes related to the Museum and assists in other public program events for the general public and organized groups. The incumbent must exercise initiative and independent judgment in working with the Museum’s various audiences while maintaining an energetic and lively approach. They must be able to work with minimal supervision and be available for weekday, weekend, and evening work. Fluency in English and French is a requirement of this position.

A criminal record with a vulnerable sector check and child abuse registry check will be required of the successful candidate.

Key Accountabilities & Typical Duties:

Priority 1: Interpretive Ambassador (55%)

To create a positive visitor experience by engaging, providing a proactive interpretive presence and ensuring visitors’ safe, educational, and orderly interaction with Museum exhibits and programs.

Deliver booked in-person and virtual interpretive programs for the institution’s school and general public audience as per the daily schedule.
Perform all other ongoing functions related to program operation.
Answer inquiries from and provide information to the general public on all Museum programs, exhibits, and activities.
Learn pertinent information on departmental programs, permanent galleries, and temporary exhibits as required.

Priority 2: Program Maintenance (15%)

To assist in ensuring the functional operations of Museum programs and exhibits.

Setting up and taking down furniture, equipment, specimens, artifacts, and other program materials; operating A/V equipment daily according to programs scheduled.
Ensuring sufficient supply inventory for specific programs as assigned.
Other duties as reasonably assigned.

Priority 3: Internal Customer Service (10%)

To provide support for volunteers, other front-line staff, and upper-level teams to ensure a quality visitor experience.

Provide training and support of new staff and/or interns, as well as train, evaluate, and support Museum Gallery volunteers.
On weekends, schedule and supervise volunteers to ensure optimum program and exhibit coverage, and report on volunteer attendance and issues that may arise to managers.
Supporting and liaising with rental staff for special events.
Provide feedback and input to other staff and upper-level teams regarding the Museum’s programs, exhibits, and activities.
Researching program content and liaising with curatorial staff for exhibit or program content as needed.

Priority 4: Other

Other duties as reasonably assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Demonstrated skills in public speaking and program delivery.
Experience with digital technology for filming and streaming virtual programs.
Ability to communicate effectively including the talent to present programs and demonstrations efficiently and enthusiastically to a wide range of age and interest groups.
Capability to sense the dramatic nature of a presentation and respond to it appropriately during a performance.
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact effectively with staff, volunteers, and the general public.
Knowledge of the Natural History and/or Human History of Manitoba.
Ability to perform basic research.
Ability to work in an organized manner, both independently and in a team environment.
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Education, Training, and Experience

Grade XII education,
Fluency in both official languages (French / English) is required, and
At least one year of experience working with and presenting to the public, especially school children, or
Equivalent combination of education and experience.

This is a permanent part-time position beginning as soon as possible. Fluency in both official languages is required. The incumbent will report to the Manager of School & Public Programs. The wage is $19.01 per hour. Flexible availability for 3-5 full day shifts on weekdays, weekends, and occasional evening shifts is essential.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit your resume including a cover letter and availability to:

Manager of Volunteer & Employee Relations
Manitoba Museum
190 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0N2
HR@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Fax: 204-942-3679

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for interviews will be contacted. We are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications submitted via Fax or mail.

Organization Summary:

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Manager of School & Public Programs, the Learning Facilitator (Museum Galleries) delivers in-person and virtual interpretive programs on themes related to the Museum in both English and French, and assists in other public program events for the general public and organized groups. The incumbent must exercise initiative and independent judgment in working with the Museum’s various audiences while maintaining an energetic and lively approach. The incumbent must be able to work with minimal supervision and be available for weekday, weekend, and evening work. Fluency in English and French is a requirement of this position.

Salary/Rate:

The pay for this position begins at $19.01 per hour.

Conditions of Employment:

Child Abuse Registry Check
Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a resume including a cover letter and your availability to:

Manager of Volunteer & Employee Relations
Manitoba Museum
190 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0N2
HR@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Fax: 204-942-3679

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for interviews will be contacted. We are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications submitted via Fax or mail.

Job Description

Pay Group: 3

General

Reporting to the Manager of School & Public Programs, the Learning Facilitator (Museum Galleries) delivers in-person and virtual interpretive programs on themes related to the Museum and assists in other public program events for the general public and organized groups. The incumbent must exercise initiative and independent judgment in working with the Museum’s various audiences while maintaining an energetic and lively approach. They must be able to work with minimal supervision and be available for weekday, weekend, and evening work. Fluency in English and French is a requirement of this position.

A criminal record with a vulnerable sector check and child abuse registry check will be required of the successful candidate.

Key Accountabilities & Typical Duties:

Priority 1: Interpretive Ambassador (55%)

To create a positive visitor experience by engaging, providing a proactive interpretive presence and ensuring visitors’ safe, educational, and orderly interaction with Museum exhibits and programs.

Deliver booked in-person and virtual interpretive programs for the institution’s school and general public audience as per the daily schedule.
Perform all other ongoing functions related to program operation.
Answer inquiries from and provide information to the general public on all Museum programs, exhibits and activities.
Learn pertinent information on departmental programs, permanent galleries, and temporary exhibits as required.

Priority 2: Program Maintenance (15%)

To assist in ensuring the functional operations of Museum programs and exhibits.

Setting up and taking down furniture, equipment, specimens, artifacts, and other program materials; operating A/V equipment daily according to programs scheduled.
Ensuring sufficient supply inventory for specific programs as assigned.
Other duties as reasonably assigned.

Priority 3: Internal Customer Service (10%)

To provide support for volunteers, other front-line staff and upper-level teams to ensure a quality visitor experience.

Provide training and support of new staff and/or interns, as well as train, evaluate, and support Museum Gallery volunteers.
On weekends, schedule and supervise volunteers to ensure optimum program and exhibit coverage, and report on volunteer attendance and issues that may arise to managers.
Supporting and liaising with rental staff for special events.
Provide feedback and input to other staff and upper-level teams regarding the Museum’s programs, exhibits, and activities.
Researching program content and liaising with curatorial staff for exhibit or program content as needed.

Priority 4: Other

Other duties as reasonably assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Demonstrated skills in public speaking and program delivery.
Experience with digital technology for filming and streaming virtual programs.
Ability to communicate effectively including the talent to present programs and demonstrations efficiently and enthusiastically to a wide range of age and interest groups.
Capability to sense the dramatic nature of a presentation and respond to it appropriately during a performance.
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact effectively with staff, volunteers, and the general public.
Knowledge of the Natural History and/or Human History of Manitoba.
Ability to perform basic research.
Ability to work in an organized manner, both independently and in a team environment.
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Education, Training, and Experience

Grade XII education, and
At least one-year experience working with and presenting to the public, or
Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Fluency in both official languages (French / English) required.

This is a Full-Time term position, working Tuesday to Saturday, beginning as soon as possible for a 12 month term, with possibility of extension. Fluency in both official languages is required. The incumbent will report to the Manager of School & Public Programs. The pay begins at $19.01 per hour. Weekend and occasional evening availability is essential.

Applications will be received until until the position is filled. Please submit your resume including cover letter and availability to:

Manager of Volunteer & Employee Relations
Manitoba Museum
190 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0N2
HR@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Fax: 204-942-3679

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for interviews will be contacted. We are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications submitted via Fax or mail.

Posted on: Monday January 13, 2025

Hello Manitoba Museum friends,

Happiest New Year. I wish you and your loved ones much joy in the year ahead.

I reflected over the winter holidays on the many changes we’ve made at the Museum in recent years. It’s been an intense and intentional period of transformation. In an organization’s life cycle, there are varying periods of operations; steady, growth, or decline. Occasionally, when an organization faces intense internal or external pressures, incremental changes aren’t enough. It must make an evolutionary leap. That’s what we’ve done at the Manitoba Museum over the last few years. We leapt. Our evolutionary leap has meant:

Redefining our raison dêtre – reason for being,
Recognizing, with gratitude and humility, that the ways in which we were operating no longer served our future,
Renewing our vision and calling upon the courage needed to become something significantly different, and
Releasing our grip on what was so that we could become a museum which not only honoured and continuously reexamined the past, but also one that would take meaningful actions to shape the future.

When an evolutionary leap takes place, the organization will either transform and realize a viable future, or it will miss the mark and face possible decline.

The Manitoba Museum bravely chose to change, work which will continue for many years to come. Thankfully, our efforts have been warmly welcomed by our communities, generously supported by donors, enjoyed by Members, and appreciated by partners, collaborators, and co-creators.

An important example of how we’ve changed is the implementation of a very important policy; the Indigenous Complimentary Admission Policy. Since actively promoting this policy in 2021 and working to strengthen our relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, over 60,000 Indigenous visitors have come to the Manitoba Museum to connect and reconnect with their own heritages, histories, artifacts, and stories.

There is perhaps no stronger example of the impact of our efforts to exist in the service of our communities than these new and renewed relationships.

Why is complimentary admission for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples important, you might ask?

I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to answer this question.

Indigenous Complimentary Admission at the Manitoba Museum

In alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Manitoba Museum proudly offers complimentary admission to all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis visitors. This initiative reflects a deep commitment to reconciliation, cultural revitalization, and the reclamation of knowledge and language.

Reconciliation in Action

The TRC’s Calls to Action urge institutions across Canada to take meaningful steps toward healing and repairing relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. For the Manitoba Museum, providing complimentary access is a tangible response to these calls, embodying the principles of respect, inclusivity, and acknowledgment of the profound contributions of Indigenous cultures and histories.

Similarly, UNDRIP emphasizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to maintain, develop, and share their cultural heritage. By opening its doors to Indigenous visitors at no cost, the Museum acknowledges its role in supporting these rights and creating an environment where Indigenous voices, stories, and traditions can flourish.

Photograph of the Treaty Number 6 handshake medal. A circular medal portraying a representative of England shaking hands with an Indigenous leader. They stand on grassy ground in front of tipis and the rising sun. Text around the edge of the medal reads, “Indian Treaty No. 6 / 1876”.

A Shared Commitment to Cultural Revitalization

The Manitoba Museum recognizes the unique relationship it holds with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. For generations, the Museum has been a repository of artifacts, stories, and histories that bear witness to the vibrant cultures and resilience of Indigenous communities. Indigenous Complimentary Admission strengthens this relationship by actively supporting the practice and revitalization of cultural traditions—past, present, and future. Moreover, complimentary access also acknowledges the Museum’s problematic role in colonialism. The forced removal of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artifacts, knowledge, and stories in order to fill the collections vaults at museums globally has robbed Indigenous communities of their own cultures. The Manitoba Museum is in the process of conducting a thorough assessment of its collections to determine their provenance – the record of an object’s origins and ownership over time. Repatriation, rematriation, and complimentary access are all steps the Manitoba Museum is taking to right these historic wrongs.

Through access to exhibitions, programming, and educational resources, Indigenous visitors can engage with artifacts and narratives that resonate with their heritage. This access facilitates the transmission of Indigenous histories, languages, oral traditions, ceremonies, technologies, skills, philosophies, writing systems, and literature to current and future generations.

Image: This Treaty No. 6 Medal, first presented to Chief Red Pheasant on Aug. 28, 1876, came to the attention of the Manitoba Museum’s former curator, Katherine Pettipas, in 2002. The medal was acquired by the Museum in 1994 as part of a large donation of over 25,000 artifacts in the Hudson’s Bay Company Museum Collection. Records and oral history indicate that in 1885 an Indian Agent removed it from the possession of Chief Red Pheasant. Pettipas contacted Red Pheasant Cree Nation to initiate the repatriation of the medal to the Community, and in July 2019 Red Pheasant Chief and Council formally requested the repatriation of the medal. Director of Research and Collections, Seema Hollenberg worked with Chief Clint Wuttunee and the Band Council to returned to Red Pheasant Cree Nation, which occurred at Treaty Days on July 3, 2019.

An Anti-Colonial Stance

Providing complimentary admission to Indigenous visitors is more than a policy; it is a conscious anti-colonial act. By challenging barriers to access and welcoming inclusivity, the Museum rejects colonial practices that have historically excluded or marginalized First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Instead, it creates opportunities for empowerment and self-determination, affirming the centrality of Indigenous perspectives in understanding Manitoba’s shared history.

A pair of mid-calf high moccasins with floral beadwork. On the shin of the boot are orange flowers with green leaves, and on the top of the foot are red and black flowers with green leaves.

Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future

The Manitoba Museum’s commitment to Indigenous Complimentary Admission is a step forward in its ongoing journey of reconciliation and partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It reflects a profound respect for the past and a dedication to inspiring discovery, learning, and connection for generations to come.

This initiative underscores the Museum’s belief in the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of sharing stories that shape our collective identity. By welcoming Indigenous visitors into its spaces, the Museum honours the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that define Manitoba and reaffirms its pledge to uphold the values of reconciliation and respect.

Removing Barriers to Connection

It is vital that the Manitoba Museum continues to remove any and all barriers faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in reconnecting with and experiencing their own cultures and histories. As an institution founded on colonial principles, the Museum acknowledges the need for definitive and direct action to change this reality. The Museum also recognizes that many artifacts held within its collection were not always acquired freely, fairly, or with proper compensation. Coercion, oppression, and systemically imposed policies resulting in poverty forced the hands of many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to engage in trade and commercial relationships that exploited them.

Image © Manitoba Museum, H4-2-527

We cannot change the past, but we are responsible for changing the future. By providing accessible opportunities for cultural engagement and education, the Museum takes responsibility for its role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

Thank you for your support as we undertake this important work.

Sincerely,

Dorota Blumczyńska
Manitoba Museum CEO

Is the Manitoba Museum an independent organization?

Yes, the Manitoba Museum is an independent legal entity guided by its mandate, mission, vision, and values in its service to Manitobans. Unlike many museums in other provinces across Canada, the Manitoba Museum is not an arm of the government, nor a department or crown corporation.

The Manitoba Museum is a not-for-profit organization with charitable status. It is governed by a Board of sixteen volunteers who set the organization’s strategic priorities, approve Board policies and procedures, and provide judicious oversight of the Museum’s resources. The Museum is led by CEO Dorota Blumczyńska, who determines day-to-day operations including the implementation of the Complimentary Admissions Policy.

Posted on: Friday January 10, 2025

Image, above: Visitors can experience a cougar and its skeleton up close and can experience the amazing journey of SK10 through maps and trail cam images. Explore the life of cougars through touchable paw prints, scat, and cougar screams and purrs. ©Manitoba Museum

The Manitoba Museum has a brand-new, permanent exhibit, and we invite visitors to pounce on the chance to see this exciting addition to our Museum Galleries. “The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat” is an extraordinarily in-depth look at one of the most enigmatic creatures to roam our province.

“The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat” is unique because it tells the story of one cougar, known as SK-10. In the spring of 2010, a cougar was born in Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills. When he was just over one year old, he was given an ear tag, labeled SK-10, and fitted with a satellite tracking collar as part of a study by the University of Alberta. This study would reveal his remarkable 10-year journey through the prairies.

Face on view of a taxidermized cougar skin. The cougar is wearing a tracking collar and prowling through tall grasses.

Have a staring competition with SK10 while experiencing the travels and lives of cougars in Manitoba. ©Manitoba Museum

Discover the inner workings of a cougar with a close-up look at its skeleton and understand how it is one of Manitoba’s most impressive predators. ©Manitoba Museum

SK-10 was destined to wander, but he traveled farther than any other cougar documented in the study. In just 100 days, he covered an astounding 750 kilometers, roaming through Montana before reaching Moose Mountain in Saskatchewan. His tracking collar malfunctioned that spring, but SK-10’s journey was far from over. From 2016 to 2018, he reappeared, caught on trail cameras in Riding Mountain National Park—a rare park visitor! He had traveled another 300 kilometers, reaching his final stop near Duck Mountain, where, in early February 2020, SK-10 was found accidentally caught in a legal coyote snare. This is where his journey to the Manitoba Museum began.

The Museum partners with Manitoba Wildlife officials and the Assiniboine Park Zoo to study and preserve any accidentally killed cougars. Placing the skin and skeleton in a museum gives the animal a second life of sorts, a lasting legacy by making it available for scientific study to better understand cougars in Manitoba and to tell their story to the public.

The skeleton of SK10 being mounted for exhibit. Each bone sits in a unique cradle that permits removal for later research. ©Manitoba Museum

SK10 arrives at the Museum from the taxidermist in April 2022. There is still a lot of work to get the cougar and its skeleton ready for exhibit. ©Manitoba Museum

The taxidermy mount and skeleton of the cougar are placed in the exhibit through a sealed back door to prevent damage from pests and dirt. ©Manitoba Museum

Because SK-10’s story is so extraordinary, the Manitoba Museum was determined to bring it to visitors as a permanent feature of the Parklands Gallery. “The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat” is an incredible and unique look at the inner-workings of this powerful predator, providing a glimpse of cougar life in Manitoba.

Plan your visit today!

Dr. Randy Mooi

Curator of Zoology

Dr. Mooi received his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Toronto working on the evolutionary history of coral reef fishes. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Fishes of the Smithsonian Institution…

Meet Dr. Randy Mooi

Posted on: Friday December 13, 2024

The Manitoba Museum is a place of discovery, and not only for our visitors! Our Curators travel far and wide to acquire specimens and artifacts for the Museum’s collection. Some of these objects eventually end up on display in our galleries, while others may be significant for scientific research. Some even turn out to be new species.

A large, colourful screen shows animations of a variety of extinct marine life forms. Below the screen are small cases, text, and graphics.

Alongside a large, animated sea scape, you can see a selection of 450-million-year-old fossils of organisms that once inhabited Manitoba in the Earth History Gallery, Ancient Seas Exhibit. ©Manitoba Museum

This past summer, our Curator of Palaeontology and Geology made some spectacular fossil discoveries near Churchill and Grand Rapids, including at least one never-before-seen extinct species. Back at the Museum, these specimens will be carefully prepared under the microscope, removing overlying rock to tease out secrets hidden in stone. Then, they can be studied and shared through publications and exhibits with the scientific community and the public.

These polar bears interrupted us while collecting an important fossil specimen along the coast near Churchill. Fortunately, we were able to enjoy the photo opportunity and return to collect the specimen once the coast was clear. ©Michael Cuggy

A freshly split rock surface showing a specimen of Lunataspis aurora, the oldest known horseshoe crab. The species was first found in northern Manitoba and described by Manitoba Museum researchers and colleagues in 2008. The specimen is about 4 cm long. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk

Modern horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, gathering on the shores of Long Island, New York, to reproduce. ©Joseph Moysiuk

Fossil deposits in northern Manitoba are of global scientific significance and Manitoba Museum researchers have been at the forefront in their discovery and study. These fossils are remarkable for their quality of preservation – even traces of soft organisms like jellyfish and seaweeds have been preserved. The rock layers date back to about 450 million years ago, a time long before the dinosaurs when Manitoba was covered by a shallow, tropical sea.

Dr. Joe Moysiuk, Curator of Palaeontology and Geology (front) and a colleague making the discovery of the new sea scorpion. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk

A new species of eurypterid (sea scorpion) discovered this past summer, showing the head at left and segmented body to the right. So far this is the only specimen known and the largest sea scorpion that has been found in Manitoba. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk

Few other places in the world preserve such a remarkable record of this time period, and the Manitoba Museum is the only place you can see specimens from these sites on exhibit.

Dr. Joe Moysiuk

Curator of Palaeontology & Geology

Joe Moysiuk recently completed his doctoral dissertation at the University of Toronto and Royal Ontario Museum. His expertise centers on the oldest animal fossils and insights they provide about the evolution…

Meet Dr. Joe Moysiuk

Posted on: Thursday December 12, 2024

Promotional graphic for the Manitoba Museum's Bead-A-Thon event on Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 10 am to 3 pm. Digital art in a floral beadwork-like pattern branches around the right side of the graphic.

Treaty No. 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba: December 12, 2024 – The Manitoba Museum is ringing in the new year with their first ever Bead-A-Thon, hosted by renowned Métis beadwork artist Jennine Krauchi and the Manitoba Museum’s Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement, Tashina Houle-Schlup.

Taking place Sunday, January 5 from 10 am to 3 pm in the Museum’s Alloway Hall, the Bead-a-Thon will include a day of mini ‘learn-to-stitch’ tutorials, an ‘Artist Open Mic’, and food vendors such as Indigenous, woman-owned businesses Sharecuterie and Anishinaa-Bakes. Attendees will also enjoy pop-up visits from the stunning historical beadwork found in the Museum collection.

“This event is inspired by the grandmothers – the ancestral belongings of the Museum collection. These are works of art that were designed, stitched, beaded, quilled, and sewn by Indigenous women throughout history. Several of these beautiful pieces will be shared with Bead-A-Thon participants at three separate times throughout the day to help fuel their inspiration for their own beadwork,” said Tashina Houle-Schlup, Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement at the Museum.

The Bead-a-Thon is an opportunity for beaders of all experience levels to enjoy time with community to share, learn, and bead together. Whether you’re an experienced beader, a keen learner, or have never held a needle, this fundraising event welcomes all to share skills, meet new people, and connect on a personal level with ancestral belongings cared for by the Museum.

“As the Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement at the Museum, I often see numerous artists visiting the grandmothers in our collections to examine the materials used, take measurements, and, most importantly, connect with these significant works. This event aims to extend that access to others seeking to connect with their Indigeneity. Additionally, it offers an opportunity for non-Indigenous members of our diverse community to learn more about Indigenous people and cultures, thus fostering an appreciation for our rich history and beautiful way of life,” said Houle-Schlup.

Tickets are on sale now on a ‘pay what you can afford’ scale and a 50/50 draw will close out the day. This inaugural fundraiser will support the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All program which offers a wide array of community initiatives including free admission on First Fridays, subsidized supplies and workshop fees for the Museum’s Indigenous art workshop series, and complimentary field trips for children from every corner of Manitoba.

To learn more and to purchase tickets for the Bead-a-Thon click here.

-XXX-

Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Posted on: Monday December 9, 2024

Charitable giving isn’t about charity, it’s about community.

I often think back to my childhood after we arrived in Canada. It wasn’t quite as expected. Starting over in a new country, not knowing the language, struggling to make ends meet, and not having a community was very hard.

I don’t remember being poor, per se. As a child, I’m not sure I would have understood what that even meant. We had what we had.

What I do remember is how much I loved the times we went swimming at our local pool, how proud my mama was of me when I got a good grade on my English homework, how excited I was to unwrap gifts from under our little tree, and how beautiful the table looked on Christmas Eve when we sat down together to enjoy a delicious feast.

I didn’t know at the time that we only went to the pool when it was free swim time, that the people who stayed after school to help me do my homework were volunteers, that the gifts came from a hamper, and our meal from the food bank.

What I did know, is that my life was made better, easier, and more joyful because of all of those things. Because people like you, who didn’t know my family, gave of their own savings to make sure we felt welcomed, supported, and loved in our new home.

My childhood was enriched by the kindness of strangers.

Fast forward a few decades, and now I understand it all. I’ve spent the majority of my career working in community organizations; I’ve personally witnessed the joys experienced by families who receive help from strangers. And I’ve come to understand that when we give to charities, we’re actually giving to our neighbours, the kids sitting next to our own in class, the families enjoying the local pool, the visitors entering the Manitoba Museum to see their stories honoured.

So when I say, charitable giving isn’t about charity, I mean it, I lived it.

Giving to causes close to our hearts it about extending a warm hand of friendship to others, it’s about reminding them that in their moments of hardship, they are not alone.

This year, I donated to a few community organizations whose work changes lives… those who care for our houseless relatives, help Indigenous women escape violence, encourage new Canadians to rebuild their lives, rescue, rehabilitate, and release wildlife in our beautiful province, and of course to my favourite museum (😉). I gave what I could because every gift makes a difference.

I invite you to join me in giving to our community.

If you would like to support the work the Museum does as a vibrant centre of community connection, research, and learning, you can click here to give. Through the generosity of the Johnston Group, all donations made up until December 31, 2024, will be matched dollar for dollar—up to $20,000. Every donation helps us build a stronger, brighter future for our community and beyond. Thank you for being part of our journey and for supporting the Manitoba Museum’s mission to preserve, educate, and inspire!

Dorota Blumczyńska
Manitoba Museum CEO

P.S. In case I haven’t said it enough, thank you. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. I will forever be grateful for your kindness.

A smiling child sitting in the interior of the Nonsuch, a wooden sailing vessel.

P.P.S. This is me on the Nonsuch, about a year after we came to Canada. Then and now, I’ve always loved the Manitoba Museum.

Posted on: Tuesday December 3, 2024

(Winnipeg, MB: December 3, 2024) – The Manitoba Museum has a brand-new, permanent exhibit, and we invite visitors to pounce on the chance to see this exciting addition to our Museum Galleries. The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat is an extraordinarily in-depth look at one of the most enigmatic creatures to roam our province.

Many are surprised to learn that cougars are found in Manitoba at all. Though they’ve likely existed here for thousands of years, confirmed records are only available from the last 50 years. These elusive cats are seen across the southern half of the province, with most records from forested regions like Duck Mountain, Riding Mountain, and Turtle Mountain.

Face on view of a taxidermized cougar skin. The cougar is wearing a tracking collar and prowling through tall grasses.

The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat is unique because it tells the story of one cougar, known as SK-10. In the spring of 2010, a cougar was born in Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills. When he was just over one year old, he was given an ear tag, labeled SK-10, and fitted with a satellite tracking collar as part of a study by the University of Alberta. This study would reveal his remarkable 10-year journey through the prairies.

“The Museum partners with Manitoba Wildlife officials and the Assiniboine Park Zoo to study and preserve any accidentally killed cougars,” said Dr. Randy Mooi, Curator of Zoology, adding, “Placing the skin and skeleton in a museum gives the animal a second life of sorts, a lasting legacy by making it available for scientific study to better understand cougars in Manitoba and to tell their story to the public.”

Because SK-10’s story is so extraordinary, the Manitoba Museum was determined to bring it to visitors as a permanent feature of the Parklands Gallery. The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat features SK-10 dramatically lit as if by a full moon; his fully-mounted skeleton, which provides an incredible and unique look at the inner-workings of this powerful predator; illustrated interpretative panels; and interactive and touchable elements such as paw prints, scat (poop), and cougar purrs and screams, which provide a glimpse of cougar life in Manitoba.

Members of the media are invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of the new exhibit at 9:30 am on Wednesday, December 4. To RSVP or if you would like to arrange a one-on-one tour with Curator of Zoology, Dr. Randall Mooi, please reach out to the media contact below.

The addition of The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat exhibit was made possible with generous funding from the Thomas Sill Foundation and The Manitoba Museum Foundation, and in cooperation with the Manitoba Wildlife Branch, the Assiniboine Park Zoo, researchers at the University of Alberta, and Parks Canada.

Click here for a Image Gallery

Click here to watch Dinosaur Valley Studios’ Reconstructing SK-10 video

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Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Posted on: Wednesday November 13, 2024

Winnipeg, Manitoba – November 13, 2024 – The opportunity to see Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon planetarium experience is quickly coming to an end. As of December 31, 2024, Pink Floyd and NSC Creative – the firm behind the visual production of the show – will be permanently retiring all licenses for the digital planetarium show. The planetarium program originally opened in 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic album, which was first released in a London planetarium in March of 1973.

With the help of modern technology, Pink Floyd’s planetarium show transports you through space and time. The show combines breath-taking views of the solar system and beyond, played out to 42 minutes of The Dark Side of The Moon. Each song has a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a planetarium can offer. The show is a truly immersive and all-encompassing sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.

“This isn’t the old-style ‘laser show’ of the past,” says Scott Young, Planetarium Astronomer at the Manitoba Museum. “The show was produced to use the latest digital planetarium system, and Winnipeg is one of only a handful of planetariums in Canada equipped to show it.”

The Manitoba Museum Planetarium has had the pleasure of hosting multiple sold out runs of the show since its launch in 2023. This November the Planetarium’s schedule will include the final run of shows before the license expires in December.

“While the Planetarium is looking at other music-based shows, the Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon 50th anniversary experience will never be seen again,” says Young. “We literally have to delete the files. This really is the last chance to see the show.”

For music lovers looking for a more hands-on concert experience, come early and you’ll get the chance to explore the universe with an adult twist! Show attendees can enjoy beverages at a pop-up bar prior to showtime in the Museum’s Science Gallery and relive the explorations of their youth with hands-on science fun!

Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon plays at the Manitoba Museum Planetarium for select showings starting November 14. Doors will open one hour prior to the show to give attendees a chance to enjoy a beverage and explore the Museum’s Science Gallery.

Visit ManitobaMuseum.ca/DarkSide for show times and information.

View the image gallery here: Pink Floyd Images and Trailer

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Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Scot Young
Planetarium Astronomer
204-988-0627
ScYoung@ManitobaMuseum.ca

Posted on: Friday November 8, 2024

First developed in 1974 as the “Urban Gallery,” this visitor favourite has undergone some major changes over the last four years. The gallery was always meant to represent Winnipeg in 1920, when it was Canada’s third largest city. Our goal with the transformation was to introduce more real history to the gallery, populate it more thoroughly, and explore the diversity of Winnipeg’s population at the time.

View down a street in the Winnipeg 1920 Cityscape of the Manitoba Museum. In the left foreground, a storefront identified as the Sing Wo Laundry, a male mannequin irons a shirt.

Ukrainian, Black, Chinese, Métis, and Jewish historical communities are all touched upon, as well as the important events of the 1919 Strike, women’s voting rights, and immigration. New businesses are included, such as the Ukrainian Booksellers, Darbey Taxidermy shop, Foote and James Photography Studio, the Colcleaugh Pharmacy, Strathcona Restaurant, Tribune Newspaper, and A & M Hurtig Furrier. To help bring these stories alive, we’ve included four video projections, three audio stations, twelve new mannequins, and hundreds of new artifacts.

Image: The Sing Wo laundry was once located on Euclid Ave. Discover the stories of hard work and dreams of family during a period of discrimination and Chinese exclusion. ©Manitoba Museum

People love this gallery because there is so much to explore, and it’s completely immersive. That hasn’t changed! You will still discover something new (or old) around every corner.

Here are some fun things to look for the next time you visit: a bizarre bison horn inkwell; a restored version of the 1920 HBC documentary film “Romance of the Far Fur Country”; an engaging discussion about women’s voting rights between Mrs. Garvin and her maid Alma; footage of a busy Portage Avenue filled with cars, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians, but lacking any stop signs; Winnipeg Tribune grotesques (look up); and Hattie Colcleugh, one of the first female graduates from the Manitoba College of Pharmacy.

Edward Darbey’s Taxidermy shop, once located at 223 Main St., has been recreated and showcases numerous historical taxidermy specimens of the period. ©Manitoba Museum

The Hudson’s Bay Company documentary film “Romance of the Far Fur Country” was premiered at the Allen Theatre in Winnipeg in 1920 (now it’s the Met). We provide a short, edited version as an option, along with all the old Chaplin and Buster Keaton favourites. ©Manitoba Museum

Special thanks to The Manitoba Museum Foundation, the Province of Manitoba (Heritage Grant), and the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund for their support in making these exciting changes possible.

Explore Winnipeg 1920 and more at the Manitoba Museum! Click here to plan your visit today.

Dr. Roland Sawatzky

Curator of History

Roland Sawatzky joined The Manitoba Museum in 2011. He received his B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Winnipeg, M.A. in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina, and Ph.D. in Archaeology…

Meet Dr. Roland Sawatzky

Learning Facilitator (Bilingual French-English) – PT Permanent

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Posted on: Monday January 13, 2025

Indigenous Complimentary Admission at the Manitoba Museum

Reconciliation in Action

A Shared Commitment to Cultural Revitalization

An Anti-Colonial Stance

Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future

Removing Barriers to Connection

Posted on: Friday January 10, 2025

Dr. Randy Mooi

Curator of Zoology

Posted on: Friday December 13, 2024

Dr. Joe Moysiuk

Curator of Palaeontology & Geology

Posted on: Thursday December 12, 2024

Posted on: Monday December 9, 2024

Posted on: Tuesday December 3, 2024

Posted on: Wednesday November 13, 2024

Posted on: Friday November 8, 2024

Dr. Roland Sawatzky

Curator of History