During the current pandemic, we have all become used to the idea of virtual connections and well aware of opportunities to serve communities at home and even around the world. This is nothing new for scientific research at the Manitoba Museum – it has been reaching global audiences since we opened in 1970.
The natural world isn’t bound by provincial and national borders, so scientific discoveries at the Manitoba Museum, made available in international publications, inform scientists, conservationists, and policy-makers here in Manitoba and abroad. Expertise in the Natural History section extends to animals and plants, both living and fossil, that occur around the world.
Fishes on the other side of the World
The Museum has recently collaborated on a comprehensive guide to the coastal fishes of the western Indian Ocean, an area including the Red Sea, east coast of Africa, and Madagascar to the southern tip of India. This project, spear-headed by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, involved over 100 contributors from 20 countries, including the Manitoba Museum.
The five volumes include descriptions of 3500 species of fishes and their distributions over the largest area of ocean ever to be covered by a publication of this kind. Because it is available online for free, it is a valuable resource for local fishermen, educators, conservationists, and governments – regardless of economic status – providing baseline data to understand and conserve ecosystems and manage fisheries resources.
Museum Science – Collaboration and Community Impact
These kinds of partnerships are a direct result of the expertise that the Manitoba Museum brings to the scientific community through original research. In turn, these scientific contributions shape how society understands and responsibly engages with the environment. The work of Manitoba Museum scientists and their national and international collaborators not only helps to understand and conserve the natural ecosystems at home, but makes an impact around the world.
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…
Gargoyles once roosted above the streets of historic Winnipeg, and if you look closely a few might still linger, jeering at passersby. The best set of Winnipeg gargoyles, or in this case “grotesques,” were found on the old Winnipeg Tribune Newspaper building, and the Manitoba Museum is now home to four of them.
The six-storey Tribune building was designed by Chicago architect John D. Atchison for the successful Winnipeg Tribune newspaper, completed in 1914. It was remodelled in 1969 to look more modern, and the grotesques were removed and given to various employees. The Tribune closed in 1980, after which the building was demolished.
Most of the grotesques are still in private hands and have moved around the country, but two of the original terra cotta figures can be seen in the Winnipeg Gallery. We have also added four replicas to one of our buildings in the Winnipeg 1920 cityscape.
The Winnipeg Tribune Building, 1914, built at 257 Smith St. Fourteen grotesques lined the top of the building, while fourteen heads stared down from the top of the first storey. Image: University of Manitoba Libraries
In his design, Atchison sketched in grotesque figures leaning off the top of the building. The final grotesques were made with terra cotta, a type of ceramic, in the American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Co. factory in Illinois. Image: Archives of Manitoba
The heads were located at the bottom of exterior columns. Atchison included neo-Gothic elements in some of his designs, and such grotesques completed the look. Image: Archives of Manitoba
Grotesques and gargoyles were originally found on medieval cathedrals, but here we see them on a business in downtown Winnipeg in 1914. Why? There were six original figures on the Tribune that repeated, making a total of fourteen.
Each of the six figures was representative of a newspaper job:
City Editor, complete with scissors (pictured. MM H9-37-581)
The Printer, holding an ancient printing press
The Fish Story Teller, holding a huge fish.
This likely represented a keen member of the public embellishing a story for a reporter.
The Contributor (reporter)
The Proof Reader
Newsboy
Oddly, the grotesques were all wearing medieval clothing, complete with cloaks and pointy shoes! In other words, it was a whimsical affair – a modern office building with a gothic flair. There was even a legend that the figures resembled the actual people working at the paper.
Frightening Fact!
A gargoyle is a stone figure that also acts as a waterspout to carry rainwater away from the building – the water is usually funneled out of the mouth of the figure. The word gargoyle comes from the Old French gargouille, meaning “throat.” Other decorative figures on buildings are known as grotesques.
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…
Orange Shirt Day has been recognized in Manitoba since 2017. The orange shirt is a symbol of remembrance for Indian Residential School Survivors which originated with the experience of Phyllis Webstad of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. She shared her story of how her new orange shirt was taken away from her on her first day at St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School, leaving her feeling worthless and insignificant.
Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) call for a national day of remembrance as a way for Canadians to publicly commemorate the history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools and the resilience of Indian Residential School Survivors, their families, and communities.
To honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Manitoba Museum will be hosting its second annual Orange Shirt Days with special all-day programming and free admission from Friday, September 30 to Sunday, October 2, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, provided with the support of the Province of Manitoba.
Programming in the Museum Galleries will be focused on the history of Indian Residential Schools and the TRC Calls to Action. The Museum was humbled by visitors’ earnest response to last year’s event and looks forward to providing an opportunity for visitors to learn, reflect, and respond to the legacy of Indian Residential Schools as part of our collective journey towards Reconciliation.
“I felt inspired, educated, and ready to take what I have learned and apply it to environments around me (family, friends, work, etc.)”
– 2021 Orange Shirt Days participant
Visitors will follow a self-guided tour through the Museum Galleries to discover many exhibits relevant to the history of Indian Residential Schools and the TRC Calls to Action. Along the way they will hear Indigenous voices and perspectives in videos from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Finally, at the Manitoba Cares station, visitors will share their thoughts and make their own commitments to take action for Reconciliation.
There will be special showings in the Planetarium of Legends of the Northern Sky, which features two stories that exemplify how the Indigenous people of North America connect with the night sky in fundamental ways that resonate with their world. Visitors will also have access to hands-on experiences in the Science Gallery.
Join us for a time of learning, reflection, and response.
Three days of free admission to all areas from September 30 to October 2. No tickets required.
By Tamika Reid, Volunteer Researcher, and Roland Sawatzky, Curator of History, Manitoba Museum
Churchill, Manitoba is well known for its scenic arctic landscape, polar bears, and vibrant northern lights, but did you know that Churchill was once home to the most active rocket range in Canada?
While the Churchill Rocket Range was in regular operation, between 1957 and 1985, Churchill hosted an international array of scientists, technicians, students, contractors, and military personnel. Through their pioneering studies, Manitoba has a permanent place in the history of early rocket development, and research into the mysteries of the upper atmosphere and aurora borealis. This work enriched humanity’s understanding of the thin layer surrounding our fragile planet.
Ken Pilon worked at the Churchill Rocket Range in the early 1980s as a meteorologist, supporting winter launches by providing crucial wind and temperature information. The northern climate made blizzards and high surface wind speeds a concern for launch trajectory. Pilon worked with a team of up to 60 people. “The hours and working conditions were extreme at times, but I never heard a single complaint from any of them,” said Pilon.
An Aerobee rocket is launched in the darkness of winter, in February 1981. The glare of the fuel combustion casts stark shadows among the surrounding trees. Photo by Ken Pilon.
A two-stage rocket is launched into the Aurora. Both the first stage booster and the second-stage rocket ignition are visible. Photo by Ken Pilon.
The Churchill Rocket Range, 1975. Photo by Ron Estler.
A recent episode of Dome@Home, a bi-weekly virtual program hosted by Planetarium Astronomer, Scott Young, featured Pilon’s artifacts and images. In response, a viewer from Colorado, Dr. Ron Estler, contacted the Museum and shared his experience as a graduate student at the Churchill Rocket Range, along with more photographs.
For six weeks in 1975, Estler was part of an Aerobee 150 rocket launch funded by NASA, through John Hopkins University. Studying Chemical Physics, Estler was tasked with overseeing electron spectrometers to be launched with the Aerobee, for analyzing the energy of electrons.
Having visited Churchill last March for the first time since working there as a student, Estler is already planning another trip north. On the way, he plans to visit the Manitoba Museum. “It will remind me that I played a very small role in something much bigger and fundamentally important to the knowledge of our own planet,” said Estler.
The Manitoba Museum is planning a future exhibit on the Churchill Rocket Range to highlight stories like these, and the role of the Rocket Range in space and science research. You can see a Black Brant V, a type of rocket also used at the Churchill Rocket Range, in the Science Gallery at the Manitoba Museum.
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…
By Dr. Graham Young
Past Curator of Geology and Paleontology
When you hear the word “fossil”, you probably think of giant dinosaurs, or perhaps marine reptiles such as Morden’s “Bruce”, but fossils actually include all evidence of past life. Fossils may be the remains of plants or animals, such as leaves or bones, and they also can be tracks or traces made by animals. Fossils tell us about the evolution of life, the age of rocks, and the environments of the distant past.
For many Manitobans, the most familiar fossils are those in our beautiful limestones. On almost any block in Winnipeg you can see Tyndall Stone walls packed with fossils! Our limestones document the rise and fall of a series of warm, salty inland seas. Rocks from the Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian periods of geological time, about 450 to 380 million years old, hold varied remains: corals, brachiopods (lamp shells), cephalopods (relatives of squids), trilobites (relatives of crustaceans), and other groups. These can be seen near Manitoba’s Great Lakes, in the Grand Rapids Uplands, and across the Hudson Bay Lowland.
The Ordovician seafloor diorama depicts sea life in the Winnipeg area about 450 million years ago.Manitoba is a big place, a bit bigger than France, and much of it is still poorly known. Fossil-rich rocks occur in many parts of Manitoba, and new discoveries are made every year, by both professional and amateur paleontologists.
Part of the skull of a Devonian age fossil fish (about 390 million years old), as it was in the field (left) and after preparation at the Manitoba Museum (right). (MM-V-3184)
Manitoba Museum staff collecting fossils from a site near Churchill that has yielded some of the world’s oldest horseshoe crabs.
Anyone searching for fossils should know that Manitoba’s heritage laws protect fossils and archaeological artifacts. If you plan to do serious collecting, you should apply for a provincial Heritage Permit. If you find a significant fossil in bedrock, and you do not have a permit, please consider taking a photo, recording location information (such as latitude and longitude), and sharing that information with the Manitoba Museum or the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, or with Manitoba Historic Resources.
To walk across private land to look for fossils, ask permission from the landowner. Fossil hunters should also take basic precautions – tell others where you are going, wear appropriate clothing, and carry water and food.
Dr. Graham Young, who has worked at the Manitoba Museum since 1993, recently received a significant honour. The trilobite species Glossopleurayoungi, newly discovered in rocks in the Northwest Territories, was named for Dr. Young in a scientific publication by former student Neal Handkamer.
Discover more about fossils from Manitoba and beyond in the Museum Galleries and at Ultimate Dinosaurs! Open daily from 11 am to 5 pm until September 5, 2022.
Bison rubbing stones are icons of the prairies. These large stones were originally transported south by Ice Age glaciers, then left behind on the prairies when the glaciers melted and receded roughly 12,000 years ago. They are therefore considered to be a form of fieldstone, and such large blocks of fieldstone are commonly called glacial erratics.
In the millennia since the glaciers left this region, rubbing stones have undergone a lengthy and intensive polishing process. These are boulders that were tall enough that they were made use of by itchy bison, who needed to shed their heavy winter coats or scratch after being bitten by flies and mosquitoes. The rubbing by bison over such a long time interval, along with the oils from the animals’ hides, gives rubbing stones a distinctive patina, and a rubbing stone is typically surrounded by a ring of flattened, eroded earth.
The bison rubbing stone is beside the Pronghorn Diorama, at the entrance to the Prairies Gallery.
A rubbing stone at the Star Mound historic site.
For our new Prairies Gallery, we knew that we wanted to include this sort of defining prairie element as a full-sized touchable piece, but we also knew that a cast or sculpted stone just wouldn’t do it. We had to acquire a real stone, and it had to be light enough that it could be moved into our gallery and placed safely on the gallery floor for an indefinite period of time. Since the gallery’s weight allowance is quite limited, how could this possibly be done?
As was the case for our fieldstone wall, we discussed this with stonemason Todd Braun quite early in the gallery development process. Although we thought that there should be a real boulder in the gallery, we also knew that it could not be a recognized rubbing stone, as those are heritage objects that should be left undisturbed in their original locations. Instead, Todd suggested that he could acquire a boulder of suitable size and rock type from gravel pits in the Morden area, and that he would prepare the boulder so that it could meet the floor loading limits and other requirements for placement in our gallery.
Kevin Brownlee, Curator of Archaeology, examined the stone when we first saw it outside Todd Braun’s workshop in February, 2020.
The stone is a boulder of migmatite, a rock type that exhibits coloured bands made up of different minerals.
Todd located the stone in late 2019, and we first saw it during a visit to his workshop in February, 2020. It is a very substantial boulder of migmatite, a high-grade metamorphic rock with aligned layers of minerals, which was formed under great heat and pressure deep in the Earth. Todd explained how he planned to cut off one end of the boulder so that it would be lighter and so that it would be stable standing on the floor. He would then use cutting and grinding power tools to hollow out the stone, starting from that flat end. It would therefore still look like a large solid boulder, but it would actually be more like a thick-shelled egg, with much of its internal mass replaced by air.
Once we had a plan in place, the boulder had to wait until Todd had the time to prepare it. He was busy completing the fieldstone wall for our gallery, and was not able to turn his attention to the boulder until the fall of 2020. The cutting and hollowing of the stone turned out to be very labour intensive; the rock was very hard, and Todd was also afraid that fractures might develop if he tried to remove too much rock at once, or pushed too hard on it. It would have been a disaster to have the boulder go to pieces at this stage!
Todd Braun used power tools to hollow out the boulder (this is a still from a video by Todd).
Todd told us that we were getting our money’s worth, since the job was more work than he had anticipated, but the hollowing out was completed by late November. He was also able to put a bit of a polish on the outer surface of the stone, to mimic the effect of rubbing by thousands of bison.
Todd used his tractor to lift the boulder into the back of his truck. Very early one morning, he drove to Winnipeg before there was significant traffic on the roads. The truck was backed into our loading dock, the hoist was attached to the heavy-duty straps that Todd had placed beneath the boulder, and the stone was lifted very smoothly onto a pallet jack. We were grateful at this stage that the boulder had lost so much of its original weight!
The boulder was hollowed out and ready to travel to Winnipeg (photo by Todd Braun).
The boulder was lifted into Todd’s truck . . . (photo by Todd Braun).
. . . and arrived at our loading dock very early in the morning (photo by Randy Mooi).
We had a crew of four on hand to assist Todd with moving the boulder into the gallery: an expert construction manager, and three curators to provide the grunt labour. Since we had measured all the doorways and halls in advance of this move, we knew that there would be a few tricky spots during the stone’s travel through the building, but that it should just fit through all of those.
The loading dock hoist was used to lift the boulder from the back of the truck (photo by Randy Mooi)…
… and to position it on the platform, where the pallet jack could be lined up underneath (photo by Randy Mooi).
First, we trundled it down a long corridor and through the Museum’s workshops, then out into the Welcome Gallery. Since there was new flooring in the galleries, we had to begin laying down sheets of board when we left the workshop space. There were several large plywood sheets, so it was a matter of laying down a row of boards along the planned path, then lifting each board after we passed over it, and moving it to the front of the other boards so that there would always be a safe surface for the pallet jack.
The stone turned out to have a bit of a “mind of its own” when it came to the direction our route would take, and there was some manoeuvring required to get it lined up with the doorway that would take us into the Winnipeg Gallery area. This gallery was another tight spot, and after some discussion and changing of direction, the boulder slipped through. We then had a clear run to its final location by the Pronghorn Diorama.
The boulder began its journey down the corridor toward the workshops (photo by Randy Mooi).
In the Welcome Gallery, the stone came as close to bison as it would ever be in its time at the Museum! Note the sheets of plywood protecting the gallery floor (photo by Randy Mooi).
In the Winnipeg Gallery, there was discussion of how we could get the boulder past some exhibits.
The pallet jack was rolled to the location that had been selected for the boulder’s final position, and the stone was gently (VERY gently!) shifted onto some large wedges that Todd had brought along for the task. By levering with heavy pry bars, the wedges could be gradually removed and the boulder settled into place.
The next time you are in our new Prairies Gallery, I hope you will take a good look at the rubbing stone and other exhibits. Many Museum exhibits may look like simple things, but the stories behind them are often quite complicated!
The last wedges were removed as the boulder was lowered into place (photo by Randy Mooi).
(Winnipeg, MB: February 3, 2022) The Manitoba Museum will honour three prominent Manitobans at its annual Tribute Gala on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Former MLA Flor Marcelino, community organizer and speaker Michael Redhead Champagne, and University of Manitoba Chancellor Anne Mahon will share the honours at the gala event with proceeds supporting the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All community initiative.
Celebrating Communities, the theme for this year’s gala, will spotlight the value of serving and uniting our communities to build a brighter future for all Manitobans. The 2022 Tribute Gala honorees will join in conversation to share their thoughts on what “community” means to them and how we can best support and encourage each other.
“Communities working together in partnership is a powerful and beautiful force,” said Manitoba Museum CEO Dorota Blumczyńska. “At the Museum we are always asking how we can serve the community better and more effectively. Our Tribute Gala honorees are an inspiration to everyone and we are thrilled to celebrate them this year.”
The Museum will host its first in-person gala in two years following a hiatus in 2020 and an online event in 2021. The 2022 Tribute Gala is presented by Canada Life and IG Wealth Management.
Proceeds from the Tribute Gala support the Manitoba Museum’s Access for Allcommunity initiative. Each year, thousands of people enjoy complimentary Museum admission and virtual programming. Visitors engage in memorable learning experiences and explore our essential stories, bridging language, culture, ethnicity, and age. Access for All connects to communities through three programs: Youth Access, for young people to discover the stories of Manitoba and the wonders of our natural world; Call it Home, welcoming Manitoba’s newcomers to learn about their new province; and Community Access, where families build memories together as they explore the wonders of the Manitoba Museum.
“We want everyone to experience the magic of the Manitoba Museum,” said Penny McMillan, Chair of the Manitoba Museum’s Board for Governors. “Access for All brings the stories of Manitoba to thousands of people every year. We’re so grateful for the support of everyone who donates to the Manitoba Museum. That generosity helps keep our doors open to everyone.”
2022 Tribute Gala Honorary Committee
Gail Asper
Dan Bockstael
Doneta Brotchie
Johanna Chipman
Jessica Dumas
Luke Gould
Diane Gray
Lucille Nolasco Garrido
Raif Richardson
Niigaan Sinclair
Douglas Tkach
Jackie Wild
The 17th annual Tribute Gala will take place in Alloway Hall on April 7, 2022. For information about reserving tables, buying tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and/or to make a donation to theAccess for All community initiative, please visit our webpage, here, or contact Lynne Stefanchuk at 204-988-0629 or LStefanchuk@ManitobaMuseum.ca.
2022 Tribute Gala Honourees
FLOR MARCELINO
In 2007, Flor Marcelino became the first woman of colour elected to the Manitoba Legislature. After serving as a backbencher and Legislative Assistant, she became a Minister of the Crown from 2009 to 2016 and a member of several cabinet committees, including the Treasury Board. In 2016, Flor became interim leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
Flor has been recognized by multiple organizations for her legislative work and in 2018 she was recognized by the Manitoba Legislature as one of Manitoba’s Trailblazers. Before serving in the Manitoba Legislature, Flor was editor and publisher of The Philippine Times. She has been an active volunteer for her church and several community organizations.
ANNE MAHON
Anne Mahon is the 14th chancellor of the University of Manitoba, a committed life-long volunteer, and an oral history author.
Anne has written two books: The Lucky Ones: African Refugees Stories of Extraordinary Courage (2013) and Redemption: Stories of Hope, Resilience and Life After Gangs (2017). All author proceeds are donated to a charity that supports the community each book represents. Her next book, a collection of stories about strong women who grew up in the foster care system, will launch fall of 2022. Anne enjoys interviewing her book participants just as much as she enjoyed interviewing Michelle Obama in 2019.
Anne has been a volunteer for 35 years. She founded and co-facilitates a book club at the Winnipeg Women’s Correctional Centre, and says she is really missing that community of readers during the pandemic.
MICHAEL REDHEAD CHAMPAGNE
Michael Redhead Champagne, born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, is an award-winning community organizer, public speaker, and a proud member of Shamattawa First Nation. Michael believes we all have a gift and shows youth the path to discover their own. He is solution oriented and passionate about building system literacy, encouraging volunteerism, and engaging communities to be involved in the design, delivery, and evaluation of any initiative that affects them.
Michael leads by example and travels across Canada sharing his gift with others. Whether he is speaking to educators, youth, the business community, or the not-for-profit sector, his goal is the same, to help heal, shape, and create a call to action for everyone.
Past Tribute Honourees – Abdikheir Ahmed (2021), Hilary Druxman (2021), Jaimie Isaac (2021), Niigaan Sinclair (2021), Hannah Taylor (2021); Winnipeg Free Press (co-owners Robert Silver & Ronald Stern) (2019); Abdo (Albert) El Tassi & Samira El Tassi (2018); Gregg & Mary Hanson (Ambassadors for Canada 150 Celebration in 2017); Sanford H. Riley (2016); The Winnipeg Foundation (2015); Doug Harvey (2014); Susan Lewis & United Way Winnipeg (2013); Kerry Hawkins (2012); Ambassador Gary Doer (2011); The Chipman Family (2010); Babs & Gail Asper (2009); Kevin & Els Kavanagh (2008); Lawrie Pollard (2007); Murray Taylor & Investors Group Inc. (2006); and George T. Richardson (2005).
The Manitoba Museum joins with all of Canada in extending our heartfelt condolences to the families and the communities who have been devastated by the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children who died at Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia. In doing this, we recognize both the profound loss that these children’s deaths represent and the story of erasure that this discovery exposes. We acknowledge and remember the 215 children who were loved, cared for, and missed by their loved ones – 215 children who are not forgotten, although their stories were silenced for so long.
The Manitoba Museum is committed to educating visitors about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these children and where possible, who they were, while calling upon all levels of government to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC’s) Calls to Action, particularly Calls 71 through 76 (Missing Children and Burial Information).
We also recognize that the story of the discovery of these children’s remains highlights the ongoing story of Indigenous child welfare in Canada. In keeping with this, we call upon all levels of government to respond promptly and wholeheartedly to the spirit and intent of the TRC’s Calls to Action, and especially to Calls 1-5 on Child Welfare.
Winnipeg, MB (January 5, 2021): This Safe at Home Program starts January 7. The Manitoba Museum is pleased to announce the launch of DOME @HOME: The Stars Belong to Everyone. This FREE weekly web show will be delivered directly to the homes of Manitobans. Hosted by Planetarium Astronomer Scott Young, those curious about the sky can catch DOME@HOMEstarting January 7 at 7 pm and running every Thursday until March 25.
“The focus is on getting out under the real sky when you can, and with who you can, whether you live downtown or in the suburbs or in rural Manitoba,” says Planetarium Astronomer Scott Young. “Even within the lights of Winnipeg there are things you can see in the sky.”
“One of my personal heroes is Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg, the first Canadian woman to earn her Ph.D. in Astronomy,” adds Young. “Besides doing amazing research, she also did a lot of public outreach, sharing the sky with the public. She used to say, ‘The Stars belong to everyone.’ That’s true – we can all look up at the stars and wonder, and gain that sense of discovery when we find something out there. It doesn’t matter if someone else discovered it a hundred years ago, when you see it for the first time you get that same sense of discovery that excites a love of science and nature.”
Planetarium Astronomer Scott Young at the Planetarium’s Digistar projection controls.
Each DOME@HOME episode will have segments to help identify stars and planets, discuss space exploration, answer questions from the audience, and offer hands-on activities for participants to complete at home.
Details for all the DOME@HOMEprograms are available on the Manitoba Museum website. Registration to participate on Zoom is required; however, anyone can join in live, via Facebook.
DOME@HOME is sponsored by Province of Manitoba’s Safe at Home initiative, which offers Manitobans new online arts, culture, and entertainment content so they can follow public health orders and stay at home as much as possible.
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For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Winnipeg, MB (January 23, 2020): Update: the Tribute Gala will now take place virtually on April 15, 2021. The Manitoba Museum will honour the leaders of tomorrow at its annual Tribute Gala on April 23, 2020. This year, for it’s 50th anniversary, the Museum has taken a new approach to its annual Tribute Gala.
“Traditionally, the gala evening has celebrated the contributions of well-established individuals and organizations whose leadership and philanthropy have shaped our city and our province,” says James Cohen, Chair of the Museum’s Board of Governors. “This year, as we celebrate our last 50 years and consider our future, the Museum asked past Tribute honourees to identify leaders of tomorrow. These people have the vision and drive to propel Manitoba’s future for the next 10, 20, or even 50 years.”
To determine these leaders, past honourees and the Museum Board of Governors considered who might be community champions that reflect the makeup of Manitoba – the next generation of visionaries, philanthropists and community leaders. The following five dedicated and influential individuals were selected.
ABDIKHEIR AHMED has extensive experience working with immigrant and refugee communities in Winnipeg’s inner city and is a passionate advocate for immigrants and refugees in Canada. He is the Director of the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW) and previously served as the Executive Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) Inc.
Abdi has received numerous awards for his work creating life-changing opportunities for new Canadians. He was a CBC Manitoba Future 40 Finalist in 2014 and is the recipient of the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, one of the Province of Manitoba’s highest honors, for his work advocating for refugees and building bridges with Canadian communities.
HILARY DRUXMAN dedicates her unwavering passion, artistry and expertise to jewelry design and handcrafted production. She channeled this drive to create the Good Works initiative, designing unique jewelry for local and national charities, with more than $500,000 in profits from sales donated back to them.
Passion and perseverance, talent and skill, strong leadership and an unfailing sense of humor are the cornerstones of Hilary’s success. She established Hilary Druxman Design in 1994 and her work has been showcased in Toronto, New York and global markets; and featured in fashion and industry magazines, retail stores and advertising in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.
JAIMIE ISAAC is a Winnipeg-based curator and interdisciplinary artist, and a member of Sagkeeng First Nation. She holds a degree in Art History and a Masters of Arts, with research focus on Indigenous Curatorial Praxis, and methodologies in decolonizing and Indigenizing.
At the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Jaimie has curated and co-curated many shows featuring Indigenous artists exploring their current and past experiences through art. She has also independently curated and worked on national collaboration projects.
An advocate for Indigenous representation, Jaimie is an advisor for many organizations. She was one of the Canada Council’s Indigenous delegation at the 2017 Venice Biennale, the International Curatorial Exchange in Finland, and EXPO Chicago. Jaimie has contributed content related to Indigenous creative expression to various art publications and projects. She has also presented her research at symposiums and conferences in North America and Europe.
NIIGAAN SINCLAIR commented in and wrote for international and national print media for years before joining the Winnipeg Free Press as a columnist in 2018. In May of 2019, his work at the Free Press was recognized with the top columnist award by the prestigious National Newspaper Awards.
Niigaan, who is Anishinaabe-born and grew up in Treaty One territory, is also an associate professor at the University of Manitoba. He is also a recovering high school teacher.
HANNAH TAYLOR began raising funds and awareness for Canada’s homeless at age 7. She founded The Ladybug Foundation and raised millions of dollars for more than 65 shelters, food banks, missions, and other organizations across Canada that support people who are hungry, homeless, and living on the street.
The Ladybug Foundation Education Program developed and distributed a multimedia classroom resource to empower young people to make a difference in their world. That project evolved into a free website to access video, music, lessons, and other elements for use in schools.
Hannah had January 31 declared National Red Scarf Day in Canada to raise awareness of homelessness issues, together with her annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes fundraisers.
She has spoken at more than 350 conferences and events in around the world and her simple message of caring and sharing has been spread to millions of people. Hannah has been recognized for her influence with service and humanitarian awards and received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The Manitoba Museum is thrilled to have James Richardson & Sons, Limited as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 Tribute Gala.
“Honouring the leaders of tomorrow at the Tribute 2020 Gala is an excellent example of how the Manitoba Museum has devoted 50 years to connecting our past to our future,” says Hartley Richardson, President & Chief Executive Officer of James Richardson & Sons, Limited, noting that his late father, George T. Richardson, was honoured at the first Tribute Gala in 2005. “JRSL is proud to continue our long-standing support of the Manitoba Museum as it educates and enriches our community.”
Proceeds from the Tribute Gala support the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All community initiative, which provides complimentary Museum visits for more than 35,000 individuals living with special circumstances each year. Contributions to the 2020 Tribute Gala will make an impact by helping the Museum create memorable learning experiences that build pride in Manitoba and tell the province’s essential stories, bridging language, culture, ethnicity, and age.
2020 Tribute Gala Honourary Committee Honourary Chair: James E. Cohen Emcee: Raif Richardson
Members:
Gail Asper
Doneta Brotchie
Bob Cox
Albert El Tassi
Susan Glass
Diane Gray
Gregg Hanson
Mary Hanson
Don Leitch
Nick Logan
Susan Millican
Hartley Richardson
H. Sanford Riley
Paul Samyn
Murray Taylor
Arni Thorsteinson
The 16th annual Tribute Gala will take place in Alloway Hall on April 23, 2020. For information about reserving tables, buying tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and/or to make a donation to the Access for All community initiative, please contact Lynne Stefanchuk 204-988-0629 or email lstefanchuk@manitobamuseum.ca.
Past Tribute Honourees – Winnipeg Free Press (2019); Abdo (Albert) El Tassi & Samira El Tassi (2018); Gregg & Mary Hanson (Ambassadors for Canada 150 Celebration in (2017); Sanford H. Riley (2016); The Winnipeg Foundation (2015); Doug Harvey (2014); Susan Lewis & United Way Winnipeg (2013); Kerry Hawkins (2012); Ambassador Gary Doer (2011); The Chipman Family (2010); Babs & Gail Asper (2009); Kevin & Els Kavanagh (2008); Lawrie Pollard (2007); Murray Taylor & Investors Group Inc. (2006); and George T. Richardson (2005).
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For interviews or more information, contact:
Jody Tresoor
Communications Specialist, Manitoba Museum
w: 204-988-0614 c: 204-228-2374 jtresoor@manitobamuseum.ca
