Message from the Director General of the Canadian War Museum and Vice-President, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation

James Whitham, Director General of the Canadian War Museum and Vice-President, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation

This issue of Kudos! highlights a critical part of what the Museums do, yet one largely invisible to visitors: conservation and restoration. Visitors experience compelling, evocative artifacts but not the thorough, meticulous process required to conserve and sometimes restore those artifacts. I’m sure you’ll find the glimpses into the work of our Collection Management experts revealing and interesting.

Artifacts bring people and places from the past vividly before us again. I’ve always had a special attachment to the artifacts at the Canadian War Museum, and to the stories of courage and sacrifice they tell. It’s why I’ve made my career here. It’s also why I’m honoured to have recently been appointed Director General.

I joined the War Museum in 1994 as an industrial conservator, restoring and maintaining the museum’s largest artifacts: aircraft, tanks, transport vehicles and airplanes. Working with these artifacts for 15 years, I discovered that each one has a personality of its own and needs to be treated differently. Later, as Director of Collections, responsible for the national military history collection, I was exposed to many fascinating and moving stories about veterans and their families and communities — stories evoked by artifacts.

My new position takes me out of the artifact vaults to meet with a wide range of Canadians. In conversations with veterans and their families, heads of military museums, artifact collectors, museum visitors, donors and sponsors, I see how we touch people by preserving and showcasing the artifacts and telling the stories of their fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, brothers and sisters. We are the custodians of a legacy that belongs to all Canadians.

I want to thank you, our donors and sponsors, for helping bring Canada’s military history to life for Canadians. Your contributions make a real difference. I’m sure that you are, as I am, very excited about the upcoming centenary of the First World War. We are planning a wide range of exhibitions and programs. Our goal is to reach as many Canadians as possible, and we welcome all Canadians to contribute as donors, sponsors or volunteers.

James Whitham