A Message from the President and CEO

Mark O’Neill, President and CEO

This year the Museums will begin commemorating a remarkable series of milestones in Canadian history. The War of 1812, the First World War, Confederation—each of these unique formative events offers a different perspective on Canada past and present, and their anniversaries are an opportunity for the Museums to act as focal points for Canada-wide commemorations and explorations.

Our War of 1812 exhibition, presented by TD Bank Group and sponsored by Ancestry.ca, will be shown at the War Museum starting in June and will travel in 2013 to museums in cities across Canada. It will give visitors a vivid sense of the war from the very different perspectives of the four central participants: Canadians, Americans, the British and Native Americans.

For the centenary of the First World War, we will offer a once-in-a-lifetime program spanning from 2014 to 2018. It will feature an extraordinary range of exhibitions, websites, social media features, publications and travelling exhibits. To help ensure we reach as many Canadians as possible, the War Museum will launch a $3-million fundraising campaign to supplement funding from government and our sponsors.

We’re just beginning to plan our 2017 commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, but our goal is to reach across the country to help Canadians celebrate and learn more about this literally nation-defining event.

I encourage you to participate in all three of these outstanding Canadian commemorations. I’m sure you’ll have rich and memorable experiences.

Mark O’Neill
President and Chief Executive Officer