Canada's History Society and the Canadian Museums Association Celebrate Our Nation's Storied People & Events

photo from Library and Archives Canada

- Three New National History Awards Announced -

LONDON, Ontario, April 13, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canada is defined by the diversity of languages, cultures and histories within our communities. Every community across this country has a unique story to share about its proud heritage, whether it's the birthplace of Louis Riel in the historic French community of St. Boniface, Manitoba; the oral histories of Chinese Canadians during the exclusion period; or the ghostly tales of Huggabone's Hill in London, Ontario that are still recounted more than 150 years later.

In order to recognize innovative efforts to present history in our community, and to enrich our national history with more of Canada's storied people and events, Canada's History Society in partnership with the Canadian Museums Association is launching three new history awards today.

The first award, "History Alive!", will be presented annually by the Canadian Museums Association for programs and presentations developed by museums and art galleries across the country. Details for this new award will be announced at the Canadian Museums Association's annual conference in London, Ontario.

"We are pleased to participate in the Canada's History Awards program. Our cultural institutions play a vital role in preserving, presenting, and commemorating our history. This new award will bring well-deserved recognition for the many ways our dedicated professionals give relevance and meaning to the past in our communities today," noted John McAvity, Executive Director of the Canadian Museums Association. "Teachers, historians, and popular writers and producers of history will also benefit from having an annual opportunity to learn more about our activities, and explore more ways of working with us to strengthen public history programming."

Two other community history awards that celebrate programming developed by volunteer-led heritage, community and cultural organizations at the grassroots level have also been created by Canada's History Society.

Deborah Morrison, President and CEO of Canada's History Society, says,

"Canada's national history can only resonate with Canadians when they are able to see themselves in our stories, stories that are brought vividly to life within the social and geographic communities in which they live every day."

Morrison adds,

"So much of Canada's national story is discovered and remembered through initiatives that take place beyond the classroom. Canada's History Awards can now celebrate the full range of ways our history is brought to life for Canadians. This is a win-win for Canadian history."

Museums and Art Galleries interested in nominating one of their initiatives for the History Alive! Award will be able to submit their application online at CanadasHistory.ca/MuseumandCommunityHistoryAwards or Museums.ca, by email, or by regular mail. Watch these websites for details shortly.

Submissions to the Community History Awards can be made online at CanadasHistory.ca/MuseumandCommunityHistoryAwards or by regular mail to: Canada's History, Main Floor, Bryce Hall, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9. For complete information on eligibility, criteria and nomination forms, please visit CanadasHistory.ca/Awards.

About Canada's History Society

Canada's History Society is a national charitable organization founded by the Hudson's Bay Company to promote greater popular interest in Canadian history. The organization publishes Canada's History magazine and Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids. Canada's History Society also produces Canada's History Awards featuring the Governor General's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History and The Pierre Berton Award for achievement in popular media.


About the Canadian Museums Association

The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector. Canada's 2,500 museums and related institutions preserve our collective memory, shape our identity and promote tolerance and understanding. Each year, more than 59 million visitors attend Canadian museums and a further 60 million visit Canada's historic sites and national parks. These institutions employ over 24,000 staff and are supported by more than 55,000 volunteers and 300,000 friends. They host 7.5 million visits from school children annually.