Canadian Government Supports the Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

Construction site 1961

CARP, Ontario, February 14, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced a new investment from the Government of Canada in the Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum.

"Our Government is proud to invest in the historic Diefenbunker, which preserves Canada's Cold War history and tells the story of our role during the period," said Minister Moore. "By supporting infrastructure projects like this one, our Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen our communities and support our culture and heritage."

The Diefenbunker, originally designed as Canada's main underground military bunker in the 1950s, currently functions as a museum and national historic site. This investment supports the conversion of the vacant Bank of Canada vault, located beneath the museum, into a multi-functional space for presentations, displays, performances, and community use. This unique conversion will enable the museum to increase its audience and accessibility.

"We are very grateful for the federal government investment, as it will help us retrofit the iconic gold vault, located 75 feet underground within a former nuclear blast shelter," said Henriette Riegel, Executive Director of the Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum. "Once the conversion is finalized, we will be able to increase partnerships with community groups, schools, artists and musicians, and provide a wonderful new way for the new generations to better understand one of the most critical times in the world's history, and the important role that Canada played in the Cold War."

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $25,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays.