News release details

Multiplatform viewing available on City, OMNI, APTN, Citytv.com, OMNItv.ca, and HumanRights.ca

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) today announced a broadcast and production partnership with Rogers for the Museum's official opening ceremonies activities on September 19 and 20 in Winnipeg. Canadians from coast to coast can share in the excitement of the Museum's opening ceremonies and the first‐ever Canadian Concert for Human Rights through live TV and online broadcasts.

"The opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is truly a national event," said CMHR President and CEO Stuart Murray. "We welcome the opportunity to work with Rogers in bringing our opening weekend celebrations to all Canadians, no matter where they are."

The opening ceremonies and Canadian Concert for Human Rights will highlight Canada's rich cultural diversity and celebrate Canadians' contributions to the cause of human rights. The two‐day free festival – called RightsFest – will offer something for people of all ages and backgrounds, from the open‐air concert starring nationally celebrated musicians, to daytime activities and programs that explore and celebrate the rights and responsibilities Canadians share.

The CMHR's opening ceremonies and the Canadian Concert for Human Rights will be broadcast live from Winnipeg on Rogers' City and OMNI Television networks, and on Canada's Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). The 90‐minute opening ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. CDT on Friday, September 19, while the two‐hour Canadian Concert for Human Rights begins at 7 p.m. CDT on Saturday, September 20. Alongside the television broadcast, multiplatform live streaming of the events will be made available to Canadians and viewers around the world through the Museum's website at www.humanrights.ca, and on www.citytv.com and www.omnitv.ca, accessible via all desktop and mobile devices.

"Rogers is proud to partner with Canada's new national museum in sharing the Canadian Concert for Human Rights and the official opening ceremonies with viewers across the country," said Hayden Mindell, Vice‐President of Television Programming & Content, Rogers. "With our multiplatform broadcast, we're pleased to bring these events live to all parts of Canada and around the world."

"APTN is pleased to partner with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a broadcaster of the opening ceremonies and concert," said Jean La Rose, APTN's Chief Executive Officer. "Human Rights have always been a key component of the daily reality of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the Museum will foster a dialogue that is important to our viewers and all Canadians."

The Museum's opening ceremonies and outdoor concert are part of a full weekend of free, family‐friendly programming taking place at The Forks in Winnipeg during the CMHR's opening weekend.

The concert will feature some of Canada's top musical talent including:

• Internationally renowned Canadian folk legend Bruce Cockburn.
• Ottawa‐based Juno‐Award‐winning and Polaris‐nominated First Nations electronic artists A Tribe Called Red;
• Montreal‐based Polaris‐nominated and Independent Music Award‐winning chanteuse Marie‐Pierre Arthur;
• Vancouver‐based Juno Award‐winning hip‐hop artist Shad.
• Multiple Juno Award‐winning east‐coast fiddler Ashley MacIsaac.
• Globally celebrated singer‐songwriter, educator, artist and social activist Buffy Sainte‐Marie.

The line‐up for the Canadian Concert for Human Rights was announced at an event in Winnipeg today. A full RightsFest schedule including performance times and locations will be announced in late August.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights. Using multimedia technology and other innovative approaches, the CMHR will create inspiring encounters with human rights for all ages, in a visitor experience unlike any other.