News release details

Free admission all week for children 12 and under 

Young visitors will connect with Canada 150 themes of reconciliation, diversity and inclusion during spring break at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), through art projects, storytelling, music and crafts.

Children aged 12 and under get free admission from March 25 through April 2. The Museum will also be open on Monday, March 27.

A week of activities kicks off Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m., when the Museum welcomes a representative from Project of Heart, which has created an artistic journey to help young people seek truth about the history of Indigenous people in Canada, and develop empathy for survivors of Indian Residential Schools. The event will kick off a community mosaic art project to be created each day by Museum visitors from decorated wooden tiles. The completed artwork will convey a message of reconciliation and be displayed in the Museum after spring break concludes.

The next Saturday, April 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Museum welcomes members of the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, which assists women raising AIDS orphans in Africa. The grandmothers will teach knitting and yarn‐wrapping while sharing stories about their travels in Africa. The group is also involved in knitting scarves for refugees and other new Canadians as part of their "Warm Up to Winnipeg" project.

Other programs include the "What's in a Nation?" activity where visitors write messages of welcome for refugees and new Canadians that will be hung on a line, and "Little Defenders" story time for kids aged 2 to 8 , presented in French and English. A full roster of daily guided tours is also available. A schedule of events is attached.

On March 25 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the CMHR will also shut off all its lights in recognition of Earth Hour.

Schedule of events

• Saturday, March 25, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Project of Heart kick‐off event and mosaic tile art project, Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1
• Saturday, April 1, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Grandmothers to Grandmothers program, knitting and storytelling, Carolyn Sifton Foundation Terrace, Level 6.
• Wednesday, March 29 and Friday, March 31, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. – "Little Defenders" storytime for children aged 2 to 8, Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation, Level 3. Métis storyteller Joe McLellan presents in English on March 29, while TiBert le Voyageur (Robert Malo) presents in French and English on March 31.
• Saturday, March 25, and Saturday, April 1 – Discover the Building tours: 11 a.m. (French, 75 minutes); 1:30 p.m. (English – 75 minutes).

Daily, March 25 to April 2

• Project of Heart mosaic tile art activity, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – with discussion about reconciliation and Indian Residential Schools, Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation, Level 3. (Note: March 25 activity is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1.)
• Knitting, crochet and finger weaving activities, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – with human rights discussion around AIDS orphans in Africa and refugees to Canada, Inspiring Change gallery, Level 7. (Note: April 1 activity takes place on the Carolyn Sifton Foundation Terrace, Level 6.)
• "What's in a Nation?" activity, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – writing words of welcome and acceptance to refugees and newcomers, entrance to Canadian Journeys gallery, Level 2.
• Explore the Galleries tours – 10:30 a.m. (English – 90 minutes); 12:45 p.m. (French – 90 minutes); 1 p.m. (English – 90 minutes); 3 p.m. (English – 60 minutes).