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General information

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information provides information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It provides individuals and employees of the government (current and former) with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

The Introduction and an index of institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act are available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government‐wide administration of the legislation.

Background

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) was established by Parliament through amendments to the Museums Act which came into force on August 10, 2008. It is a distinct legal entity, wholly‐owned by the Crown, which operates at arm's length from the Government in its day to day operations, activities and programming. The Museum is governed by the regime for Crown Corporation control and accountability established under Part X of the Financial Administration Act. It is a member of the Canadian Heritage Portfolio and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The Museum's Board of Trustees serves as its governing body and is accountable to Parliament for the stewardship of the Museum through the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. The Board represents various regions of the country and is appointed by the Governor in Council.

The CMHR plays an essential role in: preserving and promoting our heritage at home and abroad; contributing to the collective memory and sense of identity of all Canadians; and inspiring research, learning, and entertainment that belong to all Canadians.

Responsibilities

The purpose of the CMHR is to explore the subject of human rights, with special but not exclusive reference to Canada, in order to enhance the public's understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others and to encourage reflection and dialogue.

The CMHR aspires to offer its visitors an inspiring encounter with human rights while exceeding Canadians’ expectations for meaningful public consultation.

The Museum’s mission statement and vision are articulated in the following guiding principles:

Inspiring Human Rights Reflection and Dialogue

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the kind of astounding project that comes along once in a generation, showing our commitment to freedom and democracy. It shares information about human rights events and champions and invites ongoing participation in ever‐evolving human rights conversations. The Museum fosters an appreciation for the importance of human rights, spurs informed dialogue, and invites participants to identify the contemporary relevance of the human rights events of yesterday and today, of home and abroad. It is an inspiring place where participants can learn about and discuss the commitments that individuals and peoples have made to advance the cause of human rights across Canada and around the world.

Canadians’ Commitment to Human Rights

Canada has a long history; it is a place that strives to respect diversity and the rule of law; it is a place with high standards for itself and for others. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a ground breaking, innovative museological experience that shares the global development of human rights concepts and Canada’s role within it. We are endowed with inherent human rights and responsibilities, which have been articulated and codified over time in treaties, policies, laws, and declarations. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights provides a safe and exciting space to cultivate respect and gratitude for our inheritance of these rights. The Museum is a testament to our honest struggle always to be better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today through affirming and protecting fundamental freedoms.

An Amazing Encounter Between Architecture and Human Rights

The iconic Canadian Museum for Human Rights has been purposefully situated at a historic junction where two rivers meet, known as The Forks in Winnipeg, near the very centre of Canada. For over five thousand years, this area has been an important meeting place and starting point for journeys onwards. The visionary building honours this tradition of meeting and sharing by inviting people to participate in a human rights journey. From its roots to its winding pathway to the clouds to its multimodal digital presence, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a symbol of universal human rights advancement.

Dynamic and Accessible Human Rights Content

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has re‐envisioned the museum experience by embracing an approach to inclusive design that will set new Canadian and world standards for universal accessibility. Merging form and content, both in person and online, through immersive programming and digital initiatives, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights relays the stories of human rights turning points and provides unparalleled, inclusive access to human rights content.

A Reliable Human Rights Learning Resource

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is dedicated to delivering objective, balanced, and trustworthy information about a broad spectrum of human rights topics. Partnering with the best organizations and institutions, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights ensures the integrity, accuracy, and credibility of its collected and disseminated research. Through its resources, participants can critically engage with the Museum’s content, construct their own points‐of‐view, and share human rights stories with others. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights strives to be a trusted source of human rights information for Canada and the world.

Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

Accommodation

The Museum will ensure that its facilities are secure, suitable for the preservation and exhibition of the collection and galleries, readily accessible to the public, safe for visitors and employees, and further the vision and mandate of the Museum.

Facilities Management and Building Operations

Facilities Management encompasses activities related to the efficient, safe and appropriate use of CMHR’s facilities and associated equipment by operating, securing and managing those facilities and equipment in a sustainable and fiscally responsible manner throughout their life cycle. Its effective functioning is crucial to the preservation of the Corporation's collection, the operation and maintenance of mechanical and electrical systems, the daily operations of the CMHR’S physical site(s), and longer‐term maintenance, improvements and managing life cycle costs.

Project Management
  • Description: Information relating to the ongoing management of construction, fit‐up and fabrication or renovation projects.
  • Document Types: Project schedules, status reports, site photographs, change requests, contract compliance monitoring, and vendor and contractor liaison.
  • Record Number: CMHR FAC08

Museum Content and Program

This activity aims to ensure accessible and engaging exhibits and educational programming that promote reflection and dialogue; a strong capacity of national outreach, engagement and service to Canadians; and strong marketing and communications to ensure a high level of awareness about the CMHR and its programs and services.

Collections

The Collections department is responsible for acquiring, caring for, and providing access to, the Museum’s permanent and working collections. This department includes stewardship of the Archives, Library, and Artifact collections.

Acquisition Assessment
  • Description: Information relating to leads regarding archival material, artifacts or printed material that may be considered for addition into the temporary or permanent CMHR collection.
  • Document Types: Incoming donation offers or proactive search material identification, correspondence with the donor, incoming offer registers and listings, description and previous conservation actions, evaluation of the desirability of the archival material or artefact and decisions regarding its acceptance into the collection.
  • Record Number: CMHR COL01

Acquisition
  • Description: Information relating to the provenance and accessioning of archives, artefacts and printed materials that have been accepted into or selected for the CMHR working or permanent collection including those held in the Trusted Digital Repository and the Library, identifying what the archival material, artefact or printed material is, where it was obtained from, how it may be used, how it is preserved.
  • Document Types: Original image and final graphic design, deed of gift, description, monetary appraisal and related insurance, copyright administration (signed consent forms, loan agreements, photograph or image licensing rights, copyright clearance, scanning authorization), discussions and decisions relating to art commissions, contextual reference material, content notes, description of preservation actions relating to the archival material, artefact, published material and de‐accessioning justification for removed from the Museum collection.
  • Record Number: CMHR COL02

Research and Curation

Scholarship and research creates knowledge and public information that increase understanding of Canada's human, social, cultural, military and political heritage and informs policy. Research enriches the knowledge base of the Museum. It is disseminated through exhibitions, publications, conferences, presentations, workshops, and scholarly and popular books for the general public. It informs school and public programming, as well as CMHR communications.

Research
  • Description: Information relating to the process of developing gallery and exhibit concepts, and planning for any updates made to galleries and exhibits over time.
  • Document Types: Gallery profile documents, content packages, messaging framework, interpretive approaches and reasons for changes, exhibit proposals, fact sheets, asset wish lists, peer reviews, and curatorial briefs relating to specific elements, exhibits or galleries.
  • Record Number: CMHR EXH01

Learning and Programming

Education and public programs are designed to promote educational and public engagement, dialogue and reflection on human rights. Education programs focus on providing curriculum‐related activities, tours, outreach experiences, programs, workshops, courses and learning resources to for students of all ages students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, at the post‐secondary and advanced levels, as well as professional training for adults. Public programs focus on enriching the total visitor experience through such means as lectures, presentations, tours, performances, and workshops. They also highlight seasonal events, anniversaries or issues of national importance to Canadian and international audiences.

Public Programming
  • Description: Information relating to the development and creation of gallery activities and public programming content.
  • Document Types: Program outlines, project charters, work plans, progress reports, external service provider communications and interactions, draft content, review and feedback, and final text for visitor guides, lecture series content, audio guides and accessibility aids.
  • Record Number: CMHR EDU02

Education Programming
  • Description: Information relating to the development and creation of school programming content aimed at grades K‑12 and advanced programming for post‐secondary students and professionals.
  • Document Types: Program outlines, project charters, work plans, progress reports, external service provider communications and interactions, draft content, review and feedback, final text for program delivery content documents, custom developed teaching and learning resources, accessibility aids and pre and post program activities for schools.
  • Record Number: CMHR EDU03

Stewardship and Corporate Management

Stewardship and Corporate Management are aimed at ensuring that the private and public funds invested in the Museum are managed in a transparent, accountable manner; that resources are effectively deployed, developed, directed, administered and controlled; and that the CMHR optimizes the value it contributes to Canadians and Canadian society.

Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisitions

Acquisition Services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfil a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Boards, Committees and Councils

Includes records related to the establishment, organization, functions, activities and management of boards, committees, and councils (including Governor in Council appointments) which are exclusive to a particular institution and which have been established to provide oversight, guidance and recommendations to the institution. Records may include information related to the nomination, appointment, resignation and/or termination of members including criteria for the identification and selection of members, terms and conditions of appointment (e.g. salary, honoraria, per diem rates) roles and responsibilities, and administrative support documentation. Records may also include correspondence among members and with the institution, as well as the relevant Minister’s Office about the selection of individuals and with the Privy Council Office about Governor‐in‐Council appointees.

Communications Services

Communications Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public – internal or external – receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Communications Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public – internal or external – receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Financial Management

Financial Management Services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Information Management

Information Management Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency, and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information Technology

Information Technology Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Internal Audit and Evaluation

Includes records related to the management of an institution’s internal audit and evaluation responsibilities. Audits review and assess the extent to which the management framework is directed toward ensuring the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of operations; the degree of compliance with statutes and policies; the reliability of information systems for decision‐making and accountability purposes; and the level and quality of services provided to clients. Evaluation is an independent assessment of the performance of institutional policies and operations in order to provide credible, timely and relevant information for the purposes of supporting decision‐making and accounting for performance. Records may include information related to evaluation requirements, accountability practices, and standards.

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and Other Administrative Services include Government of Canada travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Manuals

  • Collection Development Policy
  • External Content and Library Challenge Review Processes

Additional Information

Please see the Introduction to this publication for information on access procedures under the provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

For additional information about the programs and activities of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, please contact:

Canadian Museum for Human Rights
85 Israel Asper Way
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 0L5

Telephone: 204–289-2000
Outside of Winnipeg region: 1–877-877‑6037
E‑mail: info@humanrights.ca
www.humanrights.ca

Reading Room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, an area on the premises will be made available should you wish to review materials on site. The address is:

Canadian Museum for Human Rights
85 Israel Asper Way
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 0L5