News release details
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) has made history, earning the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Museums: History Alive! for its groundbreaking exhibition, Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge. This prestigious honor highlights the exhibition’s powerful role in advancing national conversations on justice, inclusion and human rights.
“This award affirms that Canada is genuinely engaging with queer history, in ways that acknowledge both the 2SLGBTQ+ community’s experiences of oppression and its remarkable recent gains,” said Dr. Scott de Groot, lead curator. “Our goal was to expand awareness of Canada’s LGBT Purge and to spark conversations about sexuality, gender, and human rights that meet the moment. It is an incredible honour to have our work recognized in this way.”
Love in a Dangerous Time is the first major museum exhibition on queer history and 2SLGBTQI+ rights in Canada. From the 1950s to the 1990s, the Government of Canada systematically investigated, harassed and fired queer members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP and federal public service for purported national security reasons during what came to be known as “the LGBT Purge.” It was one of the longest‐running, largest‐scale violations of human rights in any workplace in Canadian history.
“We are honoured and humbled by this recognition,” said Riva Harrison, CMHR VP of Education and Public Affairs. “For more than six years we have worked alongside Purge survivors and the LGBT Purge Fund, who entrusted us to tell their stories with care and eloquence. These survivors are true heroes – and we are excited to continue to share this exhibition both here at the CMHR and at venues across the country over the next few years.”
The Governor General’s Award honours outstanding contributions to Canadian history and will be presented by Her Excellency Mary Simon at Rideau Hall, with events at the Canadian Museum of History, the House of Commons, and the Lord Elgin Hotel.
“We have deeply valued our collaboration with the CMHR for the past six years to realize this extraordinary exhibition,” said Michelle Douglas, LGBT Purge Fund Executive Director. “The impact on visitors who have seen this exhibit has been profound and powerful, as they learn about this difficult Canadian human rights journey. We are delighted that the CMHR is being recognized for their leadership and excellence in sharing the vital stories of the LGBT Purge."
The main exhibition, Love in a Dangerous Time, has been extended to run until fall 2026 at the CMHR. In 2027, it will begin travelling to other venues across the country alongside two smaller “pop‐up” versions of the exhibition.