News release details

Board of trustees initiates process of recruiting successor 

Eric Hughes, Chair of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) Board of Trustees, today recognized Stuart Murray, the Museum's inaugural President and CEO, for his many achievements over the past five years. Murray's term began November 2, 2009 and will end October 31, 2014. The Board has initiated the process of recruiting a successor.

"During his tenure, Stuart Murray brought together a team of employees with diverse roles and responsibilities and oversaw the planning, construction and opening of a new national museum outside the National Capital Region," said Hughes. "He has led the organization through an important period of transition. Under his leadership, the Museum is well positioned for the future, with the next cycle of strategic planning well underway."

Among Murray's major achievements are:

• Guiding the Museum's transition from a construction site to an operational national museum;
• Overseeing the corporation's growth from a skeleton staff to an operating museum with a full complement of staff with wide‐ranging skills and specialties;
• Ensuring incorporation of a diversity of voices into the content development process, including the establishment of several advisory councils;
• Securing partnerships with educational and human rights organizations, including the Canadian Teachers' Federation, the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, Ryerson University, OCAD, Manitoba's Department of Education, The Asper Foundation, 2idhp (The International Human Rights Institute for Peace in France), the Memorial in Commemoration of Famines' Victims in Ukraine, the Concord Memorial project in Guatemala, Rotary International District 5550, and the Armenian Genocide Museum‐Institute;
• Supporting Friends of the CMHR on the most successful capital campaign in national museum history, including serving on the Friends' board of directors;
• Giving life to Winnipeg's evolution as a city for human rights education, a concept which is being embraced by universities and the larger community;
• Contributing to the success of the Museum's opening weekend on September 19–21, which included broadcasts of the opening ceremonies and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Concert, and welcoming 9,000 visitors over two days.

"Stuart Murray's commitment to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights has been unwavering throughout the many challenges and opportunities for this new national institution," said Hughes. "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Stuart for his passion for human rights education and his steadfast belief that we can all make a difference in this world." 

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.