News release details

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) launches a new summer program of free outdoor tours this weekend, encouraging visitors to reflect on the human rights rooted in our own lives and our local history.

Two different themed tours will be offered in English and French: one exploring rights around us, and a family‐oriented tour based on the right to food, including hands‐on activities. The tours take a very different approach than previous years, when they were focused primarily on building construction and architecture.

"Our exciting new tours will raise awareness that human rights stories are found everywhere we look, in everything we do – including our food," said CMHR president and CEO Stuart Murray. "Each tour will be a human rights journey intended to provoke discussion about various themes the Museum will present when it opens, while showcasing its stunning architecture from different vantage points."

Tied to the historic and contemporary landscape around the CMHR, the hour‐long tours touch on themes ranging from Indigenous issues to French‐language rights to labour rights and immigration. A brief description is attached.

The guided "Rights Around Us" tours leave at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, starting May 17. The family‐oriented "Growing a Better Future" tours leave at 7 p.m. every Thursday, starting May 23. Both start from Via Rail Union Station. No reservations are necessary, but tour sizes will be limited. Special group tours (five to 15 people) and ASL can be arranged by phoning (204) 289‑2123, TTY at (204) 289‑2050, or e‑mailing info@museumforhumanrights.ca.

A new self‐guided tour, focused on the building's architecture and construction, will also be available through onsite QR codes and online at www.museumforhumanrights.ca.

Currently under construction in Winnipeg, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the first museum solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights in Canada. It is the first national museum to be established since 1967 and the first outside the National Capital Region. It opens in 2014.

General information page can be found here(link).

About the CMHR summer tours

May 17 to August 31, 2013

Rights Around Us
Wednesday to Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Rights are responsibilities we all share. Everywhere you look is a human rights story. This inspiring outdoor tour is tied to the historic and contemporary landscape around the CMHR. It explores how human rights affect us every day, in our own back yards.

• Stop One: Labour rights. Union Station was a witness to Canada's most famous labour upheaval – the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, a milestone in labour rights.

• Stop Two: Treaty rights and immigration. The Forks is an ancient and modern meeting place and the site of Treaty 1 land. It was also the first stop for thousands of immigrants.

• Stop Three: Women's rights. The Exchange District was a place of women's suffrage. In 1916, Manitoba was the first province to grant women the right to vote.

• Stop Four: French‐language rights and Métis rights. St. Boniface is rich in human rights history. Louis Riel was one of the first Canadians to draft a bill of rights.

• Stop Five: Human rights now. At the skateboard park in The Forks, visitors will be invited to think about contemporary human‐rights issues that are reflected all around.

• Stop Six: The CMHR. The Museum's architecture incorporates human rights symbolism in every component, promoting respect for others, reflection, dialogue and awareness.

• Stop Seven: Hands‐on activity. Visitors will be invited to participate in an activity designed to inspire a vision and hope for a better future. 

Growing a Better Future
Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Make Thursday family night – a time to discover, play, explore and learn. This outdoor experience is based on the right to food and includes hands‐on activities.

• Stop One: An introduction to human rights, with a focus on the right to food.

• Stop Two: A close‐up on the CMHR, with family‐oriented discussion of its goals and architecture.

• Stop Three: Activity on food security. Mats and lunch kits will be used as part of an activity that helps children learn about global issues surrounding access to food.

• Stop Four: Activity on local hunger. Mats and lunch kits will be used in another game to initiate discussion on hunger and poverty in Canada.

• Stop Five: Activity on helping others. Families will be encouraged to write a phrase about how we can help those who don't have enough to eat.

All tours leave from Via Rail Union Station and are approximately an hour long. Please arrive early; walk‐up tour size will be limited. Special group tours (five to 15 people) and ASL can be arranged at (204) 289‑2123, TTY (204) 289‑2050 or info@museumforhumanrights.ca.