News release details

This holiday season, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) is filled with activities for the whole family that explore human rights in everyday life. Kids aged 12 and under get in free from December 21 through January 5.

Animated films with themes related to children’s rights will be continually screened on Level 7 of the Museum on weekdays starting December 26. These short National Film Board films encourage children to look, think and take action for human rights. 

Visitors can also explore and celebrate human rights during the holidays with special, family‐friendly activities. An in‐gallery activity on Level 4, offered daily from December 26 to January 5, invites participants to match dozens of pictures with the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and share their thoughts on social media. Another activity in the Garden of Contemplation encourages children to see themselves as superhuman rights defenders.

The CMHR will be open on Monday, December 23, closed on December 24 and 25, then open every day from December 26 to January 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallery and architecture tours are offered every day. Don’t miss Friday Night Rights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 27, with special $5 admission, and on January 3, when free admission is offered to all.

This Monday, December 16, the Museum’s Boutique and ticketing desk will be open for holiday shopping from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the rest of the Museum is closed. The Boutique is full of great gift ideas such as hand‐painted tree ornaments featuring the iconic CMHR building, candles embossed with the heartwarming first line of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”) or cozy wraps, sweaters and scarves from fair‐trade sources around the world.

ERA Bistro is offering a special New Year’s Eve dinner to ring in 2020. A specially curated, four‐course menu will be served featuring Manitoba prime rib, pan‐fried walleye fillets or grilled bison striploin, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten‐free options available. Reservations are required.

After the holidays, the Museum will be closed January 6 through 13, 2020 for its annual maintenance week. 

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Holiday season schedule of programs and events at the CMHR:

I Stand Up for Human Rights: Images + Words
Monday to Friday, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Turning Points for Humanity, Level 4
Match dozens of photos with the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in this family‐friendly activity. 

Human Rights Heroes: Self‐Portraits
Monday to Friday, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation, Level 3
Create a collage based on your own photo and human rights defenders’ qualities. 

Animated National Film Board films
Daily, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Level 7
Animated children’s rights themed films by the National Film Board will be screened throughout the day.

Guided tours of the galleries and the architecture
$5 extra (adult rate)
Gallery tours daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in English, 1 p.m. in French
Architecture tours daily (Dec. 26 to Jan. 5) at 1:30 p.m. in English and 11 a.m. in French

Last‐minute holiday shopping
Museum Boutique
Shoppers can choose among many beautiful, fair‐trade, sustainable and human rights themed gifts. The Boutique will be open on Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (when the rest of the Museum is closed) for holiday shopping – and every day that the Museum is open.

Celebrate the holidays with delicious food
ERA Bistro
Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day the Museum is open, and until 10 p.m. on Fridays.
ERA Bistro is a place where friends and family can catch up over the holidays, including brunch on the weekends, as well as Dec. 23, 26, 30 and on New Year’s Day. ERA is also offering a special dinner on New Year’s Eve ($60 per person, reservations required). Closed Dec. 24 and 25.