You might not think that Canadian history is a topic that would sustain your interest for too long, but a visit to the McCord Museum will likely change that preconception. With a tagline of “Our People, Our Stories,” the museum is committed to covering the various communities of Canada, and especially the city of Montréal, in all their diversity. Temporary exhibitions focus on the art and culture of anglophone, francophone, First Nations, immigrant, and other populations in Canada, usually from specific points of view, say, late 19th-century Canadian circus posters or a photographer who captured the 1960s art scene in Montréal. A permanent exhibit, “Wearing Our Identity,” includes both traditional and contemporary First Nations costumes. The museum is decidedly kid-friendly, with special events as well as souvenir backpacks and “game cards” designed to bring the exhibitions to life as young visitors search for animals, geometric shapes, and other clues in the works on display.

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A Fine Cultural Highlight

This museum has always been a favorite for both its rotating exhibits and its extensive permanent collection. It is home to 1,451,000 objects, images, and manuscripts—enduring reflections of the social history of Québec and of Canada. Inaugurated in 1921, the McCord Museum has accomplished quite a lot in promoting Montreal to Montrealers via a series of exhibits and workshops. On a rainy day, come and meet Montrealers and learn more about the city inside this exciting cultural institution.

A Unique and Interesting Take on Canadian History at the McCord Musem

“If you want to learn more about Montreal, come to the McCord and explore its mansion full of visual and decorative arts, costumes, and textiles. Visitors will also find fun exhibitions, such as the current show on Bens, the city’s landmark deli, which closed in 2006,” says Nathalie Bondil, head curator at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Read more about her local’s take on Montreal here. This appeared in the November/December 2014 issue.

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