THE MANITOBA MUSEUM
INSIDER
VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 2 • SUMMER 2015
Alloway Hall Expansion Announced
In This Issue:
Museum Honours
Volunteers 2
Fur Trade Exhibit Open
3
The Vault 4
Planetarium Schedule
4
On March 4, The Manitoba Museum announced the first phase
of its Capital Renewal Plan – the $5.3 million expansion and
renovation of our Alloway Hall exhibition space.
Hour of Operation:
Closed Mondays
Open: Tue–Fri 10am–4pm
Sat-Sun, Holiday Mondays
11am–5pm
Summer hours begin May 16
Open Daily: 10am–5pm
Contact:
190 Rupert Avenue
at Main Street
Infoline: (204) 943-3139
manitobamuseum.ca
manitobamuseum
This project has been made possible by over
$3.8 million in lead support from the Province
of Manitoba, and important investments from
the Government of Canada ($1 million) and The
Winnipeg Foundation $500,000). “The expansion
of Alloway Hall is a very exciting step for our
Museum, which will allow us to bring in the
biggest and best travelling exhibits from around
the world,” said Claudette Leclerc, CEO. “The success
of past exhibits such as Dinosaurs Unearthed, Real
Pirates and Wrapped: The Mummy of Pesed has
been a tipping point for the Museum. We believe a
new, enlarged exhibition space is a major part of
building an exciting and bold future for The Manitoba
Museum.” The expansion and renovation will
nearly double the space of the current Alloway
Hall, and will consist of upgrades to the entire hall,
including the replacement of acoustical ceiling tiles
and installation of terrazzo floors, a new theatrical
lighting system, a new sound system and new
security cameras. The majority of the renovation
and expansion work is expected to be completed
by the end of 2016.
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS
MUSEUM HONOURS VOLUNTEERS
On April 20, 2015, the Museum hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation event in
Festival Hall. During our 2014-15 year, 343 volunteers contributed 18,269 hours in all
areas of the institution.
Between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015,
72 Museum members combined to donate
$4,235 to support the Museum in its mission
to collect, preserve and share the cultural and
natural heritage of Manitoba. Thank you for
your commitment to The Manitoba Museum,
and for supporting the work that we do!
At this year’s event, three volunteers were honoured and thanked for their long service
to the Museum. The Museum’s longest-serving volunteer, Doreen Romanow, was
recognized for 45 years of service with the Programs department. Ruth Dowse was
thanked for her 25 year commitment to the Technical Arts department, and Joan
Mosher was recognized for 10 years of service in the Archaeology lab. Our dedicated
corps of volunteers, including the Board of Governors, contributes significantly to the
Museum’s success and achievements every year. Thank you to all of our volunteers –
we couldn’t do it without you!
DON’T LEAVE HOME
WITHOUT US!
Your Manitoba Museum membership grants
you access to over 25 science centres across
Canada. Don’t leave home without us! Bring
your membership cards with you when
travelling this summer and take advantage
of this terrific benefit! A complete list of
participating institutions can be found at:
manitobamuseum.ca/main/support/
membership-2/benefits-2/
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Join us for The Manitoba Museum’s Annual
General Meeting – Thursday, June 18th at
5:00 pm in the 3rd floor Boardroom. For more
information on the Annual General Meeting,
contact Claudette Leclerc, CEO, at
204-988-0630 or [email protected].
To RSVP, contact the membership
office at 204-988-0647 or
[email protected].
(L-R) Noreen Hees, (Volunteer Resources Manager), Doreen Romanow, Jeoff Chipman (Chair, Board of
Governors), Claudette Leclerc (CEO), Ruth Dowse, Joan Mosher
NEW EXHIBIT EXAMINES FUR TRADE IN MANITOBA
Travel back in time with our newest
Discovery Room exhibit Trade: Materials
and Ideas in Transition. Manitoba’s fur
trade began in 1682, and scholars
continue to use as many sources as
possible, like oral histories, archival
documents and artefacts, to better
understand the time period. This
exhibit draws on the archaeological and
ethnographic collections housed at the
Museum, and examines how First Nations
and European communities adopted
and modified each other’s technologies
to suit their own needs. If you look
closely, you’ll find that some of these
technologies are still used today!
Trade: Materials and Ideas in Transition
is open until October 12 in the
Museum Galleries, and is included
with Museum membership.
THE VAULT
Finding Endangered Plants
Contributed by Diana Robson, Curator of Botany
Lori’s Water-lily is a newly recognized rare species in Manitoba.
Everyone has heard of endangered species but
most people don’t know the role that museums
play in their conservation. Before a species can be
legally protected, scientists must prepare a report
that describes the species’ distribution, habitat
and biology as well as noting current or potential
threats to its survival. The first step in assessing
whether a species is rare is to look at museum
collections. The Manitoba Museum has over 47,000
preserved plant specimens in its collection, called
a herbarium. These herbarium specimens and
the data collected about them, help scientists
determine how rare a species truly is.
The botanical curators at the Museum have been
involved in the identification and assessment of
many rare plants including Buffalograss, Hairy
Prairie-clover, Small White Lady’s-slipper, Smooth
Goosefoot and Western Silvery Aster. Most
recently I was involved in the documentation
of a new Canadian species: Lori’s Water-lily
(Nymphaea loriana). Although Lori’s Water-lily
has likely existed in Manitoba for thousands of
years, scientists did not realize it was unique until
they studied old herbarium specimens of it. After
going on several field trips to the areas where
the first collectors found these water lilies, my
colleagues and I were able to collect fresh leaf
samples so that genetic research could be done.
A description of this new species was published
in a scientific journal late last year and it is now
“officially recognized.” As it is an endemic plant
(meaning it is found nowhere else in the world),
I have been working to ensure that Lori’s Waterlily receives protection under our provincial and
federal endangered species legislation.
Every species plays a role in the ecosystem where
it lives. Museum collections help us determine
which ones are in trouble.
(L) Herbarium specimens, like this Small White
Lady’s-slipper, help scientists determine whether
a species is in danger.
(R) The status report on the rare Smooth Goosefoot
was written by the Museum’s Curator of Botany.
The Museum’s Curator of Botany conducts field research
on rare plants like Hairy Prairie-clover and its pollinators.
The Manitoba Museum proudly acknowledges the 2014-15 sponsors and funders.
Alloway World
Exhibits
Educational
Programming
Access For All
Manitoba Day
MuZZZeum
Sleepovers
Explore
Science Zone
Love Thy
Nonsuch
Spring Break
Discovery Room
Annual Community
Celebration
2014 tribute
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
Event Supporters:
SUMMER MUSEUM
ADVENTURE CAMP
Registration Now Open
Our 5-day history- and
science-themed camps
are perfect for children
in grades K-5.
Cost per week
(inc. GST): $175 (members)
$195 (non-members)
PLANETARIUM SCHEDULE
Effective May 16, 2015
Monday – Friday:
2:30 – Ice Worlds
3:30 – Wonders of the Universe
Saturdays, Sundays & Holiday Mondays:
11:00, 2:00 – One World, One Sky:
Big Bird’s Adventure
12:00, 4:00 – Wonders of the Universe
1:00, 3:00 – Live with the Stars
Additional siblings get $20 off per week
For more information, or to register, contact Nicole at
(204) 988-0626, or [email protected].
SHARE YOUR LOVE OF
HISTORY & SCIENCE WITH
YOUR GRANDCHILDREN!
Add your grandchildren to
your Senior or Senior Couple
membership for $10 per child.
Ice Worlds
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
For more details,
call Ashleigh at
(204) 988-0647.
Wonders of the Universe
The Manitoba Museum is a charitable, non-profit organization. Membership
is the simplest way to enjoy the history-, science-, and space-themed learning
experiences the Museum offers all year long. By purchasing a Manitoba Museum
membership, you are supporting the Museum in its mission to collect, research,
preserve and share the stories of our province.