Representatives from the federal, provincial and municipal governments and the Children’s Museum gathered on Thursday, August 18 to officially open the Buhler Welcome Centre. They were joined at the event by lead donors John and Bonnie Buhler.
The official opening of the new 3,500-square-foot Buhler Welcome Centre marks the completion of all renovations to the Children’s Museum. The improvements include 12 multi-level galleries, an exclusive toddler gallery called Tot Spot, a multi-functional Arts & Exhibition Centre for travelling exhibits, special events, and performances, along with three educational classrooms for programs and workshops.
“Our Government is committed to investing in infrastructure initiatives that both develop and promote Canadian culture, and create jobs across Canada,” said the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport). “By supporting the renovation of the Manitoba Children’s Museum, we are helping to ensure that Manitobans have access to exceptional creative and artistic experiences in their own communities for years to come.”
“Our Government is proud to invest in important projects like the Buhler Welcome Centre here in Winnipeg,” said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. “Through our Economic Action Plan and projects such as these, we are delivering on our commitment to stimulate our economy, and deliver real results to communities across Canada.”
“The City of Winnipeg is proud to have played a role in making this important project a reality,” said Councillor Gord Steeves on behalf of Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz. “The Manitoba Children’s Museum is a fantastic attraction in the heart of our city and this renovation will ensure it remains a choice destination for families for years to come. I would like to thank John and Bonnie Buhler for their continued philanthropy and commitment to our city.”
“Thanks to the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, and individuals like Bonnie & John Buhler, we are pleased to open the Buhler Welcome Centre, which celebrates the completion of the renovations at the Children’s Museum,” said Diane Doth, Children’s Museum. “We are delighted to offer this remarkable location to the children and families in our community and are deeply appreciative of the ongoing support we receive as we continue with our capital campaign efforts.”
The federal government provided $2.5 million under Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and $1.25 million under Infrastructure Canada’s Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The provincial government provided $1.25 million and the City of Winnipeg provided $446,000. The rest of the funding came from private donors, including philanthropists John and Bonnie Buhler who contributed $800,000, and other fundraising activities.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is providing funding to more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts and to museum collections and heritage displays. The Government of Canada is investing $540 million in the arts and culture sector to stimulate the economy as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. This brings the Government of Canada’s total investment in arts programs to over $1.5 billion over five years.
Click here to download a PDF-version of this media release.
Click here to view photos of this event in our Photo Gallery.
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With 12 permanent galleries, innovative temporary exhibitions, and a variety of drop-in programs, workshops, and special events, the Children’s Museum is a great place for the whole family.
