Canadian Museum of History : The history of the museum dates back to the establishment of a museum by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) in 1856. This museum was first located in Montreal, and subsequently moved to the Victoria Memorial Museum Building in Ottawa, which opened its doors to the public in 1911. In 1907, the GSC became a branch of the Department of Mines. In 1927, the Governor General in Council designated the Museums Branch of the GSC as the National Museum of Canada. The National Museum became part of the Department of Resources and Development in 1950. In 1956, the Museum was divided into two branches: Natural History and Human History. The Human History Branch consisted of an archaeology division and an ethnology division.
In 1969, the National Museum was transferred to the National Museums of Canada Corporation under the Department of the Secretary of State, and the Museum's Natural History Branch became the National Museum of Natural Sciences while the Human History Branch became the National Museum of Man. The National Museum of Man was renamed the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) in 1986. In 1990, the National Museums of Canada Corporation was disbanded with the passing of the Museums Act (S.C. 1990, c. 3), and the CMC became its own corporate entity as a Crown corporation. On December 12, 2013, the CMC was renamed the Canadian Museum of History through amendments to the Museums Act, which changed both the name and the mandate of the museum.
The Canadian Museum of History oversees the operation of three museums: the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum and the Virtual Museum of New France. It also manages the Canadian Children's Museum and is now responsible for the Virtual Museum of Canada.
The mandate of the Canadian Museum of History is to enhance Canadians' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of events, experiences, people and objects that reflect and have shaped Canada's history and identity, and also to enhance their awareness of world history and cultures.
The Canadian Museum of History is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of 11 members including a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a nine other members. These members are appointed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages with the approval of the Governor in Council. The Board, accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, provides broad strategic direction and oversight. Currently it is composed of six Committees including the Executive Committee; the Audit Committee; the Development Committee; the Finance Committee; the Governance Committee and the Canadian War Museum Committee. The Board appoints a President and Chief Executive Officer, who directs all of the Corporation's activities.
