The Centre d'histoire celebrated its 25th
anniversary!
November 25, 2008, was the
25th anniversary of the Centre d'histoire de Montréal. The crowd of
200 people present at the celebration party included Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of
Montreal, and representatives of the many organizations, as well as the public
and private partners who have collaborated with the institution over the
years.
On this occasion, the Mayor officially announced a grant
of over 3 million dollars from the City of Montreal and the Ministère de la
culture, des communications et de la condition féminine (Quebec), which will be
used to carry out necessary structural and restoration work on the heritage
building that has housed the Centre since 1983. Thus, the former fire station,
dating from 1903, will undergo a major facelift.
The Centre d'histoire will be reopened to groups, by
reservation, on March 16, 2009, and to the general public on May 31, Montreal
Museums Day. Outdoor activities will be offered in March and April, and June
will see the opening of a brand new temporary exhibition on the tumultuous life
of surgeon Norman Bethune, a Montrealer by adoption who became a hero in China
during the Japanese invasion of that country in the 1930s.
The administrative offices of the Centre d'histoire
will remain open during the repair work so that its team can prepare a number of
projects for 2009 and 2010.
The Centre d'histoire de Montréal also has several yearly activities, such as the Montréal Museums Day, the History Festival, Culture Days, the All-Nighter and the Opération Patrimoine Architectural de Montréal.
Check back regularly for more details about these events as they take place.
