Canadian Museum of History receives record donation from Dollarama family

The Canadian Museum of History has received a financial boost that will fund a special exhibit to be opened on Canada Day.

The Rossy Family Foundation has donated $3 million to support the museum’s new signature exhibition — the Canadian History Hall — and the development of related educational programming for students throughout the country.

In recognition of the gift, the largest in the museum’s history, one of the hall’s three main galleries will be named after the family.

The Montreal foundation is directing $2 million to the exhibition and $1 million to the Rossy Family Canadian History Hall Education Project Fund. The fund will support the museum’s development of complementary educational programming to be delivered on-site, online and in schools.

This will allow the museum to broaden its reach and provide educational experiences to a wider audience.

Larry Rossy, founder and chief executive of Dollarama Inc., said he hopes The Rossy Family Gallery inspires a deeper understanding of Canadians’ collective journey toward the diverse and inclusive society that Canada is today.

The Canadian History Hall, funded by the federal government with contributions from private donors, will tell Canada’s national history through the experiences and perspectives of the people who lived it.

The hall will be divided chronologically into three main galleries, the first of which, covering 13,000 BC to 1763, will be named The Rossy Family Gallery.

The exhibit will open on July 1 as Canadians mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation.