1999–2000 Annual Report - Canadian Museum of Civilization

The Canadian Postal Museum provides visitors to the
Canadian Museum of Civilization with a look at postal
communications and their importance to the development
of a country like Canada. The CPM includes permanent
exhibitions on philately, postal history and more, as well as
temporary exhibitions on various aspects of postal
communications, and an art gallery sponsored by Pitney
Bowes Canada, dedicated entirely to the presentation of
works of art related to the post. Highlights from the past
year include:
• In February 2000, the CPM welcomed its millionth
visitor since opening within the Canadian Museum
of Civilization in 1997.
• The welcoming of seven apprentices under the
Career Edge Programme of Human Resources
Development Canada.
• The hosting of a major fundraising event on
Valentine’s day.
More than 450 people celebrated at the St. Valentine’s
Day Ball organized by the Friends of the Canadian Postal
Museum (CPM). Held in the Grand Hall of the
Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Ball offered guests
a romantic setting in which to waltz the night away. The
event raised a significant amount in support of the
Canadian Postal Museum.
From left to right: the Honourable André Ouellet,
President and Director General of Canada Post Corporation,
and the Honourable Alfonso Gagliano, Minister of
Public Works and Government Services, present the
cheque to guests and supporters.
Photo: M. St-Jean
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Canadian Postal Museum
• Two exhibitions in the Pitney Bowes Art Gallery,
including the exhibition Celebrating
Newfoundland, commemorating the 50 th
anniversary of Newfoundland’s entry into
Confederation as seen in its stamps; and
Fluorescence, a contemporary art installation.
• The CPM’s Collectors’ Corner continued to
feature fine private collections from Canadian
philatelists. This year’s featured collections were
those of Paul Gray (Canada Welcomes
Newfoundland) and of Pascal Leblond (Twin
Stamps).
• This year’s exhibitions included Write Like an
Egyptian and Stamp Quest, as well as the
popular feature What’s New in Philately.
Sponsored by Canada Post Corporation, What’s
New in Philately always feature the eight most
recent issues. Over the past year, this has
included 21 new stamp series.
• Partnerships with bodies as diverse as BRAVO,
an organization of Ontario visual artists, for the
exhibition Poste Art II; students from the École
secondaire de l’Île de Hull for the exhibition
Stamp Start, and l’Atelier de l’Île de Val-David
for the art installation The Millennium Stamps,
featuring 200 stamps by artists from all over the
world.
• Participation in international organizations
dedicated to postal communications,
transportation, culture and museology.
• Travelling exhibitions and offsite exhibitions,
including Wish You Were Here… in Quebec
City during the summer of 1999 which attracted
close to 6,000 visitors, and Yours sincerely,
L.M. Montgomery at the post office in
Cavendish, P.E.I. from May through September
1999, produced in association with Canada Post
Corporation and attracting more than 18,000
visitors.
• Acquisition of important correspondence from
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as
philatelic collections.
• Ongoing loan programme.
• 177 research requests this past year.
• Organization of the international philatelic
collection, comprized of more than 240,000
pieces.
• Introduction of the virtual exhibition Stamp
Quest.
• Historical research for the new permanent
exhibition Signed, Sealed, Delivered and
research focussing on the Canadian immigrant
experience as related in correspondence.