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Celebrate Heritage Day! February 18, 2020

Inside the Diefenbunker.

Celebrate Heritage Day with the theme “2020 Vision: Bringing the Past Into the Future” Tuesday, February 18, 2020 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Ottawa City Hall.

Heritage Day is part of Heritage Week, a nation-wide celebration that encourages all Canadians to explore their local heritage, to get involved with stewardship and advocacy groups, and to visit museums, archives, and places of significance. Heritage Day is a time to reflect on the achievements of past generations and to accept responsibility for protecting our heritage.

In celebration of our past and future, this year’s theme as set by the National Trust is “2020 Vision: Bringing the Past Into the Future”.

Mayor Jim Watson will recognize the importance of this theme by presenting the Ottawa Heritage Day proclamation to the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum and National Historic Site, which strives to increase accessibility, foster partnerships and incorporate technology in order to allow visitors to engage with the Museum in new and inventive ways.

Heritage Day is a chance to recognize the contributions of the many dedicated staff and volunteers promoting heritage conservation and educating the public about our city’s history. Gathering places like museums, and cultural objects such as artifacts and memorabilia are tangible touchstones with the past that can root us in place and nourish the spirit; and intangible heritage – such as traditions, storytelling and more – is at the heart of family and community.

Join the Museums and Heritage Programs Branch in partnership with the Capital Heritage Connexion at Ottawa City Hall and browse informational displays and mingle with over 40 exhibitors at the 2020 Heritage Showcase.

Find out how heritage is being celebrated in your community; and learn about services offered by local heritage organizations, public programs and special initiatives, as well as professional development and volunteer opportunities.

Embrace, explore and enjoy Your heritage places and experiences in Canada’s Capital during Heritage Week February 17-23, 2020 and throughout the year!

Celebrate the richness of our past and the promise of our future.

Event: Heritage Day 2020 Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Jean Pigott Place, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West

Heritage Week - February 17 to 23, 2020

Join us in celebrating Heritage Week and its theme: 2020 Vision: Bringing the Past Into the Future.

Our shared heritage in all its forms has the power to bring people together and create a sense of belonging. Gathering places like faith buildings, town squares, and pow wow grounds, and cultural objects such as artifacts, regalia and family memorabilia are tangible touchstones with the past that can root us in place and nourish the spirit. Intangible heritage – languages, traditional rituals, music, dance, storytelling and more – is at the heart of family and community.

In celebration of our past and our future, we encourage all Canadians – young and old, deeply rooted or new to Canada – to visit museums, historic sites and heritage destinations, cultural landscapes and cultural centres, and connect with traditional knowledge keepers, educators, parents and grandparents to experience heritage on Heritage Day and beyond.

The Diefenbunker is one of the most unique tourist attractions in Canada. Built to protect top officials of the Canadian government from nuclear attack, this once-secret underground bunker is now a museum and National Historic Site of Canada. Explore over 100,000 sq ft of bunker secrets and relive the experience of the Cold War. With its extraordinary engineering and architectural features, the Diefenbunker is a poignant reminder of one of the most turbulent periods of modern history and is true to its past while embracing the future, in the following ways:

  • Visitor Experience: The Diefenbunker Museum recognizes its unique and authentic product, and is focused on visitor growth and how to incorporate new technologies into its exhibitions.
  • Accessibility Committee: Founded in order to increase accessibility of the site in terms of architectural, informational and attitudinal barriers.
  • After forming this committee, practices for displaying artworks and in customer service protocols have been adapted in order to increase accessibility.
  • Partnerships: The Diefenbunker Museum partners with other vital heritage organizations in Ottawa, such as the Haunted Walk and Escape Manor in order to attract a wide range of audiences to the Museum.
  • Cultural: The Diefenbunker Museum is important in the area of arts and culture. The Museum has an artist-in-residence program, has staged plays, such as Dief the Chief, and has held concerts in collaboration with organizations such as Music and Beyond and Megaphono.
  • Fundraising: The Diefenbunker Museum collaborates with other organizations and companies on events and programs in order to raise funds for the Museum.
  • Events such as the Whisky Tasting Fundraiser 2019 bring in new audiences to the Museum and allow visitors to engage with the Museum in a new way.