WINNIPEG – Canada’s Human Rights Museum, with its seven floors of exhibits on the brutality endured by peoples the world over, is expected to be an economic boon to the city.
“If it weren’t for the gross violations of human rights perpetrated by governments and individuals over the course of human history, I’m not sure what Winnipeg would do” said Stuart Murray, CEO of the Museum. “Winnipeg really needed this.”
Asked if opening a human rights museum with a $351 million price tag will contribute in a meaningful way to the local and provincial economy, Mr. Murray admitted he didn’t have any hard numbers but emphasized that, “at the very least it will serve as a powerful reminder that there are places worse than Winnipeg.”
Len Klassen, an unemployed factory worker from Winnipeg’s Point Douglas neighbourhood had to agree. “You know, this area is one of the poorest of any Canadian city. The winters are terrible. But hey, we’ve never had a genocide.”
Several groups, in particular the aboriginal community, have criticized the Museum’s portrayal of their historical suffering. Mr. Murray said that they are taking all criticism on board. He cited for example, a planned interactive exhibit for children called “Find the Aboriginal Women”.
“It’s modeled on the ‘Find Waldo’ game”, he explained. “One of the great things about a human rights museum is that there is no end to the abuses we can curate”, said Gail Asper, the Museum’s founder. “It is a growing industry, if you will.”
As press time, the Museum was finishing work on “The Peg”, an exhibit dedicated to victims of potholes.
