Canada: New Royal Alberta Museum to foster curiosity, wonder & inclusivity

Albertans and visitors from around the world would be welcomed by museum staff, who have spent the past five years at hard work curating and creating exhibits that invites curiosity, wonder, encourages inclusivity, and tells the remarkable stories of Alberta

Don Iveson, mayor, City of Edmonton, expressed his pleasure at the presence of RAM in the heart of downtown Edmonton and said  “I’m so pleased to see this long-awaited addition to our downtown core. It will enhance visitors’ historical and cultural experiences in our city and encourage more tourism which, in turn, benefits our local economy.”

“The new Royal Alberta Museum is an architectural showpiece where Albertans will see their history, their province and themselves reflected inside the walls of this building. Visitors will experience transformative moments that have shaped our province – connecting our past to our present. Building a museum is a mammoth task and we look forward to welcoming Albertans back to their provincial museum to show what we have accomplished in bringing this world-class museum to life,” said Ricardo Miranda, Alberta Minister of Culture and Tourism

In celebration of grand opening of RAM and to welcome Albertans back to their provincial museum, admission is free throughout the long weekend, from Oct 3 to Oct 8, where visitors can enjoy a variety of cultural music and dance performances.

With its total investment of  $375.5 million -- $253 million from the Alberta government and $122.5 million from the federal government’s Building Canada Fund -- the new museum spans almost 40,000 square metres (419,000 square feet), including more than 7,600 square metres (82,000 square feet) of exhibition space – twice as much as the former Glenora location.

The new space allows RAM to provide visitors with more than 5,300 new objects -- with free admission space dedicated to the Manitou Stone --mand stories to explore, in addition to old favourites that everyone knows and loves.

History of Alberta’s people, animals and landscapes would be showcased in Expansive Human History and Natural History Halls.

Also present in RAM would be an interactive Children’s Gallery designed for hands-on learning through play and a Bug Gallery with a visible hatchery.

“Cultural institutions like the Royal Alberta Museum play a key role in developing dynamic communities and preserving Canada’s rich heritage. The Government of Canada is proud to have supported this stunning new landmark, which will boost the local economy, attract tourists from around the world and celebrate western Canadian history for generations to come,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Federal Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

Randy Boissonnault, MP for Edmonton Centre, on behalf Champagne, “The opening of this highly anticipated facility is great news for the City of Edmonton and the entire region. It will bring an exciting new hub of culture and learning to the downtown core and be a point of pride for Albertans for generations to come.” 

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)