$400,000 from the Canadian Experiences Fund to Help Improve Visitor Experience at Canada’s Cold War Museum

Ottawa, Ontario – March 4, 2020: The Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum, is ready to transform the overall experience for its visitors, to attract new audiences, and to enhance Canada’s most significant Cold War artefact – the Diefenbunker.

With work already underway, each week this bunker-turned-museum is unveiling major improvements – some are visible like exterior and interior directional signage, compelling exhibition enhancements, the creation of a dedicated youth room, and the development of an 8-language audio guide. As an aging historic site, there are several infrastructure and building improvements that are happening behind the scenes that have a huge impact on how visitors experience the museum, like accessible washrooms and pertinent mechanical and electrical upgrades.

“Tourism is a strong economic driver for Carp. In particular, visitors come from far and wide to experience Canada’s history at the Diefenbunker Museum. With FedDev Ontario funding through the Canadian Experiences Fund, the Museum will be able to update its infrastructure, improve the overall visitor experience, and keep this piece of Canada’s history a strong tourism draw to the benefit of the entire region.”
Karen McCrimmon

Member of Parliament for Kanata—Carleton

“Strong regional economies are essential for Canada’s success and sustainability. For that, we need to work together to make the right investments that will enable communities in all regions of the country to develop experiences to attract more tourists year-round. This investment will help the Diefenbunker Museum to boost tourism and better tell the story of Canada’s Cold War history.”

The Honourable Mélanie Joly

Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages

“We are incredibly thrilled and grateful to the federal government for this important support. The Diefenbunker Museum is truly one-of-a-kind. We are Canada’s, if not the world’s, only Cold War bunker open to the public that operates as a national historic site and museum year-round. This funding allows the museum to not just survive, but thrive as an important historical, cultural, tourist destination and serves to strengthen our own economy as well as the surrounding businesses in rural Ottawa.”

Christine McGuire

Executive Director, Diefenbunker Museum

The Government of Canada is providing the Diefenbunker $400,000 from the Canadian Experiences Fund, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. This represents the museum’s largest investment in over 10 years. The Government of Canada’s support will improve tourism services, youth programs, and overall infrastructure and sustainability of this national historic site. Certain developments remain top-secret and will be unveiled in the months to come. The projects are set to be fully complete by the end of 2020.
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