Preparing for your visit

Please provide final participant numbers to our team via email two weeks in advance of your program.

Upon arrival, we allow a discrepancy of no more than five (5) participants from the original number booked. If changes to participant numbers are greater than five (5), cancellation fees will be applicable. It is at the museum's discretion to refuse a group arriving with more visitors than were booked.

To avoid cancellation fees, communicate in writing any adjustments or changes in participant numbers to us, a minimum of two (2) weeks in advance of your booking date. Review our cancellation policy.

We encourage you to teach your students some information about the Cold War and the Diefenbunker prior to their visit. To help with this, you can find above a slideshow with information about the facility, the Cold War, and rules for visiting.

Any additional materials related to the program that you may need to share with your students in advance of your visit will be sent at the time of booking confirmation.

Time and space to eat inside the museum is not included by default in a group booking. If you would like to reserve an indoor space for your group to have lunch, please note that there is an associated $60 cleaning and supervisory fee for use of our historic Cafeteria space. This must be scheduled and reserved in advance of your visit.

Please note that we do not have active kitchen facilities on site. All food must be brought in or delivered.

If you have rented the Cafeteria for lunch, please remember to be respectful of the museum and other visitors during that time. We ask that groups aim to keep their noise level down and to tidy the space before they leave.

The Diefenbunker is a 100,000-square-foot historic site. As such, please ensure all participants bring closed-toe shoes.

Please note that our washrooms are original to the facility and use is limited. If possible, we recommend large groups take this into account prior to arrival.

There is no designated or secure space for personal belongings. There is a public coat room, but the museum is not responsible for the security of items left here.

We recommend that students come to the museum wearing name tags that can be easily read by our Museum Guides, to help them build rapport with the students during the program.

The Guard House building, located outside the second gate and on the left side of the road across from the library, is typically open from mid-May until September.

May (long weekend) to August: Please check in at our Guard House prior to entering the museum. Museum staff will provide further instructions.

September to May: If the Guard House is closed, please enter through the second gates and use the doorbell located next to the "Museum Entrance" sign. Museum staff will answer the doorbell and provide instructions to let your group in. Please send one representative inside and down the Blast Tunnel to check in at our Welcome Desk.

There is designated bus parking near the museum entrance, inside the second gate and to the left. Accessible parking is available immediately to the left of the front doors.

If you are running late, please call the museum ahead of time to let us know, at 613-839-0007. Please be advised that if your group should arrive late, we cannot reduce the admission fee nor can we guarantee that your group will receive a full tour due.

We require payment upon arrival. Payment can be made in the form of Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Interac, cheque, or cash. You will not be charged prior to arriving on site.

If you would like to be invoiced for payment after your visit, we must have advance notice. Invoices are generated upon arrival to ensure final numbers are accounted for, and invoices must be paid within 30 days of the visit.

Note that the group rates are only available to groups paying in a single transaction.

If you would like to self-guide through the museum following your program, we require that there always be an adult present with groups of students.

The following minimum ratios are required for student supervision by adults when visiting the museum: 

• Grade 1 – Grade 8 / Secondary Cycle 1: 1 adult to 10 students 
• Grade 9 / Secondary Cycle 2, and up: 1 adult to 15 students 

You will receive a survey via email after your program. We would appreciate your feedback on your and your students’ experience so we can continue to deliver high-quality programs!