Rights museum sanctuary named after Calgary donor

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This article was published 09/12/2010 (5744 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AFTER being emotionally challenged by exhibits in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, patrons will be grateful for Stuart Clark.

The museum honoured Clark on Wednesday by naming a room after him. It will be a sanctuary for visitors who could be shaken by human-rights atrocities chronicled in the museum.

Clark, a Calgary entrepreneur and former Winnipegger, has donated $4 million to the museum over the past four years.

“We are delighted to show our appreciation by unveiling a feature room within the museum — Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation,” said Gail Asper, the National Campaign Chair of Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The room will be at the end of the museum, after visitors experience exhibits of racism, genocide, and torture. Water and medicinal plants are scattered throughout the room to help patrons contemplate and reflect on the content.

“It’s a large gathering place for people to reflect what they saw and talk about it. It’s inspirational,” said Angela Cassie, dirctor of communications of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Clark first donated to the museum in 2006. His latest $1 million contribution was made after he visited the construction site at The Forks.

“Human rights issues are worthy of our time, effort, and financial support — to help improve the world we live in,” said Clark. “My passion for the museum developed out of a strong personal feeling that greater exposure and increased knowledge of human rights issues is required to improve our own quality of life.”

Asper said the private donations helped bring the project, which is slated for a 2013 opening, closer to its estimated financal goal of $310 million. Currently, the museum is $25 million shy of its $150-million private fundraising goal.

“We are expanding our team across the country to make sure we can take advantage of other donors and reach our goal,” said Asper.

Although Premier Greg Selinger has not committed the province to additional money, Asper and her team are still counting on municipal and provincial support for the final leg of the fundraising effort.

“I am very confident we can reach that goal. We’re working with the city and the province, hopefully it won’t be all from the private sector,” said Asper.

 

— with files from The Canadian Press

katie.dangerfield@freepress.mb.ca