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n behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to present this Annual Report, with the theme “Path to Renewal”. As you will see, this past year was pivotal for the Corporation due to a number of coincidental developments—some foreseen, some not.
Message from Chair,
Dr Gary Polonsky A Nation of Innovators
The first and most important of these was the arrival in July 2014 of the Corporation’s new President and CEO, Alex Benay. The Board and I welcome Alex to the Corporation. His experience in the public and private sectors, and his keen knowledge of the digital world in which we live, are extremely well suited to addressing the challenges confronting the Corporation and to implementing its new strategic objectives. I would also like to recognize and thank, on behalf of the Board, the Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, Fernand Proulx, who took on additional responsibilities as Interim President and CEO, steering the Corporation with a steady and capable hand for more than a year prior to Alex’s arrival. The second development—entirely unexpected, but perhaps a blessing in disguise—was the September 2014 closing of the Canada Science and Technology Museum. As a number of long-term facilities issues came to an unexpected head, we were grateful that the Government of Canada quickly stepped in to fund the Museum’s renewal. This new federal funding will help us to create a modern and vibrant science and technology museum that will open just in time to welcome the tens of thousands of Canadians expected to travel to Ottawa in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial year. With the closing of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Board—which was partially renewed this past year with two new Trustees—refocused its attention to a certain extent. The Board is fortunate to have a number of Trustees with significant expertise in building development and project management, several of whom have stepped forward to help guide this important capital project. As members of the newly formed Major Facilities Committee, they will oversee the Museum’s renewal in close association with the Corporation’s management team.
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CANADA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUMS CORPORATION
The “Path to Renewal” theme applies not only to the Canada Science and Technology Museum, but also to new Strategic Objectives for the Corporation and its three Museums. This past year marked the conclusion of the Corporation’s most recent five-year plan, and development of a new plan that will take us into early 2020. The Strategic Objectives contained in the new plan reflect both current challenges and long-term goals. In the years ahead, the Corporation’s three Museums will continue to promote a national culture of science, technology, and innovation, with a particular focus on the innovators of tomorrow. By meeting people where they are—through digital experiences, extensive educational outreach, and a partnership hub that celebrates Canadian scientific culture and enterprise—the Corporation and its Museums will continue to serve as a springboard designed to help launch Canada’s future scientific and technological breakthroughs. With a new President and CEO on board, new Strategic Objectives in place, and an inspiring new Canada Science and Technology Museum in development, our path to renewal is clear. As we continue the ongoing evolution of three outstanding Museums, and the development of ever more innovative programs, we are secure in the knowledge that we are helping to encourage and inspire Canada’s future scientific and technological leaders.