The Montreal Holocaust Museum (MHM) has announced plans to build a US$63m building at Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the borough of Plateau Mont-Royal.
The development will contain permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, classrooms, a 150-capacity auditorium, interactive holograms of survivors and a memorial garden.
A design competition for the extension was launched in December, with a winner to be announced in July.
The 20,000 sq ft extension is funded by contributions from Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications, the non-profit Azrieli Foundation and numerous private donors.
The Montreal museum was built in 1979 and contains 13,500 objects and 858 video testimonies. Some 40,000 survivors moved to Canada after the war, 9,000 of whom settled in Montreal.
Richard Schnurbach, the Montreal Holocaust Museum’s president, said: “The new museum will be ideally located at the crossroads of the city’s museum sector and the Quartier des Spectacles entertainment hub, in the neighbourhood that once welcomed the Jewish immigrant community.”
Daniel Amar, the museum’s executive director, said: “At a time marked by mounting antisemitism, racism, and discrimination against minorities, Holocaust education remains essential to foster awareness and a respect for diversity among citizens.
“For this reason, and following the example of major cities around the world, Montreal is creating a space to promote historical awareness and build partnerships with communities that are victims of genocide, racism, and persecution.”
Benoît Charette, Quebec’s Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism, added: “In addition to addressing the museum’s needs to meet its growing appeal, it demonstrates our government’s commitment to fighting all forms of racism and prejudice.”
The extension is due to open to the public in 2025.
