ABOUT US

WHY DOES CANADA NEED TWM?

Filling a gap in Toronto's heritage sector

Toronto is home to 20 per cent of Canada’s immigrants. Almost half of Toronto’s population was born outside of Canada and over 180 languages and dialects are spoken throughout the city. As one of the most multicultural cities in the world, immigration has been integral to Toronto’s past and present.

While a number of organizations in Toronto have done much work to preserve and document this history, Toronto currently does not have a go-to destination where the public can discover and interact with this wealth of stories. The city needs a cultural institution that strengthens our understanding of immigration history through innovation in interpretation and public engagement. Working with our partners, the Toronto Ward Museum will bring the city’s untold history to life, and engage visitors and locals alike in a conversation about pluralism and what it means for our communities.

What sets us apart

Programming across the GTA

While some Torontonians can trace their history back to the Ward, the reality is that many of Toronto’s more recent newcomer communities now live outside of the downtown core.

Programming developed and delivered by immigrants

Supported by the museum and its institutional partners, immigrants will be invited to co-develop and co-deliver the museum’s programming.

A multi-disciplinary and multi-sector approach

The museum’s partners and supporters come from a variety of industries: academia, advocacy, settlement, heritage, arts and culture. In addition, in an effort to make our work both appealing to the public and relevant to the issues we hope to address, our research and programming will be informed by a wide variety of influences and disciplines.

A focus on individual narratives

Without losing sight of the common global forces that have pushed or pulled migrants from one place to another, we will focus on the lived experiences of individuals. By doing so, we hope to demonstrate the multiple narratives and experiences that have motivated migration to Toronto and that have made it the city it is today.