Local 586 will have as many as 70 members working until November
on the new Canadian War Museum.

Canadian War Museum Gets
IBEW Touch

July/August 2004 IBEW Journal

Members of Local 586, Ottawa, Ontario, are taking pride in the new Canadian War Museum in downtown Ottawa, as the building begins to display its architectural magnificence. IBEW inside wiremen working for Univex Canada Ltd. installed temporary lighting to begin the project. Up to 70 members will be performing all electrical work through November.

Kurt Metz, Local 586 safety representative and shop steward, says: "Our members are doing a real good job bringing this job in on time. Over 100 Canadian war veterans die every day. We want this museum to be on schedule to honor veterans of World War II and other conflicts that are still with us."

The museum is structured around four themes: Remember, Preserve, Educate and Regenerate. Lead architect Raymond Moriyama says: "This museum is a tribute to our military past and a salute to the freedom and democracy that has resulted from the sacrifices of the men and women who have served this country."

The museums theme of regeneration is powerfully represented by a landscaped roof that will cover the 45,000 square foot structure of complex horizontal volumes and planes. The museums brochure states: "The roof is a pedestrian walkway, allowing visitors to begin experiencing some of the museums multiple layers of meaning before even entering the building."

The $135.75 million project is expected to generate 1.25 million construction hours before completion. The buildings will include research and library facilities, a 13,000-piece art gallery, a theatre and climate-controlled storage space for military artifacts.

Museum directors expect to attract over 300,000 visitors each year. For more information visit www.warmuseum.ca.