Museum brings back past, helps build future

CEIU members in Toronto took a unique – and highly successful—approach to fundraising for the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC). Using materials provided by staff in various departments, they created a museum that captured working life in the government from decades past. The $5 admission fee to the museum went into the local’s GCWCC collection, helping it exceed its original fundraising goal.

Local member Kim Toth provided both the idea for the museum and much of the energy and organization needed to make it a reality. As the local coordinator for GCWCC, she saw the museum as an effective fundraising tool and an interesting window on the past. “Seeing how government work was done years ago was a strong draw for many members across the greater Toronto area,” she said “and I want to thank them again for their terrific support.”

The local, located at 25 St. Clair Avenue, shares a building with a number of government departments. Members in the EI unit contributed legislation, documents and other materials that showed how their work was done in years gone by. CIC staff provided posters that dated back to 1924 and the CIC archives in Ottawa supplied over 100 photos from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. Veterans Affairs contributed a display of war medals and copies of overseas telegraphs to soldier’s families, and Canada Post set up a post office exhibit that included stamps and photos.

CEIU provided a union display made up of tee shirts, strike pins and posters. Also included was a 45-rpm record from the 1980 CR strike that had been sold to raise money for the strike fund.

Providing the “bones” of the museum fell to all of the staff. They brought in the furniture, decorations and office equipment needed to create the work environment of the past. But it wasn’t all about work. The popular culture of the times was captured with everything from a display of silent Canadian movie star Mary Pickford to the 1930’s champion racehorse Seabiscuit.

The goal of the museum, of course, was to use the past to raise money for the future. The GCWCC provides funds for a variety of charities that work hard at building better futures in communities across Canada. “Building and running the museum was a lot of fun,” said Toth, “but the most gratifying result was level of donations we achieved. We had aimed at $4,854 but reached $8,007. Those donations will help those who really need it.”

Photos of the museum are available here.

Kim Toth in official 1950’s government uniform.