Digital Museums Canada (DMC) yesterday announced an investment of over $2 million in 18 new online projects developed by museums and heritage, cultural and Indigenous organizations across Canada.
DMC is managed by the Canadian Museum of History, and these projects were selected by a national advisory committee from the 2024 call for proposals.
“This year we received over 150 proposals for inspiring online projects from every province in Canada,” said Leah Resnick, Director, Digital Museums Canada. “We continue to see a record number of proposal submissions from museums, demonstrating their keen interest in digital storytelling and building their online capacity.”
This year, 18 organizations have been awarded funding across the Community Stories and Digital Projects streams. The projects selected touch on a diverse range of topics, including Indigenous heritage and language revitalization, Black Loyalists, military history, immigration, mental health and community health care, sports and the Olympics, visual art, geology, and 2SLGBTQIA+ stories.
A full list of awarded projects, with descriptions provided by each organization, are available on DMC’s website. A few descriptions have been included below.
Community Stories
Black Loyalist Heritage Society (Shelburne, N.S.)
Forged in Fire: The Black Loyalists, 1775–1800
This digital project traces the extraordinary journey of self-emancipated Black Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies to Nova Scotia, the Caribbean, Sierra Leone, and beyond. Drawing on rare primary source documents from archives across four continents, Forged in Fire reframes the Black Loyalist narrative as a transatlantic epic of resilience and self-determination. Curated by Black scholars and descendants of Black Loyalists, the project delves into intersections with Indigenous communities, explores Black-led resistance to colonial systems, and highlights contributions often erased from dominant histories.
Bobby Orr Hall of Fame (Parry Sound, Ont.)
Sport and Anishinaabe Values: Seven Grandfather Gifts and the Seventh Generation Principle in Parry Sound
Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital (Norris Point, N.L.)
The Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital: Community Health Care in Rural Newfoundland, 1938–2001
Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society (Vancouver, B.C.)
The Untold Stories of Force 136 – From Canada to [Hong Kong, India, and Borneo]
In The Untold Stories of Force 136, follow the lives of three Canadians of Chinese descent who navigated a critical period in Canada’s development toward multiculturalism. The Second World War was a crucible of change. These native-born Canadians — voteless and nearly stateless — volunteered to serve in what some described as a suicide mission, for the so-called British Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Special Operations Executive, or SOE). Sent around the world, they participated in secret military operations in Hong Kong, India and Borneo. Today, the community speaks of “one war, two victories,” because the war was only the first of many battles to be won. New research from The National Archives, London provides never-before-seen details from declassified SOE files, allowing a more in-depth understanding of how a community gained its rights in the face of powerful political opposition.
Fredericton Region Museum (Fredericton, N.B.)
Forgotten Loyalty: New Brunswick’s Hidden Connection to the No. 2 Construction Battalion
Forgotten Loyalty honours the No. 2 Construction Battalion, and in particular the region’s local connections to this historic regiment. This project not only highlights the military history of the No. 2 Construction Battalion as a unit, but also delves into the identities of the local men who were members and their significant contributions. This virtual exhibition provides an opportunity to learn more about a previously unseen part of Fredericton’s past.
Harambec (Montreal, Que.)
We’re Here, We’ve Always Been Here: Tracing the Struggles and Contributions of Black LGBTQ+ Women and Non-Binary People in Quebec
Kelowna Museums Society (Kelowna, B.C.)
Kelowna’s Forgotten Chinatown: A Digital Reclamation
Discover the hidden history of Kelowna’s Chinatown, a once-thriving community that has been largely overlooked. This digital project delves into the significant contributions of the Chinese community to the city’s development. Through in-depth research and captivating storytelling, follow along as we reclaim a lost history, honour the Chinese Canadian experience, and inspire future generations.
McCord Stewart Museum (Montreal, Que.)
The Olympic Games in Montréal
The Reach Gallery Museum (Abbotsford, B.C.)
Honouring Semá:th X̱ó:tsa: Community Stories of Sumas Lake
Digital Projects
Art Windsor-Essex (Windsor, Ont.)
IAIN BAXTER&: What’s the Big Idea?
Capital Heritage Connexion (Ottawa, Ont.)
Voices from the Past, Echoes of the Future: Black History Across Canada
This project brings the rich history of 19th-century Black life in Canada to you through an interactive and accessible digital platform. It showcases the migration, resilience, and contributions of Black communities in provinces and territories. Featuring archival photographs, oral histories, short video interviews, and interactive maps, the project immerses you in stories of perseverance and community-building. Designed for students and educators, and accessible to the public, the platform offers school-friendly educational resources and stories that link the past to today.
Gwagwaltama Revitalization Society (Port Hardy, B.C.)
Bak̓wa̱mk̓ala Revitalization, Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw Resurgence: Bringing Their Voices and Dialects Forward
Hesquiaht Language Program (Port Alberni, B.C.)
Voices of Hesquiaht: Stories Carried Through Time
Marieval IRS and Cowessess Gravesite Project, Cowessess First Nation (Cowessess, Sask.)
Preserving the Legacy: The Marieval IRS and Cowessess First Nation Story
Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council (Mill Bay, B.C.)
Branches of Her Wisdom: Stories of Traditional Practices of Food Sovereignty and Cultural Preservation
Pacific Museum of Earth (Vancouver, B.C.)
Mineral Journeys: Pasts, Presents and Futures
Société des arts technologiques (Montreal, Que.)
IN/VISIBLE: Reimagining the Worst Day of My Life
Toronto Ward Museum (Toronto, Ont.)
Driving Canada: A Digital Exhibition
Digital Museums Canada is the largest investment program of its kind in the country, having provided over $22 million in funding to more than 275 projects to date. It offers Canadian museums and heritage organizations funding, expert guidance, and user-friendly tools to tell stories on a variety of online platforms, such as virtual exhibitions and tours, online games, web apps, and educational resources.
2025 Call for Proposals
Eligible organizations are invited to apply during the next call for proposals, which opens on June 15. For more information, visit the DMC website.
