May is Museum Month / Mai, Mois des Musées is an annual program led by the Ontario Museum Association, celebrating the contributions of over 700 museums across Ontario, alongside 37,000 dedicated volunteers and 11,000 museum professionals.

This year marks the 26th anniversary of May is Museum Month, providing a meaningful opportunity to remind our communities, MPPs, and stakeholders of the vital role museums play in cultural preservation.

With this year’s theme being the value of Ontario museums, we can’t think of a better place to start than the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch. As a museum committed to preserving and sharing Ukrainian Canadian heritage, we invite you to explore the unique stories, artifacts, and cultural contributions that not only shape our community but also enrich the diverse history of Ontario.

Fun facts

• 93% of Canadians agree that museums help them to understand other cultures and communities. (Source: Reconsidering Museums (2021), Alberta Museums Association)

• 96% of Canadians agree that museums contribute to their quality of life. (Source: Value Study of GLAMs in Canada, Report for the Ottawa Declaration Working Group)

• Museums are economic drivers; they employ over 9,000 workers across Ontario to support Ontario’s $26 billion dollar culture industry. For every dollar spent in museums, Ontario sees a $3.7 return on investment. (Source: Value Study of GLAMs in Canada, Report for the Ottawa Declaration Working Group)

• In Ontario, the average arts and culture trip has 3 times the economic impact than non-arts and culture trips. (Source: Ontario Arts and Culture Tourism Profile (2023), Ontario Arts Council)