----- Original Message ----- From: "News Media Services" <nmservices@leg.gov.mb.ca> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 11:57 AM Subject: News Release: Culture, Heritage and Tourism **************************************************************************** MANITOBA GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASE News Media Services, Rm 29, Legislative Bldg. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 0V8 Ph: (204) 945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988 E-MAIL nmservices@leg.gov.mb.ca **************************************************************************** April 5, 2004 MANITOBA CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY GIFTS Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson today congratulated the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) History Foundation board of directors on the 10th anniversary of the company's contributions to Manitoba historical organizations through the foundation. The minister also announced a database which will soon be launched on the Archives of Manitoba website. The recipients of the HBC's gifts are the Archives of Manitoba, the Manitoba Museum and Canada's National History Society. During the last decade, the Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation has contributed $18 million to Manitoba to support the work of the archives, museum and society. "Manitoba has become the proud owner of priceless records and artifacts generated, collected and preserved by the Hudson's Bay Company and generously donated to our province," said Robinson. "During this time, the foundation has also provided ongoing financial support to the Archives of Manitoba for the preservation and housing of these records, ensuring their safety and access to them by people around the world." The HBC records were originally deposited in the Archives of Manitoba in 1974 for safekeeping. In 1994, the records were officially donated to the province. The Manitoba Museum houses, preserves and exhibits the HBC artifact collection that was donated by the company to the museum in 1994. The collection, spanning three centuries of the company's colourful history, includes artifacts originating from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, a European-Canadian collection that depicts company life and enterprise, and a fine art collection. In the same year, the foundation set up Canada's National History Society as a charitable organization to popularize Canadian history through the Beaver magazine and several award programs, including the Governor General's Award Program. Robinson also announced the upcoming launch of Keystone, a major electronic initiative that will provide access to records held by the Archives of Manitoba. Keystone will be available this spring on the archives' website, incorporating records of the HBC, the Government of Manitoba, and private individuals and organizations. "This database will make the treasures of the archives available around the clock to people carrying out research in schools, libraries and in their homes," said the minister. - 30 -