Human rights museum visited by 212K in first 7 months, annual report says

More than 200,000 people visited the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in the seven months after it officially opened, more than double what was expected, says a report on the Winnipeg-based museum's first year of operation.

The CMHR's 2014-15 annual report, which has been tabled in the House of Commons, also noted revenues reached $1.8 million, more than the $1.7 million projected in the 2013-14 corporate plan that included an opening date of July 2014. The museum ended up opening in September 2014.

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The reception from visitors has been "overwhelmingly positive" to date, museum officials said.

The CMHR welcomed 212,000 visitors between Sept. 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015, "far exceeding the initial projection of 100,000 visitors," the annual report says.

"In December 2014, a visitor survey found 94 per cent of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied by their experience at the museum," the report adds. "Just as importantly, three-quarters of respondents told us they had been inspired to discuss human rights issues with others."

The demand for school visits to the museum has been high, with spaces fully booked last year, the report says.

There was a net loss of $200,000 from museum operations "caused by a mid-year increase in the museum's accrual for payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) to the City of Winnipeg after finalization of the land value for tax purposes," the museum said in a news release.