Nearly $21 million to proceed with the Outaouais Regional Museum

Drazen Seslija

After decades of waiting, the Outaouais Regional Museum project has reached a major milestone. On July 17, the Minister of Culture and Communications Mathieu Lacombe announced the allocation of nearly $21 million to proceed with this long-awaited museum in the region.

According to the Quebec government, this financial assistance reflects a commitment to further cultural development in the Outaouais region, which has been calling for increased support for its heritage institutions for several years. The funding will allow the continued development of the Outaouais Regional Museum and its establishment on the Fonderie site in Gatineau.

The future museum will become a regional cultural hub dedicated to showcasing the history, heritage, and identity of the Outaouais.

“We committed to catching up culturally in the Outaouais region," announced Mathieu Lacombe. "Today, we are delivering on that commitment.” According to the minister, the project demonstrates the mobilization of the regional community and will contribute to enriching the cultural offerings while strengthening the population’s sense of belonging.

A welcomed regional mobilization

The chair of the board of directors of the Outaouais Regional Museum, Jean-Marc Blais, emphasized the importance of this announcement for a region that has long been mobilized. “This announcement is first and foremost for a region that has never stopped believing in its museum,” he stated, noting that the project will become a gathering place for citizens and visitors wishing to discover the stories and heritage of the Outaouais.

Hull MNA Suzanne Tremblay described the announcement as a historic moment for the region, stating that this investment will finally provide the Outaouais with a museum institution worthy of its rich history.

Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette reiterated the city's commitment to the project since 2016. She believes this contribution from the Quebec government represents a decisive step toward the creation of a major cultural infrastructure in the city centre. "This is an opportunity to rethink how we bring culture to life in the heart of our downtown: pooling our resources, creating synergies, and bringing together key cultural players," she said.

With this announcement, the Outaouais Regional Museum takes another step toward becoming a reality, a project presented as a symbol of regional pride and a tool for transmitting the collective history of the Outaouais.