The Château Ramezay Museum is a history museum founded and financed by a non-profit association. The organization is made up of local citizens who volunteer to support the professional staff in working for the good of the community and its various publics.
Our mission : to preserve, make accessible, and interpret, on site, a listed historical monument, by enriching and safeguarding its collection of historic artefacts and offering a program of exhibitions and educational and cultural activities designed to showcase the history of Montréal, from pre-history to the present day.
Our objective : to broaden knowledge and appreciation of our history and heritage and encourage its appreciation by Montrealers and visitors alike, thus fostering shared experiences, inclusiveness and mutual respect.
To serve as a civic institution and an attractive, dynamic instrument of cultural development, attuned to community needs, particularly in regard to the heritage site of Old Montréal. Visitors enter an emblematic historic building which offers the full range of services provided in museums today.
The Museum wishes to perpetuate the values of its founders, that is, to promote knowledge and education, accessibility and inclusiveness, commitment and volunteerism, sharing and partnership.
Our community-based, non-profit association, known as the Antiquarian and Numismatic Society of Montréal, was set up as a « learned society » in 1862. It intervened to save the Château Ramezay from demolition and created the Museum, which opened to the public on May 1, 1895 (see History). The Château Ramezay was the first building the Québec Government listed as a historic monument; it is the oldest museum of its kind in the province. Today, it is one of the few vestiges of New France left in Old Montreal.
We present our collections (see Collections) in a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions. We organize educational and cultural activities designed to introduce and raise awareness of the culture, heritage and daily life of Québec’s inhabitants over the centuries. The Museum includes the Governor’s Garden, a typical example of an urban garden in New France. Many of the Museum’s interpretation tools are available in six languages (French, English, Spanish, German, Japanese and Mandarin).
As a Québec Government-designated '' musée agrée ''or accredited museum, the Château is eligible for financial assistance of approximately 25 % of its annual budget. It self-finances remaining operations through ticketing, rentals, boutique sales, donations and fundraising events, as well as program subsidies. The Museum also relies on partners such as the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the City of Montréal, the District of Ville-Marie, Canadian Heritage, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and the Société de développement commercial du Vieux-Montréal (see Partners).
Our governance structure consists of an Office of Trustees, a Board of Governors and committees, life governors, members and friends of the Museum and professional staff, assisted by some 100 volunteers (see Team).
The Château is a major heritage site in the heart of historic Old Montréal, significant not only for the building and its collections but also for the fact it has remained a vibrant link to the past, anchored solidly in the present. Thanks to our partners, supporters, volunteers and staff, this unique institution perpetuates its mission by fostering its development and maintaining a key role in our society. The atmosphere generated by this historic site, our collections, our guides and our animators combine to provide a one-of-a-kind experience in Montréal.
The Château Ramezay respects the Code of Ethics of the Société des musées du Québec together with that of the ICOM (International Council of Museums).
The Château Ramezay acknowledges its organization's responsibility in developing a sustainable approach and has established a sustainable development policy along with a five-year action plan.
View the complete policy here
Moreover, the Museum of Château Ramezay adheres to the Charte Musée et développement durable of the Société des musées du Québec. The Museum embraces the commitments outlined in this charter.
Over the years, the Château Ramezay has won a number of prizes and awards, including the following :