One Of Montreal's Most Loved Museums Is Sadly Closing Its Doors For Good

It's a sad day for history-lovers in Montreal — The Stewart Museum, found in the fort on St. Helen's Island, has announced that it is closing its doors for good. 

In a press release on the website, the museum, part of the McCord Foundation, explained that the decision "was made in an extremely difficult financial context with uncertain prospects ahead."  

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According to the release, the reasoning behind the decision includes a decrease in funding and revenue and increased costs, citing the pandemic as a key factor.

The museum will be closed immediately, however, the transition of collections to the McCord and online will take place over the next year. The board plans to minimize layoffs by reallocating its staff to the McCord.

The collection transition will also maintain employment for the coming months. "Closing this museum is heartbreaking for us," says Suzanne Sauvage, President and CEO. 

"But the soul of a museum is its collections, and fortunately, with the support of our teams, we'll be able to increase public and research access to this precious collection. We'll keep alive the legacy of David and Liliane Stewart, the founders of the Stewart Museum."

"Our heartfelt thanks go to all the employees who have done extraordinary work at the Museum for so many years," a post on the museum's Instagram page reads.