# TheMuseum > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/TheMuseum > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/TheMuseum.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheMuseum > Source revision: 1352236228 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{infobox Museum | name = TheMuseum | image = TheMuseum-10KingStW-Kitchener.JPG | established = {{Start date|2003}} | location = 10 King Street West
[Kitchener](/source/Kitchener%2C_Ontario), [Ontario](/source/Ontario) | coordinates = {{coord|43|27|00|N|80|29|21|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | type = [Art](/source/Art_museum) and [technology museum](/source/technology_museum) | director = | president = [Deborah MacLatchy](/source/Deborah_MacLatchy) | curator = | visitors = | website = {{URL|www.themuseum.ca}} }} '''TheMuseum''' (stylized '''THEMUSEUM''', formerly the '''Waterloo Regional Children's Museum''' until 2010) is an art and technology museum in [Kitchener](/source/Kitchener%2C_Ontario), [Ontario](/source/Ontario). It opened to the public in September 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/2593055-director-of-themuseum-happy-with-its-upswing/|title=Director of Themuseum happy with its upswing|date=7 December 2011|work=The Record|accessdate=6 August 2013}} As of 2026, the current president of the museum is [Deborah MacLatchy](/source/Deborah_MacLatchy).{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://themuseum.ca/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=THEMUSEUM |language=en-US}} == History == The building that houses TheMuseum was historically Goudie's Department Store, one of western Ontarios first, and eventually largest department stores at the time, owned by former city council member Arthur Russell Goudie since 1925. The deparment store would close in 1988.{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Shyenne |date=2018-08-01 |title=If Streets Could Talk: Goudies Lane – The Community Edition |url=https://www.communityedition.ca/if-streets-could-talk-goudies-lane/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kitchener |first=C. T. V. |date=2015-08-07 |title=Decades-old safe opened during renovations on former Goudies store |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/decades-old-safe-opened-during-renovations-on-former-goudies-store/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} Since the closing of its former storefront, the building would swap ownership multiple times before reopening as the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum in 2003 after eight years of planning and fundraising. Rebranding as THEMUSEUM in 2010. == Funding and Finances == On the 28th of May 2018, the [BMO Bank of Montreal](/source/Bank_of_Montreal) building adjacent to the museum offered to sell its building to TheMuseum allowing an expansion of approximatley 40,000 square feet, with the bank pledging to donate {{Currency|1,000,000|CAD}} to offset renovation costs.{{Cite web |last=10am |date=2018-05-28 |title=BMO donates $1M and offers to sell building to Themuseum |url=https://themuseum.ca/media/bmo-donates-1m-offers-sell-building-themuseum/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=THEMUSEUM |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Pavia |first=Joe |date=May 29, 2018 |title=THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener to expand into bank next door |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/themuseum-in-downtown-kitchener-to-expand-into-bank-next-door-1.4680862 |access-date=2026-05-02 |work=CBC}} In 2024, museum CEO David Marskell reported that the museum was struggling with financial instability, with 75% of the museums operating costs being made through self-generated revenue. In May of the same year, the museum successfully appealed to the Kitchener City Council for a one-time grant of {{Currency|300,000|CAD}} in emergency funding to avoid the museums closure.{{Cite web |last=Nielsen |first=Kevin |date=May 14, 2024 |title=TheMuseum gets $300K from Kitchener to remain open, develop new funding plan {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10495188/themuseum-gets-300k-from-kitchener-to-remain-open-develop-new-funding-plan/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=CJOY |language=en-US}} But was unsuccessful in a second bid for an additional {{Currency|150,000|CAD}}.{{Cite web |last=Bacon |first=Ashley |date=2024-06-05 |title=THEMUSEUM requests more funding, while regional council looks to cut 2025 property tax increase |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/themuseum-requests-more-funding-while-regional-council-looks-to-cut-2025-property-tax-increase/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} == Exhibits and Programs == TheMuseum operates a range of multiple permanent interactive exhibits and rotating temporary exhibits designed for all ages. It provides both guided programming and open, self-directed activities, as well as outreach programs for schools in the surrounding area. Since 2008, TheMuseum has also run day-camp programs for children.. ==Affiliations== TheMuseum is affiliated with: [CMA](/source/Canadian_Museums_Association), [CHIN](/source/Canadian_Heritage_Information_Network), and [Virtual Museum of Canada](/source/Virtual_Museum_of_Canada). TheMuseum is host to TriCon, a semi-recurring multi-day anime, comic book, and [sci-fi convention](/source/Science_fiction_convention).{{Cite web |title=TriCon 2026 Information |url=https://scificons.com/events/info/27992/tricon-2026 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=SciFiCons.com}}{{Cite news |last=Bueckert |first=Kate |date=May 1, 2026 |title=Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: May 1 to 3 {{!}} CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kate-five-fun-things-to-do-waterloo-region-guelph-may-1-2-3-9.7183484 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260502161533/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kate-five-fun-things-to-do-waterloo-region-guelph-may-1-2-3-9.7183484 |archive-date=2026-05-02 |access-date=2026-05-02 |work=CBC |language=en-US}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commonscat-inline|THEMUSEUM}} *[http://www.themuseum.ca/ THEMUSEUM] {{Children's museums of Canada}} {{Kitchener, Ontario}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Museum}} Category:Children's museums in Canada Category:Museums established in 2003 Category:Museums in Kitchener, Ontario Category:Tourist attractions in Kitchener, Ontario Category:2003 establishments in Ontario {{Ontario-struct-stub}} {{Canada-museum-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [TheMuseum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheMuseum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheMuseum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.