After 14 years of planning and construction, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is just days away from welcoming the public.
With that deadline looming, frantic final preparations are underway at the museum as a small army of construction workers and cleaners work to finish off the details.
“Something of that magnitude will probably have some wrinkles to be ironed out, but that’s OK,” said Louise Proven who is looking forward to seeing what the museum has to offer.
Museum staff members admit not everything will be ready on time.
"There will be a couple of elements that we've got to look at finalizing but it won't in any way, shape or form, take away from the incredible experience that people will see,” said CMHR President and CEO Stuart Murray.
But the 9,000 people who secured tickets to the free preview weekend won’t get to experience the entire museum because tours will be limited to just four exhibits.
Murray said that has to do with time constraints and not delays in construction or planning.
"We couldn't get them through the entire museum so it was really a chance to sort of peak that interest of those people who said 'I have never been inside.'” said Murray.
“We're going to bring you inside and we're going to give you a good demonstration of what this experience is going to be like."
Gail Asper said her late father Izzy, who initially spearheaded the idea for the museum, would be proud of what it has become.
"My dad really wanted to create a national museum in Winnipeg. He didn't think that all national institutions have to be in Ottawa,” said Asper.
The museum would like to draw a lot of out-of-town tourists and hopes its location at The Forks and iconic architecture will help with that.
"I'm not from here, I'm from Alberta but I would love to go,” said Betty Johnson as she enjoyed an afternoon at The Forks.
“I don't think I'm going to make it this time but I certainly will another year."
St. Boniface resident Emilie Morin Fournier has watched the museum take shape over the years and said she looks forward to seeing the inside, although she does have concerns.
"I think that probably over time it will live up to my expectations but right at the beginning, probably they're trying some things out and things are probably not exactly where they will be,” she said.
Museum staff said when the doors open to paying customers on September 27, all galleries and exhibits will be open.
Concerns over the final preparations are not the only controversy plaguing the museum.
A dozen organizations including the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the German-Canadian Congress and the Canadian Polish Congress have asked their members not to attend opening ceremonies or any other events at the museum because they don’t feel issues important to them are being represented.
Murray has urged people to wait until the museum is open and they have a chance to view all the exhibits before they pass judgement on it.
