Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum, Ottawa, ON Videos

#GivingTuesday is only one week away — on November 28, 2023, the Diefenbunker is participating in this world-wide generosity movement, and we need your help! Show your support of student education and help us raise $10,000 to cover transportation costs to bring students from across the National Capital Region to the Diefenbunker to take part in our unique educational programs. Since the museum opened in 1998, over 11,500 students have engaged in our award-winning educational programs that are linked to provincial elementary and high school curriculum across history, geography, language arts, science, mathematics, and visual arts. With rising transportation costs and limited school resources, it is becoming more challenging for students to participate. $10,000 can bring in as many as 700 students to immerse themselves in history inside Canada’s most significant Cold War artifact, 75 feet underground. With your support, we can reach more youth with important history lessons from the Cold War. Every contribution counts towards providing an impactful educational experience for youth in the region and helps us continue to create this country’s most unique learning environment for present and future generations. We invite you to join the movement: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/diefenbunker/campaign/givingtuesday2023/ You can donate now until November 28. Thank you for your support.

Yesterday, November 16, 2023, we held the final session in this year’s Cold War Speaker Series, where we were pleased to welcome Dr. Christabelle Sethna and Dr. Steve Hewitt, who presented their topic, “Spies, Lies, and Macho Guys: Documenting RCMP Surveillance against the Women’s Liberation Movement in Canada.” They discussed their book “Just Watch Us: RCMP Surveillance of the Women’s Liberation Movement in Cold War Canada,” which features an inside look at RCMP documents from the late 1960s to 80s during the Cold War and second-wave feminism. The presentation focused primarily on the RCMP monitoring and infiltration of the Women’s Liberation Movement in Canada. Dr. Sethna and Dr. Hewitt investigated why this movement was targeted and it was likely prompted due to the RCMP’s fears of left-wing and communist subversion and of foreign interference. Surveillance methods on social justice activism groups were widespread in Canada from the 1960s to 80s. It is through the declassified RCMP documents that we can begin to understand the extensive spy policies and tactics, and their impacts on citizens. Learn more about Cold War espionage in Canada by reading our blog post here: https://diefenbunker.ca/christabelle-sethna-and-steve-hewitt/

2023 Artist-in-Residence Wind Up Radio | Cold Comfort for a Hot World
The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum is pleased to announce that its 2023 Artist-in-Residence exhibition is now open! Featuring the works of collaborative duo Wind Up Radio, founded by Sarah Blumel and Anisa Cameron, “Cold Comfort for a Hot World” explores how we cope in the face of an uncertain future, taking inspiration from Cold War preparedness that the Diefenbunker exemplifies. Using satirical music and video compositions that contribute to a long history of musical responses to nuclear war, Wind Up Radio invites us to consider an unlikely truth: that levity and laughter may be possible — perhaps even comforting — in moments of fear and helplessness. From pandemics to nuclear war, world-scale risks seem to pour over our society daily. How do you cope with our uncertain future? As you journey through this three-part exhibition and face terrifying truths, you just might find yourself humming along! - - - - - - - - - - View “Cold Comfort for a Hot World” at the Diefenbunker between October 21, 2023, and February 4, 2024. Admission to the exhibition is included with general admission to the museum. Book your visit today: https://diefenbunker.ca/artist-in-residence/ . . . Wind Up Radio wishes to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario, and the support of the Digital Arts Resource Centre. #ArtUnderground #BunkerAiR #Diefenbunker #MyOttawa #ColdComfortHotWorld #FunkyInTheBunky #FunkMusic Wind Up Radio - The Band

“When the Skies Rained Boxes”: Northern Canadians and Continental Defence during the Cold War
Yesterday, September 28, 2023, we held the first session in this year's Cold War Speaker Series, where we were pleased to welcome P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Ph.D., who presented his topic, “When the Skies Rained Boxes”: Northern Canadians and Continental Defence during the Cold War. In this presentation, Dr. Lackenbauer discussed aspects of how “military modernization” affected Northern Canadians, and particularly Indigenous peoples, during the Cold War. Did the North affect the military or did the military affect the North? This question was front of mind during the evening's presentation that delved into the coldest part of the Cold War. Learn more about the history of Canadian sovereignty and governance in the North by reading our blog here: https://diefenbunker.ca/p-whitney-lackenbauer/ You may also watch the recording of Dr. Lackenbauer’s presentation below. ------------------------------ Tune in for our next Cold War Speaker Series session on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., where Joanna Smolko and Tim Smolko will be discussing How Popular Musicians Addressed the Cold War in the US and Canada. Register for the Speaker Series: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/diefenbunker/items/489401/?full-items=yes&language=en-us&u=d3e384e0-f922-4b03-98eb-ae7b11f71278&from-ssl=yes&ga4t=G-4391MXCD0H,2080015119.1689872734__1695994721%3BAW-996761542,undefined__undefined%3BG-04LGT7QB1F,__%3B&g4=yes&cp=no&csp=no&back=https://diefenbunker.ca/events/2023-cold-war-speaker-series-sep/&ga=UA-3862425-1,2080015119.1689872734%3B

2023 Permanent Exhibitions Opening | An Inuit Story: The DEW Line | Canada and the Cold War
The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum is pleased to announce that today is the official opening of our two new permanent exhibitions! “An Inuit Story: The DEW Line” and “Canada and the Cold War” honour Inuit stories and invite visitors on an immersive journey through Canada’s Cold War history. Featuring unique artifacts from the Diefenbunker’s collections, dynamic storytelling and diverse perspectives on our history, and hands-on displays, “An Inuit Story: The DEW Line” and “Canada and the Cold War” offer a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity within Canada’s most significant Cold War artifact. Join us in celebrating this milestone achievement as part of our 25th anniversary. Book your visit underground to experience these two new exhibitions – both are included with general admission! More information here: https://diefenbunker.ca/exhibitions/ -------------- "An Inuit Story: The DEW Line" and "Canada and the Cold War" were made possible through support from the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

History. Education. Art. Find it all at the Diefenbunker, 75 feet underground. We invite you to descend into history and experience the variety of unique programs and experiences we have to offer — from tours and exhibitions to youth programs and escape rooms. Book your visit underground: https://diefenbunker.ca/descend-into-history?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=descend_into_history

We've teamed up with our friends Escape Manor to bring you a brand new Escape the Bunker experience - ☢️RADIOACTIVE ☢️ Welcome to Level 100, the Diefenbunker's deepest depths, where you are completely shut off from other visitors. From above comes the faint sound of a bomb siren. A radioactive event has triggered at ground level and your lives are now in the hands of a supercomputer known as D.E.B.R.A. But as your guide slaps a medical ID tag on you and ushers you to the Intake Quarters, you begin to wonder whether your luck is about to run out . . . Book your escape: https://www.escapemanor.com/ottawa/booking?event=5&venue=300

The Diefenbunker is on Tiktok! Join us for fun Bunker facts and videos.

Thank you for your support
Thank you for being part of our community museum. 💛 ☢️ Today is #GivingTuesdayNow. A day when charities, companies, and individuals join together and rally for meaningful causes, like preserving and sharing our Canadian history. Experiencing history together – that’s what the Diefenbunker is about, whether it is from home or underground at the museum. Today, we want to express our gratitude through every like, share, comment, or donation that you make. Thank you. 💛 If you'd like to donate to the museum, your gift of any size makes a huge difference to us: https://givingtuesday.ca/partners/diefenbunker-canadas-cold-war-museum2

CBC Emergency Broadcast Message
Can you imagine turning on the radio to this message playing? This was reality during the Cold War. Did you know that the Diefenbunker houses its very own CBC radio studio? The studio would have been used for making live announcements to our country in the event of an emergency. It was wired into every CBC radio station across Canada. With the flip of a switch it could overtake their broadcasts to do a “break-out” report. If it was impossible to do live announcements, pre-recorded messages (such as this) were also created. #worldradioday #myottawa CBC/Radio-Canada

Our holiday social is underway!

❄️ It’s snowing above ground but it’s warm and cozy underground. Come visit us from 10:30 - 4pm today! ❄️

Happy October 🎃 #WheresHarry #SpookMonth #Creepy

#DidYouKnow we have to exercise our vault door every couple of months? For #TriviaTuesday who can tell me how much our Bank of Canada Vault door weighs? #MyOttawa #MyBunker #Ottawa #BankVault #BOOM

Food 🍔 or Science 🧪??

IT’S OFFICIAL!! We have our very own beer!!! 🍻 We’ve partnered with Ridge Rock Brewing Co to bring you the Bunker Blonde! Available exclusively at the Bunker !!