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As announced in June of this year, Charles-Mathieu Brunelle has now taken over as Director of Montréal’s Nature Museums. Mr. Brunelle, an experienced manager and visionary, has been charged with pursuing the development of the four cultural and scientific institutions: the Montréal Biodôme, Insectarium, Botanical Garden and Planetarium.

“In joining the Museums, I want to get closer to life’s origins and everything that is at stake in this regard. I also want to kindle the debate and discussion on environmental issues, and get people thinking and talking about our role with regard to biodiversity,” says the new Director. There will be new projects to address these major challenges, along with other initiatives that are already underway, including the creation of the Montréal Biodiversity Centre and the new Planetarium.

Mr. Brunelle is very enthusiastic to be taking the helm at the Nature Museums. “These institutions are the pride of Montrealers and Quebeckers,” he says, “and have an excellent reputation in international scientific and cultural circles. The coming years hold great promise, especially since the Museums owe their success thus far mainly to their devoted employees working on nature conservation and research and on producing fascinating shows and exhibitions enjoyed by large numbers of visitors.”

Mr. Brunelle will be meeting with the Museums’ employees over the next several weeks. His arrival marks a new chapter, with room for innovative projects, new ideas and an inspiring vision, working hand in hand with the many Montréal Nature Museums teams. “These are inspiring times!”, he says.

About Charles-Mathieu Brunelle
Before taking over as Director of the Nature Museums, Mr. Brunelle spent nine years as Executive Director of the Tohu, of which he is a founding member. He was responsible for integrating a multimedia production centre into Usine C, a project he carried out while director of PRIM, from 1988 to 1993. During that period (1990-1993), he was also Director of the Compagnie Marie Chouinard, where he increased the dance troupe’s prominence on the international scene. From 1993 to 1998, he tackled another major project: the rebuilding and expansion of the Cinémathèque québécoise. As Co-Director of that institution, he also was responsible for bringing leading multimedia institutions, such as the NAD Centre and the Institut national de l’image et du son, into the project.

Mr. Brunelle is currently a member of the Boards of Directors of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and of Culture Montréal, of which he is also a founding member. In addition, he is a founding member of the KARUNA Canada Foundation, an organization launched in January 2008 by Matthieu Ricard, aimed at organizing, funding and developing humanitarian projects in Asia.

Montréal’s Nature Museums in brief

Montréal’s Nature Museums are learning destinations that welcome close to 1.7 million visitors every year. Education, conservation and research are all central to the work of these unique facilities devoted to protecting biodiversity. They also promote environmentally responsible behaviour and awareness of issues key to our planet’s survival.

Website: www.museumsnature.ca

 Photo Credit: Pierre Charbonneau