OTTAWA — Parks Canada is building a new home for 25 million archaeological and historical artifacts just outside Ottawa.
The agency says the building is designed specifically to preserve the objects for the benefit of future generations.
The collection includes everything from centuries-old hunting tools to textiles, though most of it is fragments of glass or ceramics that are mainly of interest to researchers.
Much of the Parks Canada collection is in six storage facilities across the country, from Winnipeg to Dartmouth, N.S., but the agency says those buildings no longer meet environmental or security standards and the artifacts they hold will be moved to the capital.
The new 8,200-square-metre facility will provide modern climate control and protection, as well as easier access for researchers and the public, Parks Canada says.
The building will also be built to minimize its environmental footprint through use of energy efficient building techniques and use of renewable energy.
The Canadian Press
