Canadian Museum of Nature

Name

Canadian Museum of Nature

Legal name

Canadian Museum of Nature

Website

https://nature.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural History Museum

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

Keywords

• Natural history museum
• Biodiversity collections
• Science education programs
• Public exhibitions
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Daytime general admission tickets sold to individual visitors, families, and groups. Pricing varies by age category (adult, senior, youth, child, senior). Special exhibitions included with general admission.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership passes offering free admission, discounts at Nature Boutique, and exclusive access to member events. Members receive 10% discount on boutique purchases.
3. Facility Rentals: Venue rentals for private events including weddings, cocktails, banquets, meetings, and conferences. Spaces include the Salon, Rotunda, and gallery spaces. Up to 200 guests accommodated.
4. Government Funding: As a Crown corporation reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the museum receives government appropriations for operations and capital expenditures. Became Crown corporation July 1, 1990 under the Museums Act.
5. Nature Boutique Retail: Gift shop selling nature-inspired souvenirs, books, toys, puzzles, minerals, jewellery, and clothing. Members receive 10% discount. No museum admission required to shop.
6. Nature Café Food Services: Take-out food and beverage services operated by My Catering Group. Offers healthy food, snacks, and beverages using local producers and seasonal ingredients.
7. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partnership programs for organizations seeking association with the museum's mission. Includes venue sponsorship opportunities and collaborative programs.
8. Donations and Charitable Giving: Donation programs supporting the museum's mission of saving the world through evidence, knowledge, and inspiration. Fundraising campaigns and major gift programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Canadian Museum of Nature operates a national natural history museum in Ottawa featuring five floors of permanent galleries (fossils, mammals, water ecosystems, minerals, birds, Arctic wildlife), rotating special exhibitions, ultra-high-definition films, and educational programs. It maintains 15 million scientific specimens at its Natural Heritage Campus in Gatineau, including a biodiversity cryobank, and supplements visitor experiences with a gift boutique, café, after-hours adult events, guided tours, school programs, and event venue rentals for weddings and corporate functions.

Product overview

The Canadian Museum of Nature operates as a Crown corporation museum offering a unified visitor experience centered on natural history exhibitions. The core offering consists of five floors of permanent galleries showcasing fossils, mammals, water ecosystems, minerals, birds, and Arctic wildlife, complemented by rotating special exhibitions and ultra-high-definition movies. Visitor engagement is enhanced through Nature Nocturne adult events, guided tours, school programs, and virtual workshops. Amenities include the Nature Boutique gift shop and Nature Café restaurant. The museum also provides facility rental services for weddings and corporate events. Behind the scenes, the Natural Heritage Campus in Gatineau houses the 15-million-specimen National Collections and the Canadian National Biodiversity Cryobank, supporting scientific research. Membership programs provide ongoing engagement with free admission and retail discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Permanent Galleries Five floors of permanent interactive galleries covering fossils, mammals, water ecosystems, minerals, birds, and Arctic wildlife, available to general visitors with admission tickets.
• Wild Colour Special Exhibition Special exhibition exploring the beauty and science of colour in the natural world, featuring animals, plants, and minerals. Included with general admission.
• Ocean Paradise Ultra-HD Movie Ultra-high-definition film screened in the museum theatre providing immersive cinematic natural history experiences for visitors.
• Guided Tours Secrets of the Museum guided tour led by knowledgeable guides providing behind-the-scenes stories about exhibits and collections, available for groups of 15-30 people.
• Nature Nocturne Events After-hours evening events for adults combining gallery access with live entertainment, dancing, food, and drinks. Four annual events offered.
• Nature Boutique On-site gift shop selling nature-inspired souvenirs, books, toys, puzzles, minerals, jewellery, and clothing, with a 10% discount for museum members. No admission required to shop.
• Nature Café On-site take-out food and beverage service operated by My Catering Group, offering healthy meals, snacks, and drinks from local producers with seasonal ingredients.
• School Programs and Workshops Educational programs and workshops for school groups from kindergarten through university level, complementing gallery visits with curriculum-aligned hands-on science learning activities.
• Facility Rentals Event venue rentals including weddings, cocktail receptions, banquets, and conferences in the museum's award-winning spaces such as the Salon and Rotunda, accommodating up to 200 guests.
• Membership Program Annual membership passes offering free admission, 10% discount at Nature Boutique, and exclusive access to member events for individuals and families.
• Canadian National Biodiversity Cryobank Biodiversity biobank storing specimens from Canada and abroad at -170°C using liquid nitrogen technology, preserving biological material for future scientific research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 million specimens in national collections preserved for research and posterity
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• AquaActioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026National Water Literacy Project launched in partnership with Canadian Geographic and Canadian Museum of Nature. Initiative to engage Canadian youth and educators in water stewardship during Canada Water Week. Includes ReFresh Water! Action Packs, Giant Floor Map, and virtual workshops. Full launch September 2026.
• Canadian GeographiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026National Water Literacy Project partnership with AquaAction and Canadian Museum of Nature. Collaborative initiative for water stewardship education targeting Canadian youth and educators.
• My Catering GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOttawa-based local company providing take-out menu of healthy food and drinks for museum café. Supports Nature Café operations with local producers and seasonal ingredients. Committed to environmentally conscious practices.
• Participating Public Libraries (Ontario and Quebec)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOver 40 participating public libraries across Ontario and Quebec in the Carte Nature program. Libraries distribute free museum admission passes to cardholders (up to 5 people, max 3 adults). Libraries include Ottawa Public Library, Gatineau Municipal Library, and many regional libraries.
• GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational biodiversity data network. Canadian Museum of Nature is a leading Canadian partner providing specimen data. Over 940 million downloads annually worldwide through this partnership.
• IUCN Canada (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost to IUCN Canada Secretariat. World authority on nature conservation status and protection measures. Museum contributes to global conservation knowledge and assessment.
• Arctic Council CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum participates in Arctic Council working group focused on Arctic biodiversity conservation. Advances knowledge and understanding of Arctic environmental issues.
• American Alliance of MuseumsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum participates in this major international museum association for professional development, standards, and best practices.
• ICOM (International Council of Museums)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum participates in ICOM, the international organization of museums and museum professionals working to conserve, ensure continuity, and increase public access to the world's natural and cultural heritage.
• Canadian Alliance of Natural History MuseumsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of Canadian natural history museums collaborating on shared objectives and national coordination.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Museum of Natural History: One of the world's largest natural history museums in New York City. Comparable in scale of scientific collections, research output, exhibition programming, and educational mission; a global benchmark for natural history museum operations.
• Natural History Museum, London: Premier UK natural history museum with ~80 million specimens. Comparable in collection scale, research mission, public engagement model, and international scientific partnerships.
• Royal Ontario Museum: Canada's largest museum of natural history and world cultures, located in Toronto. Directly comparable to the Canadian Museum of Nature as a national-scale natural history and cultural institution serving general public, school groups, and tourists with permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions.
• The Field Museum: Major natural history museum in Chicago with extensive collections and active research. Comparable in combining permanent galleries, scientific collections, peer-reviewed research output, and traveling exhibitions.
• Canadian Museum of History: National museum located in Gatineau, Quebec — same metropolitan area as the Canadian Museum of Nature's research campus. Direct peer as a fellow Crown corporation offering permanent galleries, special exhibitions, and educational programs to similar visitor segments.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: U.S. national natural history museum in Washington, DC. Closest international peer given its federally-funded status, scale of collections (140M+ specimens), research mandate, and broad public programming — directly analogous to the Canadian Museum of Nature's mandate.

Regional players

• Royal BC Museum: Provincial natural and human history museum in Victoria, BC. Comparable in operating model (galleries, collections, education) but regional rather than national in scope and geography.
• Royal Alberta Museum: Provincial museum in Edmonton with strong natural history programming. Comparable to the Canadian Museum of Nature in offering permanent natural history galleries, school programs, and special exhibitions within a Canadian context.

Broad incumbents

• Science World: Science centre in Vancouver with a strong educational and family programming focus. Comparable in serving school groups and families with interactive science experiences, though it leans more hands-on science centre than natural history museum.

Others

• Canadian Museum of Nature — IUCN Canada: Listed separately because the Canadian Museum of Nature hosts the IUCN Canada Secretariat, making it a peer/enabler to global conservation networks. Useful as a benchmark for the conservation-policy dimension of the museum's activities rather than direct visitor-competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MuseumofNature
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/canadanaturemuseum?gl=CA&hl=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/CanadianMuseumofNature
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-museum-of-nature
• Instagraminstagram.com/museumofnature
• Pinterestpinterest.com/museumofnature

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Museum of Nature