Centre for Newcomer Integration

A Night at the Museum: A Longstanding Celebration of Culture and Community 

July 7, 2025

On May 29, 2025, more than 670 students and guests from RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI) attended A Night at the Museum at the Manitoba Museum. For many years now, this event has offered newcomer students and their families an engaging evening filled with exploration, learning, and connection. 

Since its launch, the event has grown in popularity, and this year marked the largest turnout yet. Attendees explored exhibits ranging from the prehistoric age to present-day Manitoba, including student favourites like the Earth History Gallery, the bat cave and the iconic Nonsuch ship. 

A large group of visitors at the Manitoba Museum observe a dramatic diorama of bison in motion. The exhibit features life-sized models of bison charging across a prairie landscape. Visitors line the railing and move through the gallery.

This year marked a special milestone, it was the first time regional students were able to participate. While the opportunity was open to all regional students, a bus departing from Steinbach made it especially accessible for those studying at CNI’s Language Training Centre in Steinbach. The transportation was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), helping to ensure that regional students could join in the experience and feel part of the broader CNI community. 

Students and staff gather outside the Manitoba Museum as they arrive by school bus for a special event. This year marked the first time regional students, including those from CNI’s Language Training Centre in Steinbach, were able to participate. A bus funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made the experience more accessible and inclusive.

Among the most talked-about moments of the evening was stepping aboard the life-sized ship exhibit. Others were drawn to the museum’s lifelike animal displays, the recreated streets of early Winnipeg, and exhibits that reflected their own backgrounds.  

“My family and I went to the museum and had a great time. We saw different parts of the museum—it was very interesting for us,” one participant shared. Another added, “I really liked the big ship. It felt like a real adventure. At night, there were different sound effects. It felt very real and exciting.” 

A group of people, including adults and children, raise their hands toward a brightly lit wall in a museum exhibit. Multicoloured shadows—red, green, and blue—are cast behind them, creating an engaging and interactive visual effect. The group appears enthusiastic and playful as they interact with the light display.
A large, diverse group of adults and children pose for a group photo inside a museum. Some children sit on the floor in front, while others are held or in strollers. The background includes a large rock display and museum exhibits, with overhead lighting highlighting the group.
A group of six people, including adults and children, smile and pose in front of a large tipi exhibit at a museum. The tipi features traditional designs and wooden poles at the top. The background includes other cultural displays and exhibit lighting, contributing to a welcoming and educational setting.

“It was wonderful when I learned about the Ukrainian community—my home country,” shared one participant, referring to an exhibit on early Ukrainian settlers in Manitoba. For many students, seeing their heritage represented in the museum helped reinforce a sense of belonging in their new environment. 

Another student remarked on how impactful it was to see the traditions and daily life of Indigenous Peoples represented in such detail, noting the value of learning about the original stewards of the land they now live on. These moments of cultural connection and discovery made the experience deeply personal for many attendees.  

A woman smiles at the camera while a young boy sits beside her, interacting with an antique typewriter on display at a museum. Behind them hangs a large sepia-toned photograph depicting a rural farming scene with horses and haystacks.
A woman in a black-and-white striped shirt points at a museum display case filled with vintage postcards and stringed instruments, including a mandolin. She smiles as she observes the exhibit, which is set in a warmly lit, gallery with wood paneling and a staircase in the background.
A large group of museum visitors, including adults and children, gather around a diorama featuring a life-sized bison display. The crowd is diverse and engaged, with many people observing the exhibit closely or taking photos. The setting appears to be a natural history exhibit with modern lighting and signage.

Beyond the exhibits, the event helped build community through social interaction and shared experiences. Students had the chance to practice language skills, meet others, and discover more about Manitoba’s cultural roots. 

“I went to the museum with my daughter. We enjoyed it,” said one student. Another reflected, “Learning about the history of Manitoba and meeting people from different countries made it a special night.” 

A man and two children closely examine a museum display case. The man, wearing a Levi’s T-shirt, points at something inside the case while the children look on with interest. Reflections in the glass show other visitors and exhibits in the background.

The continued success of A Night at the Museum shows how meaningful community-based learning opportunities can be. Thank you to the Manitoba Museum and all CNI faculty and staff who made the evening possible. Your support helps make Manitoba feel more like home for hundreds of newcomer students and their families. 

Two women and a young child observe a museum exhibit. One woman wears a peach-coloured hijab and robe, and the other wears a pink-and-black checkered top with a taupe hijab. In the foreground, a blurred child looks closely at a display. In the background, another child points at bird specimens mounted in a display case.

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RRC Polytech > Centre for Newcomer Integration > News > News > A Night at the Museum: A Longstanding Celebration of Culture and Community 

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