An Introduction to the Museum

Canadian Automotive Museum Audio Content

Our bilingual audio tour explores less well-known stories from the collection, in the voices of the Museum’s volunteers, historians, vehicle experts and more.
Transcript:
The Canadian Automotive Museum is an independent not-for-profit charity operated by a volunteer board of directors. I’m Greg Johnston, one of the museum’s current board members. Our museum opened to the public in 1963, with GM Canada President Sam McLaughlin and Lieutenant Governor William Rowe arriving in a horse-drawn McLaughlin carriage to the grand opening.
The first automobiles on display were loans from local collectors, but over the years vehicles were donated, and today we are home to the world’s most significant collection of Canadian cars. Our permanent collection now includes more than 75 motor vehicles.
Each vehicle has its own unique story. While most of the cars you see were drivable when they were acquired, they are maintained in a preserved state and only operated for special events. While the majority of the collection consists of cars built in Canada, you will notice many world-class examples of international cars that came from the private collection of Canadian financier John A. Bud McDougald, who was believed to be one of the richest men in Canada in the 1970s. His wife, Canadian Olympic figure skater Maud McDougald, generously donated the collection to the museum in 1995.
Thanks to our donors, volunteers and community partners the museum continues to deliver its mission to preserve and share Canada’s automotive history.