Canadian Museum of History mourns the passing of Professor Michael Bliss

STATEMENT

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, May 19, 2017 — It is with great sadness that the Canadian Museum of History announces the passing of Professor Michael Bliss, a member of its Board of Trustees. Professor Bliss died yesterday in Toronto.

Since his appointment to the Board in 2012, Professor Bliss contributed in countless ways to both the Canadian Museum of History and its sister institution, the Canadian War Museum. In addition to serving on the Board, he was also a member of the Board’s Canadian History Hall Working Group, where his leadership and guidance were invaluable in the development of the Museum’s new signature exhibition.

“It was a true pleasure and honour to have Michael serve on our Board of Trustees,” said Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History. “In addition to his wealth of knowledge and experience, Michael’s warmth, humour and passion for history will be remembered by all who knew him. His loss will be deeply felt by his fellow Trustees and by employees of the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum.”

The Museum offers its sincere condolences to Professor Bliss’s family and friends.

Professor Bliss, one of Canada’s foremost historians and an award-winning author, taught at the University of Toronto for 38 years. While most of his 14 books ─ including The Discovery of Insulin and William Osler: A Life in Medicine ─ reflected his specialization in medical and Canadian history, he won two National Magazine Awards for business and political writing. In 1988, he won the J. B. Tyrrell Historical Medal of the Royal Society of Canada for outstanding work in the history of Canada. Professor Bliss was an Officer of the Order of Canada and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He was recognized with honorary degrees from McGill University, McMaster University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, the University of Prince Edward Island and the Medical College of Wisconsin. In 2016, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for his work in introducing Canada’s heritage of medical research, health care and scientific achievement to Canadians and readers around the world.

The Canadian Museum of History operates the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum and the Virtual Museum of New France. Together, these Museums function as centres for research and public information on the history of Canada. Their principal role is to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the events, experiences, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history and identity. Work of the Canadian Museum of History is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

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Media contact:
Patricia Lynch
Director, Corporate Affairs
Canadian Museum of History
Telephone: 819-776-7167
Email: patricia.lynch@historymuseum.ca