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According to the museum's website, the mission of the Canadian Postal Museum (CPM),which opened in 1974,is to “tell the story of postal communications in Canada and throughout the world.” The Museum operates “a complete museum programme and acts as a repository to hold objects in trust for the Canadian public. Its mission is to preserve and interpret the material heritage of postal communication within the context of global and societal communications, especially, but not exclusively, in Canada.” Canada Post is a major partner of the Canadian Postal Museum.
In 1988, the Canadian Postal Museum joined the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC), and in 1997, opened its permanent premises within the CMC building.
The Canadian Postal Museum occupies a portion of level 2 of the CMC.
Other services, shared with the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian Children’s Museum, include dining facilities, boutiques, an Imax theatre, visitor services, handicapped services, indoor paid parking, and others.
According to the Canadian Postal Museum website, the Museum is the “only museum in Canada dedicated to 
preserving the heritage of Canadian and international postal communication. The collection, which covers ancient and modern history, science and technology, philately, fine art, architecture, folk art, and the decorative arts, comprises over 150,000 items (including tens of thousands of philatelic items).”
Items in the collection are divided into the following categories: objects associated with the creation of a message (eg. a portable writing desk, ink well and other writing tools belonging to Sir Sandford Fleming, designer of Canada's first postage stamp; messages carried by hot air balloon during the Siege of Paris in 1870; etc.); objects associated with the mailing of messages (eg. letter boxes; 
scales; postage stamps; post office wickets; etc.); objects associated with the sorting of messages (eg. cancellation hammers; cancellation machines; a mail bag sporting postal workers' graffiti; mail car equipment; etc.); objects associated with the routing and delivery of messages (eg. scale models of ships; a leather mail bag; letter carrier uniforms; letter carrier ice grippers; a jeep; etc.); and objects associated with the receipt of messages (eg. elements of post office architecture; mail boxes; post office signs; etc.).
The Canadian Postal Museum features several permanent exhibitions. Signed, Sealed, Delivered is a major permanent exhibition on Canadian postal history. Featuring 400 artifacts, it demonstrates the important role that the post has played in Canadian history. Stamp Quest is a hands-on introduction to stamps and stamp collection. Reflections of Canada is a display of every stamp (nearly 2,500) ever issued in Canada and the provinces. This exhibition also features computer terminals for consulting the Canadian Postal Archives and a programme for schools. What's New in Philately presents new Canadian stamps as they are issued each year.
Temporary, thematic exhibitions are also presented regularly. Postage Stamps: Images of a Country, Postal Pop Culture, and The Rural Post Office are examples of current and future exhibitions.
In addition, the Canadian Postal Museum also hosts regular workshops, performances, and other special activities. Visitors may also take a “Postal Pop Quiz” based on what they have learned in the Museum.
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[Hull.34.sm.jpg](For the entire Museum of Civilization building)
May 1 to June 30:
7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Thursdays to 9:00 p.m. (the Canadian Children's Museum closes at 7:00 p.m.)
July 1 to September 5:
7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays until 9:00 p.m.
September 6 to October 10:
7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Thursdays until 9:00 p.m. (the Canadian Children's Museum closes at 6:00 p.m.)
October 11 to April 30:
Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Thursdays until 9:00 p.m. (the Canadian Children's Museum closes at 5:00 p.m.)
Please consult the museum website, below, for details.
Languages:
Canadian Postal Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier Street, P.O. Box 3100, Station B, Gatineau, QC J8X 4H2.
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