Big Things was a large-scale steel sculpture exhibition series organized by the North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop for the Royal Alberta Museum 's outdoor South Terrace. The exhibition series began as an effort to "expose the public to the richness and diversity of contemporary sculpture in steel, while encouraging a critical dialogue between artists."
41-476: The inaugural Big Things exhibition in 2002 was the first time the Royal Alberta Museum had ever displayed an exhibition of its kind, featuring nine large, abstract steel sculptures. According to the museum's assistant director Tim Willis, " Dealing with abstract sculpture is not part of our core mandate.... It just goes to show how art can transform an inert public space ." Artist Ryan McCourt sought out
82-524: A governing party . Further elements of governance are outlined in the rest of the Canadian constitution , which includes written statutes in addition to court rulings and unwritten conventions developed over centuries. Constitutionally, the King's Privy Council for Canada is the body that advises the sovereign or their representative on the exercise of executive power. This task is carried out nearly exclusively by
123-448: A display of Blackfoot clothing), and new agricultural artifacts were added to the human history gallery. The same year, a diorama of Pronghorns was created as the first of sixteen planned displays of Alberta's natural habitat. In the late summer/fall of 1982, the provincial museum's palaeontology program, including many of the program's staff and collection, was split from the museum by the provincial government. The palaeontology program
164-455: A feature gallery showcasing travelling exhibitions from Canada and around the world, an interactive, 650 square metres (7,000 sq ft) dedicated children's gallery, and a bigger bug room with live invertebrates and visible nursery. The total cost of the new building and moving is estimated around CAD $ 375.5 million, with $ 253 million from the Government of Alberta, and $ 122.5 million from
205-707: Is a museum of human and natural history in Downtown Edmonton , Alberta , Canada, located north of City Hall . The museum is the largest in western Canada with more than 7,600 square metres (82,000 sq ft) exhibition space and 38,900 square metres (419,000 sq ft) in total. The museum was established by the Government of Alberta in December 1967 as the Provincial Museum of Alberta . The museum received royal patronage from Queen Elizabeth II , and
246-631: Is personally represented by a governor general (currently Mary Simon ). A prime minister (currently Justin Trudeau ) is the head of government , who is invited by the Crown to form a government after securing the confidence of the House of Commons , which is typically determined through the election of enough members of a single political party in a federal election to provide a majority of seats in Parliament, forming
287-567: The Government of Alberta began planning for a museum in 1950. In 1962, they hired Raymond O. Harrison, an Australian architect who had been involved in the design of the Vancouver Maritime Museum to direct the planned museum. Harrison was given 5 million dollars to house and staff the museum as well as to build the collections. The museum opened to the public December 6, 1967 as the Provincial Museum of Alberta. On opening day,
328-517: The King-in-Council . On the advice of the Canadian prime minister, the sovereign appoints a federal viceregal representative —the governor general (currently Mary Simon )—who, since 1947, is permitted to exercise almost all of the monarch's royal prerogative ; though, there are some duties which must be specifically performed by the monarch themselves (such as assent of certain bills). In case of
369-573: The Public Service of Canada , and the Canadian Armed Forces . One of the main duties of the Crown is to ensure that a democratic government is always in place, which includes the appointment of a prime minister , who heads the Cabinet and directs the activities of the government. Not outlined in any constitutional document, the office exists in long-established convention , which stipulates
410-502: The Senate ). During its term, the government must retain the confidence of the House of Commons and certain important motions , such as money bills and the speech from the throne , are considered as confidence motions . Laws are formed by the passage of bills through Parliament, which are either sponsored by the government or individual members of Parliament. Once a bill has been approved by both
451-467: The advice of the King's Privy Council for Canada , referred to as the King-in-Council . However, the Privy Council—consisting mostly of former ministers, chief justices , and other elder statesmen—rarely meets in full. In the construct of constitutional monarchy and responsible government , the advice tendered is typically binding, meaning the monarch reigns but does not rule , with
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#1732891970328492-502: The city hall and Law Courts , and east of the CN Tower , on the land formerly occupied by Canada Post 's Edmonton station. The 36,000 m (390,000 sq ft) building, which contains twice as much gallery space, was estimated to cost $ 340 million, and was completed in 2015. Premier Stelmach and the Alberta government have said that the location of the new building could be used for
533-527: The federal public service and federal departments and agencies when used elsewhere. This differs from the United States , where the executive branch is referred to as an administration and the federal government encompasses executive, legislative, and judicial powers, similar to the Canadian Crown . In press releases issued by federal departments, the government has sometimes been referred to as
574-419: The Cabinet ruling "in trust" for the monarch. However, the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers, and there are rare exceptions where the monarch may be obliged to act unilaterally to prevent manifestly unconstitutional acts. The stipulations of responsible government require that those who directly advise the Crown on the exercise the royal prerogative be accountable to
615-456: The Cabinet, which functions as the executive committee of the Privy Council that sets the government's policies and priorities for the country and is chaired by the prime minister. The sovereign appoints the members of Cabinet on the advice of the prime minister who, by convention, are generally selected primarily from the House of Commons (although often include a limited number of members from
656-465: The Crown must select as prime minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons , who, in practice, is typically the leader of the political party that holds more seats than any other party in that chamber (currently the Liberal Party , led by Justin Trudeau ). Should no particular party hold a majority in the House of Commons, the leader of one party—either
697-478: The House of Commons and the Senate, royal assent is required to make the bill become law. The laws are then the responsibility of the government to oversee and enforce. Under Canada's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy , the terms government and Government of Canada refer specifically to the prime minister, Cabinet, and other members of the governing party inside the House of Commons , but typically includes
738-705: The Model , by Susan Owen Kagan. Due to the success of the premiere exhibition, originally scheduled to just last the summer, Big Things was held over until May 2003, when it was immediately followed by Big Things 2 , shown from May 6, 2003 to April 30, 2004. Big Things 2 featured work by the same artists as in the first showing, minus Kagan. Exhibited works include Lust or Love? , by Mark Bellows; Florence , by Andrew French ; Modernist Man , by Peter Hide ; Easter Sunday , by Ken Macklin ; Inside Elevation , by Royden Mills ; and Solus , by Ryan McCourt . Big Things 3 followed, on display from May 8, 2004 - April 30, 2005, with
779-662: The South Terrace. In 2005, Alberta's centennial year, the NESW produced the RAM's Alberta Centennial Sculpture Exhibition, and on 24 May 2005, Queen Elizabeth II visited, bestowing royal patronage. On December 6, 2015, the museum closed down 48 years after its opening in 1967 to move to a new location. In April 2011, it was announced that a new building for the Royal Alberta Museum would be built in Downtown Edmonton , north of
820-597: The Year (2003). The following are current galleries operated by the Royal Alberta Museum: The following were galleries operated by the Royal Alberta Museum when it was located in Glenora: Government of Canada The Government of Canada ( French : Gouvernement du Canada ) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada . The term Government of Canada refers specifically to
861-415: The conventional stipulations of a constitutional monarchy, the sovereign's direct participation in any of these areas of governance is limited. The term Government of Canada , or more formally, His Majesty's Government refers to the activities of the King-in-Council . The day-to-day operation and activities of the Government of Canada are performed by the federal departments and agencies , staffed by
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#1732891970328902-613: The current prime minister's government (e.g. the Trudeau Government ). This terminology has been commonly employed in the media. In late 2010, an informal instruction from the Office of the Prime Minister urged government departments to consistently use, in all department communications, such phrasing (i.e., Harper Government , at the time), in place of Government of Canada . The same Cabinet earlier directed its press department to use
943-466: The elected House of Commons and the day-to-day operation of government is guided only by a sub-group of the Privy Council made up of individuals who hold seats in Parliament, known as the Cabinet . The monarch and governor general typically follow the near-binding advice of their ministers. The royal prerogative, however, belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers, who only rule "in trust" for
984-444: The executive, which includes ministers of the Crown (together in the Cabinet ) and the federal civil service (whom the Cabinet direct); it is alternatively known as His Majesty's Government (French: Gouvernement de Sa Majesté ) and is corporately branded as the Government of Canada . There are over 100 departments and agencies, as well as over 300,000 persons employed in the Government of Canada. These institutions carry out
1025-581: The federal government Building Canada Fund. The collections are divided into four main categories: Between 1989 and 2001, 175 travelling exhibitions were displayed at the museum. Some of which include: Prehistorics Gigantics (1990), Whales! Bigger than Dinosaurs (1992), Sharks: Facts and Fantasy (1993), Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats (1994), Carnosaurs! (1995), Bugsworld (1996), Genghis Khan (1997), Syria-Land of Civilizations (2001) and International Wildlife Photographer of
1066-448: The governor general's absence or incapacitation, the administrator of Canada performs the Crown's most basic functions. As part of the royal prerogative, the royal sign-manual gives authority to letters patent and orders-in-Council . Much of the royal prerogative is only exercised in-council, meaning on the advice of the King's Privy Council for Canada ( ministers of the Crown formed in Cabinet in conventional practice); within
1107-400: The monarch and who must relinquish the Crown's power back to it upon losing the confidence of the commons, whereupon a new government, which can hold the lower chamber 's confidence, is installed by the governor general. The royal and vice-royal figures may unilaterally use these powers in exceptional constitutional crisis situations (an exercise of the reserve powers ), thereby allowing
1148-458: The museum launched the "In All Their Finery" exhibit of aboriginal artifacts as the first phase of the larger "Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture." The complete Syncrude gallery was inaugurated years later in November 1997. This gallery was later complemented with a large purchase from the family of James Carnegie at a Sotheby's auction on 8 May 2006. The sale of the "James Carnegie Collection"
1189-513: The museum's main floor featured galleries presenting the fur trade ; Indigenous Peoples in Alberta ; early photographs of Aboriginal people taken by Ernest Brown and Harry Pollard . Second floor galleries were less incomplete, but featured exhibits on agriculture; " pioneer " life; and industry and commerce. The museum expanded through the 1960s and 1970s with more exhibits, curatorial programs and staff. In 1968, new exhibits portraying Alberta's dinosaurs and "Adaptations for Survival" were added to
1230-481: The natural history section, and permanent exhibits of "Vehicles of Alberta's Past", "Uniforms of RCMP Superintendent H. C. Forbes", "R. R. Gonsett, Inventor" and "Early Building in Saskatchewan" were added to the human history section. In 1969, exhibits on volcanos, the thrush family were added to that natural history gallery, and displays of "Domestic Artifacts of Utility", the history of Indigenous peoples (including
1271-460: The party with the most seats or one supported by other parties—will be called by the governor general to form a minority government . Once sworn in, the prime minister holds office until their resignation or removal by the governor general, after either a motion of no confidence or defeat in a general election . The executive is defined in the Constitution Act, 1867 as the Crown acting on
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1312-430: The phrase Canada's New Government . Canada is a constitutional monarchy, wherein the role of the reigning sovereign is both legal and practical, but not political. The monarch is vested with all powers of state and sits at the centre of a construct in which the power of the whole is shared by multiple institutions of government acting under the sovereign's authority. The executive is thus formally referred to as
1353-517: The programs and enforce the laws established by the Parliament of Canada . The federal government's organization and structure was established at Confederation , through the Constitution Act, 1867 , wherein the Canadian Crown acts as the core, or "the most basic building block", of its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy . The monarch, King Charles III is head of state and
1394-651: The same roster of exhibiting artists. The sculptures exhibited include Moorshead , by Ken Macklin ; Hindu Lion , by Peter Hide ; French Riviera , by Andrew French ; Bassinet , by Royden Mills ; Arma , by Mark Bellows; and Overture , by Ryan McCourt . Big Things 4, from June 3 to October 1, 2006, featured sculptures "Petra" by Simon Black; "Truth and Falsehood" by Andrew French ; "Leviathan" by Peter Hide ; "Caesura" by Bianca Khan; "Destroyer of Obstacles" by Ryan McCourt ; "Between Premonition" by Royden Mills ; and "Trojan Yak Genera" by Robert Willms . Royal Alberta Museum The Royal Alberta Museum ( RAM )
1435-642: The terminal of an Edmonton—Calgary high speed rail line , while the old location will be the site for a new residence for the Lieutenant Governor . Construction of the new building was completed on August 16, 2016, and the opening date of October 3, 2018, was announced on September 12, 2018. The new building is the largest museum in western Canada with more than 7,600 square metres (82,000 sq ft) of exhibition space and 38,900 square metres (419,000 sq ft). The museum features expansive galleries chronicling Alberta's natural and cultural worlds,
1476-790: The venue in part for its cultural context, and in part due to the inherent practicality of the site. "The context of it being at a museum was much more appropriate than having it at the Law Courts or outside the Shaw Conference Centre ," says McCourt, while also noting that the museum's large stone facade and open concrete terrace space is especially conducive to viewing large sculptures. Exhibited sculptures included Tilley , by Mark Bellows; Valour and Cowardice , by Andrew French ; Radiant , by Peter Hide ; Midway , by Ken Macklin ; The Moment You've Been Waiting For and Spanish Castle , by Ryan McCourt ; Almost Whole , by Royden Mills ; and From
1517-556: Was billed as the most significant auction of North American Indian artifacts to date, including a prized beaded dress collected in 1859 which cost US$ 497,600. In 2003, the Habitat Gallery was greatly renovated into a new "Wild Alberta" interactive exhibit. From 2002 to 2006, the Royal Alberta Museum hosted the North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop 's groundbreaking " Big Things " outdoor sculpture exhibition series on
1558-428: Was built, including three new dioramas and a "Naturalist's Study". A temporary exhibit called "The Bug Room" in the summer of 1992 featured live insects, and it was so successful that the museum decided to bring it back as a larger and permanent component of the museum in 1993. A new permanent "Earth Science Gallery" was partially opened in December 1993, though not fully completed until the following May. Also in 1993,
1599-587: Was completed in August 2016, and was opened to the public in October 2018. The museum features expansive galleries chronicling Alberta's natural and cultural worlds, a feature gallery showcasing travelling exhibitions from Canada and around the world, an interactive, 650 square metres (7,000 sq ft) dedicated children's gallery, and a bug room with live invertebrates and visible nursery. The Canadian Federal Government ’s Confederation Memorial Centennial Program and
1640-494: Was renamed the Royal Alberta Museum in 2005. In 2011, plans were announced to move the museum to a new building. The museums continued to operate from its original building in Glenora, Edmonton until it was closed to the public in December 2015. Although the museum was closed to the public, a number of its departments continued to operate, either preparing the museum's collection for the move, or conducting fieldwork . The new building
1681-486: Was spun off in order to facilitate the establishment of the Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology , opened in 1985. Paid admission began in 1990, and to increase its audience the ground floor Indian Gallery was removed and the space used for feature exhibition space. In 1991, the mammal and bird gallery was upgraded with a display on "Survival and Reproduction", and the following year the "Beauty and Science of Birds" exhibit