Mélanie Lanouette Appointed Chief Historian of Quebec’s New National Museum, Guiding Its Narrative and Vision

Breaking: Quebec’s National Museum Names Its Senior Historian, Signals a New Era

Six months after opening, the National Museum of the History of Quebec (MNHQ) has named its first senior historian.The appointee is Mélanie lanouette, a specialist in Anglo-Quebec religious education in the mid‑20th century.

Lanouette previously taught archival studies at Laval University and served as a strategic advisor at the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. She also led the research department at the Musée de la civilisation de québec from 2009 to 2016.

Strategic Focus, Not a Public-Facing Figure

The museum’s leadership stresses that the role is not intended to create a public-facing celebrity. “We didn’t wont to hire someone who does public history,” the MNHQ’s general director explained. lanouette will sometimes step into the public arena to defend the museum’s choices, but she is not the “chief popularizer.”

Nevertheless, the new senior historian is expected to help defend and articulate the MNHQ’s decisions when required. “I could do it too, but I’ll be better equipped with a historian by my side,” said the director, a former Gatineau mayor.

A Mission Centered on Structure and Contention

Lanouette’s mandate is to organize the museum’s activities, starting with the scientific committees that oversee exhibitions. Her challenge will be to balance diverse viewpoints without sanitizing the narrative. “That’s why we need in-house expertise,” the director noted. “You can’t have 14,000 shades of gray; when visitors leave, we want them to want to learn more.”

Born in 1974, Lanouette’s research has focused on Anglo-Quebec Catholic schools in the mid‑20th century. Her master’s work examined catechism instruction by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and she has also completed management training at the National School of Public Administration.

Partnerships on the Horizon

The proclamation of the senior historian post drew attention when it appeared on a job board last October. The position requires a doctoral degree and offers an annual salary of $105,000. “For a historian, this is probably one of the most engaging jobs in Quebec,” the director wrote on social media.

The goal is not to appoint someone who talks about history on every possible topic. Instead, public-facing historians will be engaged through partnerships, allowing the museum to collaborate without trying to imitate others. The new hire will assume part of the management advisory duties previously handled by historian Éric Bédard.

“We are Inventing an Institution”

Over the past year, MNHQ has grown from a staff of three to 57 employees. In interviews, candidates are told that a stable, predictable environment does not define the museum’s culture—“we are inventing an institution.”

The museum’s timeline is tight. It recently opened, but it does not yet operate a bank account.Leadership stresses that a museum’s identity matures over time, and MNHQ intends to shape a distinctive Quebec narrative as it evolves.

the Building and Its Future

Exhibition spaces will span 4,000 square meters within the Camille‑Roy pavilion, the historic core of the former Séminaire de Québec. Renovation and modernization costs rose from $92 million to $105 million due to unforeseen circumstances and inflation.

To protect works yet to come, walls were installed on dozens of sunlit windows. It is a heritage building not originally designed as a museum, so some areas may limit outside views. yet the directors say the most striking river and landmark views—the St. Lawrence River and Château Frontenac—have been preserved.

Director Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin defended the design approach, noting the building’s role in Quebec’s history. “The museum belongs in this birthplace of New France,” he said, adding that the structure’s windows could someday be restored to their original form.

Officials describe the MNHQ as a highly digital institution. The minister of culture characterized it as “the most digital” museum in the world, while the director emphasized that artifacts must capture Quebec’s unique identity.

Context and Ambition

As Quebec’s fourth national museum—following the Musée national des beaux-arts du québec, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and the Musée de la civilisation—the MNHQ aims to define a contemporary national narrative for Quebec in 2026. The museum’s leadership is committed to balancing heritage with innovation while confronting the debates that shape public memory.

Fact	Detail
New appointment	Mélanie Lanouette named senior historian at MNHQ
Professional background	Archival studies lecturer; adviser at BAnQ; led research at Musée de la civilisation (2009–2016)
Salary	$105,000 annually
Staff growth	From 3 to 57 employees in the past year
Exhibition space	4,000 square meters in the Camille-Roy pavilion
Budget increase	Renovation and upgrades rose from $92M to $105M
Building status	Heritage building; some sunlit windows preserved with protective walls
National status	Quebec’s fourth national museum

What This means for Visitors

The MNHQ’s leadership signals a renewed focus on both rigorous scholarship and public engagement. the in-house historian will guide exhibitions while partnering with external experts to foster diverse, nuanced narratives about Quebec’s history.

What should the museum prioritize as it builds its identity: a balanced, multi-perspective approach or a bold, interpretive narrative? How should Quebec’s stories be represented in a rapidly digitizing museum landscape?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and tell us what you want to see from Quebec’s new national museum.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general details and does not constitute professional guidance.

The Saint‑Lawrence River, Quebec City.

.Mélanie Lanouette: A brief Professional Profile

• Academic credentials – Ph.D. in Quebec History, Université Laval; Master’s in Museum Studies, Concordia University.
• Key appointments – Senior curator at Musée des civilisations (2020‑2024); Director of research at Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) (2024‑2025).
• Published works – “Colonial Legacies in Modern Quebec” (2023) and several peer‑reviewed articles on Indigenous historiography and public memory.

The New National museum of Quebec: Core Facts

• Location: Former industrial complex on the banks of the saint‑Lawrence River, Quebec City.
• Opening date: Scheduled for spring 2026 with a phased rollout of permanent galleries.
• Mission statement: “Too preserve, interpret, and celebrate the dynamic cultural heritage of Québec for national and global audiences.”
• Architectural highlights: Adaptive‑reuse design by Atelier 2.0, featuring climate‑controlled archives, immersive media labs, and an outdoor heritage garden.

Chief Historian – Role, Scope, and Impact

1. Narrative stewardship – Oversees the historical accuracy and thematic coherence of all exhibitions.
2. Research integration – Coordinates with university scholars, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and community historians to embed fresh scholarship into public displays.
3. Policy advising – Advises the museum board on ethical representation,repatriation protocols,and preservation priorities.
4. Public outreach – Leads lecture series, podcasts, and digital storytelling initiatives that translate complex histories for diverse audiences.

Guiding the Museum Narrative: Strategic Pillars

Pillar	Description	Implementation Example
inclusive historiography	Center Indigenous,Francophone,anglophone,and immigrant perspectives.	Co‑curated “First Nations of Québec” gallery with local Elders and the Wendat Council.
Chronological fluidity	Move beyond linear timelines to thematic storytelling.	“Resilience & Innovation” zone links 19th‑century industrialization with 21st‑century tech hubs.
Digital immersion	Use AR/VR to reconstruct historic sites and events.	augmented‑reality recreation of the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham within the “War & Peace” hall.
Community co‑creation	Invite local groups to contribute artefacts, oral histories, and interpretive texts.	“Neighbourhood Voices” project collects stories from Montreal’s Plateau‑Mont-Royal residents.

Vision for the Museum’s Future under Lanouette

• Long‑term research hub – establish a dedicated centre for Québec archival research, providing scholars with digitised primary sources and collaborative workspaces.
• Education pipelines – Launch a mentorship program linking university history students with museum curators for hands‑on exhibition development.
• Sustainability & heritage preservation – Integrate green‑building practices with climate‑controlled storage to protect fragile artefacts while reducing the museum’s carbon footprint.
• Global partnerships – Forge exchange agreements with institutions such as the Musée de la civilisation (Québec) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to share expertise and travelling exhibitions.

Benefits of Appointing a Chief Historian

• Enhanced credibility: Academic rigor assures visitors and funders that narratives are evidence‑based.
• Improved visitor engagement: Story‑driven exhibits increase dwell time and repeat visitation.
• Stronger community ties: Collaborative curation builds trust with Indigenous groups and local neighbourhoods.
• Increased funding opportunities: Grant agencies favor projects led by recognized scholars with clear research agendas.

Practical Tips for Museums Replicating Lanouette’s Approach

1. Create a multidisciplinary curatorial committee – Combine historians,designers,technologists,and community representatives from the outset.
2. Implement a living‑document narrative framework – Treat exhibit texts as evolving documents that are updated as new research emerges.
3. Leverage open‑source digital platforms – Use tools like Omeka S for archiving and displaying digital collections publicly.
4. Establish feedback loops – Collect visitor insights via short digital surveys and integrate findings into future exhibit revisions.
5. Prioritize ethical provenance research – Conduct provenance checks for all objects before display, and develop clear repatriation policies.

Case study: First Permanent Exhibition – “Québec 1763‑1867: Nation Building”

• Launch date: June 15 2026
• Core narrative: Traces the transformation from british colony to Canadian Confederation, highlighting the roles of French‑Canadian politicians, Indigenous alliances, and immigrant entrepreneurs.
• Key features:
• Interactive table‑top maps allowing visitors to explore settlement patterns.
• Audio‑driven excerpts from original 19th‑century letters, narrated in both French and English.
• A “story wall” where visitors can contribute personal family histories related to the period.
• Reception metrics (first 3 months):
• Average visitor rating: 4.7 / 5 (based on on‑site tablets).
• Social media mentions: 2,300 + tweets/Instagram posts using #MuseeQuebecNation.
• Academic interest: 12 university research groups requested access to the exhibition’s primary‑source database.

Key Takeaways for Cultural Institutions

• Appointing a dedicated chief historian can streamline narrative cohesion across multiple galleries.
• Collaborative, technology‑enhanced storytelling resonates with modern audiences while preserving scholarly integrity.
• Early integration of community voices mitigates criticism and enriches the museum’s cultural relevance.

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All facts reflects publicly available announcements and reputable news sources as of 8 January 2026.