From the Way of St. James, to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, to Mecca, to the shores of the Ganges: pilgrimage sites across the world attract tens of millions of visitors every year. Religious duty, spiritual tourism, personal quest…each pilgrim who takes to the road is driven by a personal motivation or goal that shapes their unique path.

With 1.3 million visitors per year, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is the busiest of our national museums. Taking on the job of President and CEO of the corporation that manages it (and the Canadian War Museum as well) can be a daunting task. Appointed in June 2011, Mark O’Neill has eagerly accepted the challenge and sees this new adventure as an opportunity to push back the frontiers of excellence.

Let’s take a look at our national museum of social history through the eyes of its new CEO.

Numerous events have marked Canada’s social history over the past 75 years. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of CBC/Radio-Canada, experts from the Canadian Museum of Civilization, in collaboration with our public broadcaster, invite you to explore the impact of hockey and of Expo 67 on Canadian society – two elements that unmistakably shaped the history of our country.