About the Museum
Awards and Honours
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The book Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927 receives award from the Costume Society of America
The McCord Stewart Museum is pleased to announce that Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927 has received the 2026 Millia Davenport Publication Award from the Costume Society of America. The book was praised by the jury for its depth and level of scholarship, sensitive treatment of challenging topics, the volume and quality of the illustrations, as well as its overall design.
Excellence
Awards granted toward our remarkable realisations
- 2026 Millia Davenport Publication Award for Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927, from the Costume Society of America.
- Télé-Québec Audience Award, finalist with the most votes from the public, Grand Prix of the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM), 2025
- Excellence award in category 3 for the exhibition Wampum: Beads of Diplomacy ; Société des musées québécois (SMQ), 2024
- Canadian Museums Association (CMA) Outstanding Achievement Award for Social Impact for the exhibition Wampum: Beads of Diplomacy, 2024
- Honourable mention – Exhibitions category, for the exhibition Swallowing Mountains, 2024
- Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums: History Alive! for the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience ; Canadian Museums Association, 2022
- Excellence award – category 2, for the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience ; Société des Musées du Québec, 2022
- 2022 Idea Awards – Bronze, catégorie Best use of local informative and entertainment media for the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience
- 2020 Idea Awards – Silver, Best Non-Standard Use – Non-Media Approaches category, awarded to Jungle for the exhibition The Polaroid Project: At the Intersection of Art and Technology
- Gold Prize, Best Temporary Exhibition Communications for the exhibition Notman, A Visionary Photographer; International Design & Communications Awards, 2018
- Excellence Award, Category 3, for the exhibition Notman, A Visionary Photographer; Société des musées du Québec, 2017
- Excellence Award for the Notman book in the Research – Cultural heritage category; Canadian Museums Association, 2017
- Honorable mention for Wearing our Identity. The First Peoples Collection, the Canadian Governor General’s The History Alive! Award for the exhibition; Canadian Museums Association and Canada’s History Society, 2013
- Outstanding Achievement Award, in the category of sponsorship for the exhibition Transactions; Canadian Museums Association, 2007
- Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award for the exhibition After Notman, touring; Conseil des arts de Montréal, 2005
- Governor General’s Award, 1994
- Grand Prize for Excellence in Architecture; Ordre des architectes du Québec, 1992
- Prix Orange in the renovation category; Save Montréal, 1992
- Award of Excellence; Canadian Architect magazine, 1989
Education
Awards granted for the quality of our educational habilities
- Innovation Award for the project Sharing our memories, our stories; L’Amitié n’a pas d’âge organisation, 2014
- Award for the most rewarding job, Valorisation Jeunesse – Place à la relève program; Intégration jeunesse du Québec, 2013 and 2014
- Outstanding Achievement Award, in the category of Education for the project Les aventuriers nomades, Canadian Museums Association, 2010
- Outstanding Achievement Award, in the Education category, for the project Keys to History; Canadian Museums Association, 2008
- Grade A+ awarded by le ministère de la Culture et des communications du Québec, 2004
Sustainable development
Adoption of updated and transformative vision for sustainable development
- Prix Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins for socio-ecological transition (practices and organizational initiatives) – Sustainable Investment Policy ; Société des musées québécois (SMQ), 2025
- Prix Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins for socio-ecological transition (practices and innovative organizational initiatives) – Guide to Organizing a Sustainable Event ; Société des musées québécois (SMQ), 2024
- Vivats award, Cultural venue category, in collaboration with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, 2024
- Défi sans auto, Montreal East, in the small organization category
Fashion
Richard Martin Award
- Richard Martin Exhibition Award for the exhibition Parachute : Subversive fashion of the ’80s ; Costume Society of America, 2023
- Richard Martin Exhibition Award for the exhibition Fashioning Expo 67; Costume Society of America, 2018
- Richard Martin Exhibition Award for the exhibition Reveal or Conceal?; Costume Society of America, 2009
- Richard Martin Exhibition Award for the exhibition Clothes Make the Man; Costume Society of America, 2003
Team
Awards granted to our personel through the years
- Costume Society of America (CSA) Fellow presented to Cynthia Cooper, Head, Collections and Research, and Senior Curator, Dress, Fashion and Textiles, 2026
- Golden Gable award from the Canadian Cartoonists Association (CCA) presented to Christian Vachon, Curator, Documentary Art and Director, Collections Management for his contribution to conservation and diffusion of Canadian editorial cartoons, 2024
- Prix Relève by the Société des musées du Québéc (SMQ) presented to François Vallée, Head, Exhibitions. This award recognizes the recipient’s achievements in the museum field must demonstrate exceptional mastery of the knowledge required in the profession, 2023
- Canadian Museums Association Award of Distinguished Service was presented to Nicole Vallières, PH. D., Director, Collections, Research and Programmes at the McCord Museum. This award recognizes significant contributions by individuals to the Canadian museum sector throughout the course of their careers, 2009
- Canadian Museums Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Volunteerism, presented to Joan McKim, C.M. one of the oldest and most dedicated volunteers at the McCord Museum. The award was given in recognition of her remarkable contribution to the museum community for more than 25 years in managing and documenting the McCord Museum collections. 2008
- Outstanding Alumni Award presented to Cynthia Cooper, Conservator, Costume and Textiles Collection, by the Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, University of Rhode Island, 2005
Tourism
Awards granted towards our International appeal
- Tripexpert Expert’s Choice award 2023 and 2024
- TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice 2023
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, 2015, 2016 and 2017 winner
- Grand Prix du Tourisme award in the category of Tourist Attraction of the year– 25,000 to 100,000 visitors category; Regional Winner (Montreal), 2014
- Best promotional contest in association with the exhibition, From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly – Beyond the Icon for the Coup d’Éclat! Award; Société des Attractions touristiques du Québec, 2013
- Award for best design of urban integration for the project, The Urban Forest – Pedestrianization of Victoria Street; Conseil régional de l’environnement de Montréal contest, Vers des rues plus conviviales, 2011
- Contest winner for the beautification and cleanliness of the Ville-Marie Borough, window beautification, group category, 2004
- Scottish Cultural Event of the Year for the exhibition The Scots – Dyed-in-the-Wool Montrealers; Thistle Council, 2003
- Ulysse Award; Tourisme Montréal, tourist attraction, 2000
- Bronze prizewinner in the category « Tourist Attraction – less than 100 000 visitors » for the exhibition Across Borders: Beadwork in Iroquois Life; Grands prix du tourisme québécois, 2000
- Ulysse Award; Tourisme Montréal, tourist development, 1997
- National Jury Honorable Mention; Grands prix du tourisme québécois, 1993
Web
Awards granted for our online presence
- Boomerang award, in the category Web site or application – arts & culture, 2015
- Coup d’Éclat! award for website and strategy; Société des Attractions touristiques du Québec, 2015
- The Gold Multimédi’art interactive award for the MTL Urban Museum application, International Audiovisual Festival on Museums and Heritage (FIAMP); AVICOM, 2012
- The Audiovisual and multimedia Télé-Québec award for the virtual exhibition, Where to Draw the Line? Editorial Cartoons in Quebec, 1950-2000; Société des Musées québécois, 2010
- Silver Summit Creative Award, in the Educational Web Site category, for the virtual exhibition The Photographic Studio of William Notman; Summit International Awards (Portland, USA), 2007
- Muse Award, Honorable Mention for the online interactive game Watch the Birdie, in the category History and Culture; American Association of Museums, Media and Technology Committee, 2006
- Museum and Schools Partnership Award for the Web-based learning tools Keys to History and ClioClic, 2004
- Télé-Québec Audiovisual and Multimedia Award for the virtual exhibition Urban Life Though 2 Lenses; Société des musées québécois, 2003
- Certificate in the « Experimental » category for the virtual exhibition Urban Life Though 2 Lenses; Digital Marketing Awards, 2002
Design & Communication
Awards granted to partner studios and agencies
- 2026 Idea Awards – Bronze, category Design, Communications/Poster (serie) for the exhibition Pounding the Pavement: Montreal Street Photography
- Advertising & Design Club of Canada (ADCC) 2025, Bronze – Design environnemental category for the exhibition Pounding the Pavement: Montreal Street Photography
- Advertising & Design Club of Canada (ADCC) 2025, Bronze – Design category for the exhibition brand identity and catalogue, Portraits and Fashion – Quebec Photographers Beyond Borders
- 2025 Idea Awards – Bronze, category books for the Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927 publication
- Finalist, Prix du livre d’art, exhibition catalogue category, 2025, for the publication Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927
- 2022 Idea Awards – Bronze, category Best use of local informative and entertainment media for the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience
- 2020 Idea Awards – Silver, Best Non-Standard Use – Non-Media Approaches category, awarded to Jungle for the exhibition The Polaroid Project: At the Intersection of Art and Technology
- 2020 Idea Awards – Silver, New Brand Identity category, awarded to Paprika for the visual identity of the exhibition Jean-Claude Poitras: Fashion and Inspiration
- Grafika Contest, Special Projet Prize; awarded to Paprika agency, graphic design for Illusions: The Art of Magic, 2018
- Grafika Contest, Quebec best projects of the year in graphic design; awarded to Paprika agency, Book category (entire design) for the Notman book, 2017
- Grafika contest, Quebec best projects of the year in graphic design; awards attributed for Mister Rabbit’s Circus (Cossette) and Montreal Through the Eyes of Vittorio: 50 Years of City Life and Graphic Design (Paprika), the latter having also won a grand prize, February 2016
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