Close-up of an old gray metal device with a circular window and embossed text that reads 'This device is to be disassembled and rebuilt by a qualified person only. For storage or transport.'

COLLECTIONS

Explore Our Collections

The Canadian Museum of Health Care is home to over 35,000 medical artifacts, which portray the evolution of health care in Canada. From rare medical instruments and archival photographs to everyday objects that shaped patient care, our holdings preserve the stories of innovation, care, and community across generations. Together, these items connect us to the people and practices that continue to shape health care today

If you would like to explore our collections in more depth, discover key highlights, and gain insight into the rich medical history of Canada, we invite you to visit our online collections catalogue. This publicly accessible catalogue provides a window into the stories behind select artifacts in our care and makes it possible to engage with the collection beyond the museum’s walls.

Click the button below to browse the catalogue and start exploring.

Online Collections Catalogue
A vintage metal precision instrument with various screws, knobs, and mechanisms for detailed adjustments, mounted on a rectangular base.

Collections Care for Historical Pharmaceuticals

Are you concerned about the pharmaceuticals lurking in your museum collection or in a donation you just received? This resource package is filled with fact sheets, tips, and practical demonstrations for handling historical pharmaceuticals. Available in both French and English.

Text in black and red displaying 'Financial support from the Government of Canada' and the word 'Canada' with a small Canadian flag.
An antique wooden case containing small glass bottles with cork stoppers, some labeled with old medical or pharmaceutical labels, arranged inside a red velvet-lined interior.

ENGLISH

FRANÇAIS

Person wearing blue gloves holding an amber glass bottle filled with red capsules against a plain white background.

Project Partners

Michelle Hamilton, PhD, Professor, Public History and Shaelyn Ryan, Curator, Western University

Adam Pollard, Curator of Collection

Logo for Woodstock Museum, National Historic Site, featuring a white line drawing of a historic building with a central dome and a weather vane on top, on a teal background.
Logo for The Medical Artifact Collection at Western University, featuring a microscope illustration.
A glass jar filled with white pills and tablets with a red metal screw-on lid.

Erin Secord, Manager, Conservation, Ingenium - Canada’s Museum of Science and Innovation

Emily Turgeon-Brunet, Manager of Conservation Science and Preventive Conservation, and Michael Doutre, Conservation Scientist, Parks Canada

Advice on items in this package was provided by: