Canadian Museum for Human Rights first new national museum created in Canada since 1967, and it is the first new national museum ever to be located outside the National Capital Region. On 17 April 2003, the 21st anniversary of the signing of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the establishment of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights was announced as a joint partnership of the Asper Foundation, the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, City of Winnipeg and The Forks North Portage Partnership. The Asper Foundation donated $20 million. Israel Harold Asper, , known as Izzy Asper, is credited with the idea and vision
Winnipeg of the Red River Valley, a flood plain with an extremely flat topography. It is on the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies in Western Canada and is known as the "Gateway to the West". Winnipeg is bordered by tallgrass prairie to the west and south and the aspen parkland to the northeast, although most of the native prairie grasses have been removed for agriculture and urbanization. It is relatively close to many large Canadian Shield lakes and parks, as well as Lake Winnipeg (the Earth's 11th largest freshwater lake). Winnipeg has North America's largest extant mature urban elm forest.