Gabriel Newman was offended by the ad. So were other staff members at the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives.

Newman, the museumB次元官网网址檚 education coordinator, heard an ad on a Vernon radio station from fast food giant McDonaldB次元官网网址檚, saying spending $5 on a McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 lunch was much better than spending $5 at a museum.

Newman posted his disgust with the ad on social media.

B次元官网网址淚 just think it was off-base,B次元官网网址� said Newman. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a non-profit organization. DonB次元官网网址檛 pick on non-profits.B次元官网网址�

The advertisement B次元官网网址� which was pulled by McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 Canada late Thursday morning B次元官网网址� featured a narrator saying you can get a museum tour for $5, followed by a woman playing a role of a museum tour guide and saying, B次元官网网址榯here were dinosaurs and then there werenB次元官网网址檛. OK, then, exit through the gift shop.B次元官网网址�

The narrator returns to inform listeners they could spend their $5 on a kidB次元官网网址檚 meal with a hamburger, fries and drink at participating restaurants.

Newman was interviewed by CBC Radio Thursday morning.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not sure what museum they (McDonaldB次元官网网址檚) were talking or thinking about,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think theyB次元官网网址檝e been to a museum.

B次元官网网址淚t implies that a museum is expensive, or a luxury item. IB次元官网网址檓 worried somebody thatB次元官网网址檚 never been to a museum will think itB次元官网网址檚 out of their reach, and $5 really isnB次元官网网址檛 a lot.B次元官网网址�

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Part of the problem for Newman and the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives is the timing of this.

The ad came out the same week the museum started charging an admission fee for the first-time ever.

B次元官网网址淚t used to be admission by donation but now itB次元官网网址檚 $5,B次元官网网址� said Newman. B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 good for all day.B次元官网网址�

Numerous museums across the province shared in his outage of the ad.

B次元官网网址淎 museum is a place to learn about culture, history, traditions, and so much more. Comparing something like a $5 value meal to the value of education and intellectual growth is quite disheartening; however, we are encouraged to see that McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 reacted so quickly in pulling this ad and apologizing to all Canadian museums,B次元官网网址� wrote the Kelowna Museums Society.

Greater Vernon Museum and Archives is also working toward building a new facility. It houses an extensive history of the city and surrounding areas.

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) learned of the offending ad Wednesday and immediately contacted McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 requesting the ad be removed. CMA also requested that McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 consider beneficial ways to work with the museum sector.

McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 Canada has apologized to Canadian museums.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@vernonmorningstar.com.

roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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