Daniel Quan-Watson has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced the appointment of Mr. Daniel Quan-Watson as the next Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

Daniel Quan-Watson is a former senior federal public servant who held Deputy Minister and CEO roles at several federal organizations, including Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Parks Canada. His work advanced inclusion, Indigenous reconciliation, heritage conservation and public service modernization. A champion of the preservation of history, he made history himself as the first federal Deputy Minister of Chinese-Canadian ancestry.

Since retiring from the federal public service in 2023, Daniel Quan-Watson has continued to serve Canadians through his work as a speaker on leadership, ethics, anti-racism and reconciliation. He serves on several boards and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Canada School of Public Service. He has also served as Interim Senior Executive Officer of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

Fluent in English and French, and regularly working in Spanish, Daniel brings a broad perspective shaped by his experience across governments and communities.

Quotes

"Canada's story is built on the journeys of generations of people who have made this country home. The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 plays an important role in preserving and sharing those experiences. I am pleased to welcome Mr. Quan-Watson as Chair as the Museum continues to preserve and share the experiences that have helped shape Canada."

—The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages

Quick Facts

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax is Canada's sixth national museum, the second to be established outside the National Capital Region and the only one dedicated to sharing the country's immigration story.

Located at the Pier 21 National Historic Site in Halifax, the Museum stands where nearly one million immigrants arrived in Canada from 1928 to 1971. For generations of newcomers, Pier 21 marked the beginning of a new chapter and the start of their Canadian journey.

The purpose of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is to explore the theme of immigration to Canada in order to enhance public understanding of the experiences of immigrants as they arrived in Canada; the vital role immigration has played in the building of Canada; and the contributions of immigrants to Canada's culture, economy and way of life.

National museums are governed by the Museums Act. Under the Act, the Chairperson is appointed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, with the approval of the Governor in Council.

Appointment opportunities for the organizations in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio are posted as they become available on the Governor in Council appointments website. People who are interested can apply online.

Associated Link

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

SOURCE Canadian Heritage