A historic document considered to be the foundation of modern democracy is coming to Canada, thanks to the efforts of a determined couple.

The Magna Carta, first issued by King John of England in 1215, established that everybody, even the king, was subject to the rule of law. Today, the historic charter is at the foundation of key human rights and legal documents around the world, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In honour of the document’s 800th anniversary, Canadians Suzy and Len Rodness worked for four years to bring it to Canadian soil. The couple fundraised $2 million, and negotiated with multiple levels of the British government to secure the charter’s passage to Canada.

On Friday, it will officially debut at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

The famous charter, which paved the way for rights around the world, will be part of an interactive display, the couple told CTV’s Canada AM on Thursday.

"We’ve tried to take a 13th century document and highlight it in a 21st century medium," Suzy Rodness said.

The display will highlight the history of the document, and its Canadian legacy, leading up to the "crown jewel" of the exhibit: the document itself.

The exhibit features voices describing what life was like at the time of its creation, as well as digital opportunities to look at the pages of the document and its original Latin translation, and a section on civil rights issues around the world.

Suzy Rodness said the interactive display will help people "feel as if they are interacting with the documents themselves and learning and having fun while they’re doing it."

The couple said they were driven to bring the Magna Carta to Canada because of its continued significance.

"The Magna Carta has a true iconic status as a symbol for rights and freedoms worldwide," Len Rodness said.

He pointed to calls to create a "Magna Carta" to democratize the Internet as an example of how the charter continues to influence policy.

The Magna Carta will be on display in Ottawa until July 26, then move on to Winnipeg from Aug. 15 to Sept. 18, Toronto from Oct. 4 to Nov. 7, and Edmonton from Nov. 23 to 26.