Campaign Newsletter Spring 2009
Content
Campaign Newsletter
Spring 2009
The
cultural campaign
in
successful
Canada
most
donors to renaissance roM are playing a personal role in shaping the future cultural landscape of toronto, and are transforming the Museum by unlocking the enormous potential contained in its wonderful collections, galleries, programs and buildings. the roM wishes to thank and acknowledge the following donors for gifts of $25,000 or more to renaissance roM and related projects as of april 2009.
Cornerstone gifts $30,000,000 and above Government of Canada Government of Ontario Michael Lee-Chin transforMing gifts $10 million - $29,999,999 Jack Cockwell and Lynda Hamilton Schad Family Teck Resources Limited James and Louise Temerty Hilary and Galen Weston The W. Garfield Weston Foundation prinCipaL gifts $5 million - $9,999,999 Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Thor and Nicole Eaton Elizabeth Samuel Alex and Simona Shnaider Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Leadership gifts $1 million - $4,999,999 Rudolph P. Bratty & Family Brookfield Asset Management Inc. CIBC John and Merrilyn Driscoll W. Robert Farquharson & Family The Globe and Mail William and Patricia Harris Ian Ihnatowycz and Marta Witer / Ukrainian Canadian Community Jennifer Ivey Bannock / Ivey Foundation Patrick and Barbara Keenan & Family Loblaw Companies Limited Manulife Financial Judy and Wilmot Matthews Mr. G. Wallace and Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain The R. Samuel McLaughlin Foundation Peter and Melanie Munk Sir Christopher Ondaatje, O.C., CBE Power Corporation of Canada RBC Foundation Wendy and Leslie Rebanks Ernest and Flavia Redelmeier Nita and Donald Reed ROM Department of Museum Volunteers Scotiabank Group Sigmund Samuel Gallery Fund St. Joseph Communications TD Bank Financial Group Shokokai Richard Wernham and Julia West Red and Brenda Wilson Alfred G. Wirth Anonymous (4) foUnding gifts $250,000 - $999,999 Bram and Bluma Appel ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc. Shirley and Edward Barr Roloff Beny Foundation BMO Financial Group Canon Canada Inc. Cargill Meat Solutions Jeanne Timmins Costello Trust De Beers Canada Inc. Department of Canadian Heritage Virtual Museum of Canada Fredrik S. Eaton Murray Frum and Nancy Lockhart GE Canada Government of Ontario - Ministry of Culture Capital Rehabilitation Fund Embassy of Greece Adrian Hartog and Jasmine Vujasinovic Hartog Alexandra and Julia Holgate Philip N. Holtby Honda Canada Inc. HSBC Bank Canada John Hunkin and Susan Crocker Irving Tissue Estate of Beryl Ivey Richard M. Ivey and Beryl Ivey Tom Kierans and Mary Janigan Kruger Products Limited Estate of Campbell Alexander Leckie A. G. Leventis Foundation Linamar Corporation Magna International Inc. Maple Leaf Foods Estate of Dorothy Muriel Matson Brenda and James McCutcheon Audrey and David Mirvish Mitsui & Co., (Canada) Ltd. Nienkämper Furniture Robert E. Pierce & Family Assuntino and Angelina Ricciuto RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust La Fondation Sackler (The Sackler Foundation) Sony Canada Estate of Henrietta E. Stevenson The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Toyota Canada Inc. Vale Inco Limited W Studio Carpets & Alan Pourvakil Estate of Isabel Carey Warne John J. Wood MaJor gifts $100,000 - $249,999 Arius3D Canada James C. Baillie Marilyn and Charles Baillie Bell Canada Better Beef Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Fran and Lawrence Bloomberg Jean-Raymond Boulle Campbell Company of Canada Cascades Tissue Group Cathay Pacific Airways Limited Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc. Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition (‘70) Cultural Spaces Canada Program David Chapman’s Ice Cream Limited Dimitra and Michael Davidson & Family The DeGasperis Family Glenna and George Fierheller General Mills Canada Bob and Irene Gillespie Ira Gluskin and Maxine GranovskyGluskin The Hon. Edwin A. Goodman and M. Joan Thompson H.J. Heinz Company of Canada Ltd. Hauser Industries Inc. Higgins & Burke Tea & Coffee Richard and Martha Hogarth Margo and Ernest Howard Inmet Mining Corporation Rosamond Ivey Suzanne Ivey Cook Lassonde Industries Inc. Anne Y. Lindsey Linda and Steve Lowden John and Gail MacNaughton Marsan Foods The McLean Foundation Marion Megill Trust The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation Metro Label Company Ltd. & The Lal Family Ministry of Natural Resources The Muzzo Family Panasonic Canada Inc. Hilda McLaughlin Pangman Mrs. Rosemary Rathgeb John and Elizabeth Rhind Alfredo and Moira Romano Richard Rooney and Laura Dinner The Salamander Foundation Paula and Rudolph Schury Sorrell Financial Inc. Teradata - a division of NCR Mr. William Thorsell John and Liz Tory Trillion Financial Group - Kalano Y.L. Jang Rita Tsang Elizabeth M. Walter Weston Foods Canada Sharon Zuckerman Anonymous (3) speCiaL gifts $25,000 - $99,999 Aird & Berlis LLP Mark and Gail Appel Tony and Anne Arrell Baker Real Estate Corporation & Invar Building Corporation Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (Canada) Robert Barnett and Leslie Montgomery J.P. Bickell Foundation Blaney McMurtry LLP John and Nancy Bligh Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Mary & Murray Bosley Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. Burnbrae Farms Limited Centennial Foods The Albert C. W. Chan Foundation Dr. Martin Chepesiuk and Ms. Halyna Perun CIBC Mellon City of Toronto ConAgra Foods Canada Compass Canada The Estelle Craig Family Trust Estate of Lucille R. Davies Michael and Honor de Pencier Deloitte DENSO Manufacturing Canada, Inc. Michael Detlefsen and Louise Le Beau Dorie Dohrenwend The Dubczak Family Dupont Corian / The Willis Group E.D. Smith & Sons, Limited El-En Packaging Company Limited Andrew Faas Anna-Liisa and Graham Farquharson Farrow & Ball Dr. Madeline M. Field First Gulf Corporation Lloyd and Gladys Fogler Robert and Julia Foster Dr. Marian Fowler Franklin Templeton Investments Frito Lay Canada Genuine Health Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP John and Judith Grant H. Donald Guthrie, Q.C. Jean and Ken Harrigan The Haynes-Connell Foundation Hino Motors Canada Hitachi Canada Ltd. John E. Horton and Family Mr. and Mrs. W.B.G. Humphries Hussmann Canada Inc. Ice River Springs Water Co. Interforest Ltd. The Ippolito Family J & D Produce, Inc., Edinburg, Texas Peter and Peggy Janson The Jarislowsky Foundation JNE Consulting Ltd. JVC Canada Inc. Kellogg Canada Inc. Arthur P. Kennedy Vera and Albert Kircheis KPMG LLP Kroll Computer Systems Inc. Charles and Jane Kucey & Family Ihor and Valentina Kuryliw The S E Lam Family Foundation Jack and Catherine Leitch Dr. and Mrs. K. K. Leung Michelle & Michael Levy Family Foundation Myrna Lo Wah Chee and Elsie Lo Susanne and Charles Loewen Mastronardi Produce Ltd. Mazda Canada Inc. McCarthy Tétrault Robert R. McEwen Paul and Martha McLean Jack and Vodrie McOuat Merrill Lynch Eleanor and Jack Mintz Mizuho Corporate Bank (Canada) The Honourable Robert S. and Dixie Anne Montgomery Murphy’s Food Sales & Marketing Nestlé Canada Inc. The Nielsen Company Nissan Canada Inc. Olymel, S.E.C./L.P. Ontario Potato and O.P.D.I. Logistics Mr. John G.B. and Mrs. Deanne Orr David and Bernadette Palmer Roger and Maureen Parkinson PCL Packaging Corporation Pepsi QTG Canada Piller Sausage & Delicatessens Ltd. Dr. Lloyd M. Piszel Zenon and Sonia Potichnyj Mary Jean and Frank Potter PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Procter & Gamble Inc. Joan R. Randall In memory of Elizabeth Rhind Estate of Norma Ruth Ridley Mrs. Norman S. Robertson Rosenbloom Groupe Inc. Rotman Family Arthur and Mary Sawchuk Lionel and Carol Schipper Shinkikai (Association of Japanese Canadian Businesses & Professionals) Shiu Pong Group of Companies Shoppers Home Health Care SMBC Global Foundation Inc. St. Helen’s Meat Packers Limited & Lazar Yitzchok Kosher Meats Barbara L. Steele Estate of Donald and Frances Strudley StuCor Construction Ltd. Sumitomo Canada Ltd. Symbol Technologies Canada, ULC TD Friends of the Environment Teknion Corporation Thomas, Large & Singer Inc. Toronto Cathay Lions Club Toronto Elegant Lions Club Toshiba of Canada Limited Towers Perrin Toyota Financial Services/Lexus Financial Services Turner Fleischer Architects Inc. UFJ Bank Canada Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko Unisource Canada Inc. Vanbots Construction Phyllis and William Waters Gary and Heidi Weddel Dr. Fred Weinberg and Mrs. Joy Cherry Weinberg Western Creamery Donald and Sally Wright Roman (Moko) Wynnyckyj and Maria Lialka Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. John Yaremko, Q.C. and Mary A. Yaremko Simon and Jan Zucker & Family Anonymous (3)
the renaissance roM Campaign Cabinet is a diverse and inclusive body, broadly representing the vibrant communities the Museum serves, and striving to engage the world through the wonder of natural history and world cultures.
CaMpaign eXeCUtiVe the hon. hilary M. Weston Chair Mr. Rudolph P. Bratty Senior Partner Bratty and Partners LLP Mr. Jack Cockwell Group Chairman Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Ms. Linda Hasenfratz CEO Linamar Corporation Mr. John S. Hunkin Former President & CEO CIBC Mr. Michael Lee-Chin Chairman Portland Holdings Inc. Mr. G. Wallace McCain Chairman Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Mr. James. W. McCutcheon Mr. Joseph M. Tanenbaum Chairman & CEO Jay-M Holdings Limited Mr. James Temerty Chairman Northland Power Inc. Mr. William Thorsell Director & CEO Royal Ontario Museum Ms. Rita Tsang President & Chief Executive Tour East Holidays Inc. honorary patron hih princess takamado honorary Cabinet Members Dimitris Azemopoulos Consul General Consulate General of Greece Ms. Penelope Erotokritou Consul General Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Ji In Hong Consul General Consulate General of the Republic of Korea Mr. Tassaduq Hussain Consul General Consulate General of Pakistan Mr. Bandula Jayasekara Consul General Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mr. Koichi Kawakami Consul General Consulate General of Japan Mrs. Priti Saran Consul General Consulate General of India Dr. Kunjar M. Sharma Honorary Consul General Royal Nepalese Consulate General Ms. Maureen Siu Director, Toronto Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office Mr. T.T. Tsui Wanchai, Hong Kong Madame Zhu Taoying Consul General People’s Republic of China, Toronto
Message froM the president
I
CaMpaign CaBinet Mr. Shreyas Ajmera President Seenergy Foods Ltd. Ms. Jennifer Ivey Bannock Director Ivey Foundation Mr. Joe F. Brennan President J. F. Brennan Design/Build Inc. Hon. David Crombie President & CEO Canadian Urban Institute Hon. William G. Davis Counsel Torys LLP Mr. Michael E. Detlefsen Co-Managing Director Muir Detlefsen & Associates Mr. Roman Dubczak Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets CIBC World Markets Mr. Robert T. Gillespie President Gilvest Inc. Dr. Natasha Gurevich Mr. Kenneth W. Harrigan Chairman K.W. Harrigan Consultants Mrs. Patricia Harris Mr. William B. Harris Ms. Gwen Harvey President BridgeWater Family Wealth Services Management Inc. Mrs. Martha J. Hogarth Ms. Donna Ihnatowycz President Affinity Resource Management The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman President Hal Jackman Foundation Mr. Peter S. Janson Corporate Director Mr. Chris Jordan President & CEO Young & Rubicam Advertising Canada Mr. Bipin Khimasia CEO Sigma Capital Management Group Inc. Mr. Thomas E. Kierans Mr. Stanley P. Kwan Partner Stanley Kwan & Company Mrs. Elsie Lo Mrs. Susanne Loewen Mr. Stephens B. Lowden Mr. Bahadur Madhani President Equiprop Management Limited Ms. Malika Mendez Chair DMV Fundraising Committe Royal Ontario Museum
Dr. Jack M. Mintz Palmer Chair in Public Policy University of Calgary Mr. David Mirvish President Mirvish Productions Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell President Department of Museum Volunteers (ROM) Dr. Elizabeth Muir Past President Department of Museum Volunteers (ROM) Mr. Manabu Nishimae President & Director Honda Canda Inc. Mr. Kazuto Ogawa President & CEO Canon Canada Inc. Mr. Perukazu Okahashi President & CEO Mitsui & Co (Canada) Ltd. Mr. Peter Oliver Partner Oliver-Bonacini Restaurants Mrs. Deanne M. Orr Co-Chair, Bishop White Committee Royal Ontario Museum Mr. Robert E. Pierce Partner Stonegate Private Counsel LP Mr. Frank Potter Chairman Emerging Markets Advisors Inc. Ms. Jean M. Read Jean M. Read Dispute Resolution Mr. John A. Rhind Ms. Irene So Senior Vice President RBC Dominion Securities Mr. Suresh Thakrar Vice President RBC Financial Group Mr. Yoichi Tomihara President & CEO Toyota Canada Inc. Mrs. Harriet Walker President Harriet Walker & Associates Mr. V. Prem Watsa Chairman & CEO Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Mr. Richard S. Wernham President Soutterham Investments Limited Mr. Doug Wilson President & COO Sony of Canada Limited Mr. Lynton R. Wilson Chairman CAE Inc. Mr. Robert C. Wong Vice-Chairman Leon Frazer & Associates Ltd. Mr. I. Richard Wookey President Soutterham Investments Limited Mrs. Sharon Zuckerman
hope you are reading this near a window somewhere, watching our world come alive after such a long and cold winter. The month of May reminds me that the world begins anew again and here at the ROM, we are celebrating the diversity of life this spring with the opening of the inspirational Schad Gallery of Biodiversity on May 16, 2009. A profile of Robert and Elizabeth Schad is featured in this newsletter. As you will read, their commitment to the environment and passion for action-oriented philanthropy is truly motivational. Looking back at the events over the last four months, I am amazed at some of the ‘firsts’ we have experienced here at the Museum. In December, we celebrated the opening of the Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth’s Treasures. This suite includes the Vale Inco Limited Gallery of Minerals with more than 2,000 remarkable specimens, the spectacular Gallery of Gems and Gold and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame Gallery. The Teck Suite of Galleries also marks a new ‘digital’ first for the ROM, as it introduces a new system of e-labelling that adds a considerable depth of additional information about our specimens. We continue to receive extraordinary feedback from both guests and staff alike on this engaging new element at the ROM. We enjoyed our most successful March Break ever with over 70,000 families experiencing the wonderful activities that were on hand to entertain our younger visitors. On March 22, 2009, we also welcomed our one millionth visitor of the fiscal year. In this season of springtime and re-birth, it is also a season of new beginnings here at the ROM Governors office, as we move closer to the end of the Renaissance ROM Campaign. We look forward to the start of a new era and supporting innovative and exciting initiatives on behalf of the Museum. It is my great pleasure to inform you that the Renaissance ROM Campaign has reached
the $280 million fundraising mark, officially making it the most successful cultural campaign in Canadian history. I would like to personally thank each one of you for getting us this far; your steady passion, commitment and support for Renaissance ROM has been an inspiration to me and our entire team here at the ROM Governors. As we enter the final months of fundraising for the campaign, the Countdown to Completion Task Force, ROM Governors staff, and many other volunteers are focused on raising funds to complete the final phase of Renaissance ROM. We hope you will consider making a gift, however large or small, or additional donation to the campaign, as we need your support now more than ever to reach the top of the “fundraising summit.” By the end of June 2009 we will celebrate and reflect on the success of Renaissance ROM and its incredible legacy. Thank you again for being part of this transformational campaign. As we gear towards the triumphant completion of Renaissance ROM, it is definitely our time in the sun.
Dr. Marie Bountrogianni
Upcoming Events
Chairmen’s reception June 23, 2009 (by invitation) This annual event celebrates philanthropy at the ROM, thanking and recognizing those donors, patrons, sponsors and volunteers who have generously contributed their financial support and considerable time to making the ROM one of the world’s great museums. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Royal Patrons’ Circle, the ROM’s annual giving program that combines ROM Membership with a long tradition of philanthropy. Guests will also have the first opportunity to preview the exhibition Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World. Culture shock: Celebrity Watch September 23, 2009 Tickets: $500 each Join the Institute for Contemporary Culture (ICC) at the ROM for the second annual Culture Shock event themed Celebrity Watch—an unforgettable film and fame fundraiser, produced in association with Filminute—the one minute online film festival. Enjoy a sneak peek of Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913–2008, a stunning star-studded exhibition of celebrity portraiture! All proceeds support the ICC Endowment Fund. Contact Kirsten Kamper at 416.586.8064 or [email protected] for tickets.
fact or fiction: get real! October 22, 2009
Presented by: Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. Beaujolais Private Investment Management
Tickets: $250 each Patron opportunities: $5,000, $10,000 Come play with us at the ROM’s trademarked guessing game of deception, deduction and discovery. Contestants are told two facts by curatorial staff at each of 20 game tables, and must guess which objects or stories are the real-deal! This year’s event also promotes an upcoming ROM exhibition Fakes, Frauds and Forgeries. It will take a savvy guest to get the most correct answers and win an exotic trip courtesy of Tour East Holidays. All proceeds support the ROM Research Endowment Fund. Contact Kirsten Kamper at 416.586.8064 or [email protected] for tickets.
Passion for the ROM
The spectacular Schad Gallery of Biodiversity has inspired generous gifts of all levels from donors, volunteers and friends of the ROM who are passionate about life on Earth.
A view of the Earth Rangers Studio coming to life. The Schad Gallery of Biodiversity under construction.
“Conserving the boreal forest is a uniquely Canadian opportunity and one with global significance. The Ivey Foundation is working with organizations across Canada to help protect the boreal forest so that it becomes a valued treasure, not another crisis in biodiversity. We are pleased to be part of the Schad Gallery, assisting the ROM in bringing these critical issues to the public’s attention. “ Bruce Lourie President, Ivey Foundation
Robert Schad, Elizabeth Schad, Peter Kendall
“I have been a supporter of Renaissance ROM from the beginning, but recently I had a preview tour of the Schad Gallery which made a powerful impression on me. I was so impressed by the concept of the gallery and its potential for education and raising public awareness in the area of biodiversity that I made a second donation specifically to this gallery.” Elizabeth Mitchell President, Department of Museum Volunteers & Renaissance ROM Donor
A colourful aquarium houses a rich diversity of live reef invertebrates and small fishes.
“In the past 70 years, we have rapidly and extensively altered our planet’s ecosystems, resulting in a substantial biodiversity loss. In the hopes of furthering our understanding and commitment to change. The Salamander Foundation is proud to support the Great Lakes Ecosystems exhibit in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity at the ROM.” Nan Shuttleworth President, The Salamander Foundation
Robert & Elizabeth Schad are Seeing Green
A
One of seven intricate ecosystems on display, a view of the Arctic system taking shape
reference letter from Albert Einstein and $25 – that was all Robert Schad had when he arrived in Canada in 1951. Nearly 60 years later, his success in building Husky Injection Molding Systems into a $1 Billion company has allowed him to give back to the community – devoting his time and energy to funding projects that generate public awareness and provide education on environmental issues. Robert Schad and his wife, Elizabeth, share a passion for the environment and wildlife conservation. In 2004, they along with Peter Kendall, Executive Director of the Schad Foundation, established Earth Rangers, a non-profit organization that empowers kids to improve the health of the planet. By building on kids’ natural connection to wildlife, Earth Rangers’ live shows and interactive website motivate hundreds of thousands of kids each year to make realistic lifestyle changes to better the planet. The Schads strongly believe that life on earth is in crisis, but that there is hope for change by providing education that will inspire action. “There is hope if we become accountable for our actions and make a commitment to change. It’s not only up to the government and large organizations, we as individuals must also make changes to our lifestyle,” says Robert. Given the Schads’ passion for the environment and their deep concern with the current state of the planet, it’s no surprise they jumped at the opportunity to support a permanent gallery at the ROM, focused on the diversity and fragility of life on Earth and the
numerous factors affecting its survival. The highly anticipated Schad Gallery of Biodiversity is scheduled to open its doors to the public on May 16, 2009. This innovative and interactive gallery combines seven ecosystem experiences, roughly 2,500 specimens, and the Earth Rangers Studio to convey an important message about the stunning variety of life on Earth and the interconnectedness of nature’s amazing web. Earth Rangers’ Power of One show is a 15-minute multi-media experience featured in the Earth Rangers Studio. It incorporates some of Earth Rangers’ most dynamic live animal ambassadors, including a lemur, snowy owl, serval cat and American kestrel, and demonstrates the responsibility each of us has to care for the environment. Several educational and interactive programs related to the latest scientific research, news and issues concerning life on Earth will also be offered to Schad Gallery visitors. These programs include Eco-Challenge, which motivates visitors to learn more about the environment with fun puzzles and challenging quests, and Backyard Naturalists, which encourages participants to think globally while acting locally as they discover the world through the eyes of a naturalist. Gallery Highlight puts the spotlight on certain touchable Schad Gallery specimens, such as animal pelts, shells, feathers and insects and Lost in the Wilderness explores a park, protected area or ecosystem. The ROM has also teamed up with environmentally-conscious organizations to present green initiatives taking place in our communities with Partners in Protection. Continued on back page
Passion for the ROM continued The Schads’ passion for the ROM began with their initial involvement as members, nearly two decades ago. “Our visits to the ROM were fun, educational experiences for our son and his friends,” says Elizabeth. We went regularly and especially enjoyed the March Break programs.” Elizabeth is now a member of the ROM Board of Governors and sits on the Fact? or Fiction? Committee, that helps organize an annual fundraising event in support of ROM research. Robert recounts how impressed they were with the forward-looking vision of the ROM and the bold, new design of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. “Finally, the Museum had moved away from the look and feel of a dark, old English institution and was adapting itself to modern day design, and focusing on relevant issues like threats to biodiversity,” he recalls. “We loved the progressive, contemporary approach William Thorsell [Director & CEO] brought to the ROM.” The Schads paid no attention to the early-day critics of the new ROM, instead choosing to look ahead to what the Museum could become. “Already the Museum has totally changed – you can really see a difference and feel the renewed sense of wonder,” says Elizabeth. Their hope for the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity is that it will engage the public in a new and provocative way to educate people on the critical issues that are putting life on Earth in crisis. “We hope that the gallery will serve to inspire change and instill hope for the future through education, especially for the younger generation,” says Elizabeth. “We are systematically destroying our world. If we don’t do anything now to change our unsustainable lifestyles, how can we possibly expect our world to be habitable in the future?” asks Robert. “It is very important to understand the environmental consequences of our actions, change our bad habits, and educate our children for a better future.” Earth Rangers reached 165,000 school children last year and plan to reach nearly 350,000 kids, parents and teachers in 2009, in part through their expanded presence at the ROM. “The number one concern for children when it comes to the environment is the state of animals and their habitats,” says Peter. “Children fall in love with the live animal ambassadors they meet in person at our shows or online at EarthRangers.com and feel inspired to make a difference.”
The transformational gift to the ROM from the Schad family not only supports the creation of the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, but also funds its programming and research related to biodiversity and environmental conservation through the ROM’s Department of Natural History. The ROM is celebrating the new Schad Gallery of Biodiversity with a special reception and private dedication event leading up to the public opening in midMay. “It’s getting more exciting every day and we can’t wait for the opening. We are pleased to partner with the ROM and proud of the role played by Earth Rangers and the Schad Foundation to help the ROM bring the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity to reality,” says Robert.
Renaissance ROM Campaign Overview
RaiSEd tO datE: $280.9M LEft tO RaiSE
$42M Provincial Government
$30M Federal Government
$166.6M Capital
$42.3M Related Priorites
$16.5M Capital
The Renaissance ROM Campaign, the most successful cultural fundraising campaign in Canadian history, is counting down to completion. Renaissance ROM has accomplished much: doubling the number of artifacts and specimens on display within 300,000 square feet of new and renovated gallery space, creating a stateof-the-art digital gallery, and improving the ROM’s classrooms, studios, and teaching spaces. The ROM continues to secure funds to complete the final phase of Renaissance ROM.
(Above) Photo of Earth Rangers show wowing children over March Break. (Left) Renaissance ROM has re-engaged ROM members while attracting a new audience to the ROM’s enlivened spaces.
•
Contact: Laura Sutherland
Be a part of the successful completion of Renaissance ROM!
All contributions are gratefully acknowledged with a receipt for income tax purposes. Click www.rom.on.ca/donate to make your online donation Call Laura Sutherland at 416.586.7946 Email [email protected] for more information.
Royal Ontario Museum Governors 100 Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2C6
t 416.586.5818 f 416.586.8048 [email protected] www.rom.on.ca
Produced by the Royal Ontario Museum Governors Photography by Brian Boyle Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program Programme d’infrastuctures Canada-Ontario
Spring 2009
The
cultural campaign
in
successful
Canada
most
donors to renaissance roM are playing a personal role in shaping the future cultural landscape of toronto, and are transforming the Museum by unlocking the enormous potential contained in its wonderful collections, galleries, programs and buildings. the roM wishes to thank and acknowledge the following donors for gifts of $25,000 or more to renaissance roM and related projects as of april 2009.
Cornerstone gifts $30,000,000 and above Government of Canada Government of Ontario Michael Lee-Chin transforMing gifts $10 million - $29,999,999 Jack Cockwell and Lynda Hamilton Schad Family Teck Resources Limited James and Louise Temerty Hilary and Galen Weston The W. Garfield Weston Foundation prinCipaL gifts $5 million - $9,999,999 Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Thor and Nicole Eaton Elizabeth Samuel Alex and Simona Shnaider Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Leadership gifts $1 million - $4,999,999 Rudolph P. Bratty & Family Brookfield Asset Management Inc. CIBC John and Merrilyn Driscoll W. Robert Farquharson & Family The Globe and Mail William and Patricia Harris Ian Ihnatowycz and Marta Witer / Ukrainian Canadian Community Jennifer Ivey Bannock / Ivey Foundation Patrick and Barbara Keenan & Family Loblaw Companies Limited Manulife Financial Judy and Wilmot Matthews Mr. G. Wallace and Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain The R. Samuel McLaughlin Foundation Peter and Melanie Munk Sir Christopher Ondaatje, O.C., CBE Power Corporation of Canada RBC Foundation Wendy and Leslie Rebanks Ernest and Flavia Redelmeier Nita and Donald Reed ROM Department of Museum Volunteers Scotiabank Group Sigmund Samuel Gallery Fund St. Joseph Communications TD Bank Financial Group Shokokai Richard Wernham and Julia West Red and Brenda Wilson Alfred G. Wirth Anonymous (4) foUnding gifts $250,000 - $999,999 Bram and Bluma Appel ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc. Shirley and Edward Barr Roloff Beny Foundation BMO Financial Group Canon Canada Inc. Cargill Meat Solutions Jeanne Timmins Costello Trust De Beers Canada Inc. Department of Canadian Heritage Virtual Museum of Canada Fredrik S. Eaton Murray Frum and Nancy Lockhart GE Canada Government of Ontario - Ministry of Culture Capital Rehabilitation Fund Embassy of Greece Adrian Hartog and Jasmine Vujasinovic Hartog Alexandra and Julia Holgate Philip N. Holtby Honda Canada Inc. HSBC Bank Canada John Hunkin and Susan Crocker Irving Tissue Estate of Beryl Ivey Richard M. Ivey and Beryl Ivey Tom Kierans and Mary Janigan Kruger Products Limited Estate of Campbell Alexander Leckie A. G. Leventis Foundation Linamar Corporation Magna International Inc. Maple Leaf Foods Estate of Dorothy Muriel Matson Brenda and James McCutcheon Audrey and David Mirvish Mitsui & Co., (Canada) Ltd. Nienkämper Furniture Robert E. Pierce & Family Assuntino and Angelina Ricciuto RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust La Fondation Sackler (The Sackler Foundation) Sony Canada Estate of Henrietta E. Stevenson The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Toyota Canada Inc. Vale Inco Limited W Studio Carpets & Alan Pourvakil Estate of Isabel Carey Warne John J. Wood MaJor gifts $100,000 - $249,999 Arius3D Canada James C. Baillie Marilyn and Charles Baillie Bell Canada Better Beef Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Fran and Lawrence Bloomberg Jean-Raymond Boulle Campbell Company of Canada Cascades Tissue Group Cathay Pacific Airways Limited Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc. Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition (‘70) Cultural Spaces Canada Program David Chapman’s Ice Cream Limited Dimitra and Michael Davidson & Family The DeGasperis Family Glenna and George Fierheller General Mills Canada Bob and Irene Gillespie Ira Gluskin and Maxine GranovskyGluskin The Hon. Edwin A. Goodman and M. Joan Thompson H.J. Heinz Company of Canada Ltd. Hauser Industries Inc. Higgins & Burke Tea & Coffee Richard and Martha Hogarth Margo and Ernest Howard Inmet Mining Corporation Rosamond Ivey Suzanne Ivey Cook Lassonde Industries Inc. Anne Y. Lindsey Linda and Steve Lowden John and Gail MacNaughton Marsan Foods The McLean Foundation Marion Megill Trust The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation Metro Label Company Ltd. & The Lal Family Ministry of Natural Resources The Muzzo Family Panasonic Canada Inc. Hilda McLaughlin Pangman Mrs. Rosemary Rathgeb John and Elizabeth Rhind Alfredo and Moira Romano Richard Rooney and Laura Dinner The Salamander Foundation Paula and Rudolph Schury Sorrell Financial Inc. Teradata - a division of NCR Mr. William Thorsell John and Liz Tory Trillion Financial Group - Kalano Y.L. Jang Rita Tsang Elizabeth M. Walter Weston Foods Canada Sharon Zuckerman Anonymous (3) speCiaL gifts $25,000 - $99,999 Aird & Berlis LLP Mark and Gail Appel Tony and Anne Arrell Baker Real Estate Corporation & Invar Building Corporation Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (Canada) Robert Barnett and Leslie Montgomery J.P. Bickell Foundation Blaney McMurtry LLP John and Nancy Bligh Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Mary & Murray Bosley Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. Burnbrae Farms Limited Centennial Foods The Albert C. W. Chan Foundation Dr. Martin Chepesiuk and Ms. Halyna Perun CIBC Mellon City of Toronto ConAgra Foods Canada Compass Canada The Estelle Craig Family Trust Estate of Lucille R. Davies Michael and Honor de Pencier Deloitte DENSO Manufacturing Canada, Inc. Michael Detlefsen and Louise Le Beau Dorie Dohrenwend The Dubczak Family Dupont Corian / The Willis Group E.D. Smith & Sons, Limited El-En Packaging Company Limited Andrew Faas Anna-Liisa and Graham Farquharson Farrow & Ball Dr. Madeline M. Field First Gulf Corporation Lloyd and Gladys Fogler Robert and Julia Foster Dr. Marian Fowler Franklin Templeton Investments Frito Lay Canada Genuine Health Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP John and Judith Grant H. Donald Guthrie, Q.C. Jean and Ken Harrigan The Haynes-Connell Foundation Hino Motors Canada Hitachi Canada Ltd. John E. Horton and Family Mr. and Mrs. W.B.G. Humphries Hussmann Canada Inc. Ice River Springs Water Co. Interforest Ltd. The Ippolito Family J & D Produce, Inc., Edinburg, Texas Peter and Peggy Janson The Jarislowsky Foundation JNE Consulting Ltd. JVC Canada Inc. Kellogg Canada Inc. Arthur P. Kennedy Vera and Albert Kircheis KPMG LLP Kroll Computer Systems Inc. Charles and Jane Kucey & Family Ihor and Valentina Kuryliw The S E Lam Family Foundation Jack and Catherine Leitch Dr. and Mrs. K. K. Leung Michelle & Michael Levy Family Foundation Myrna Lo Wah Chee and Elsie Lo Susanne and Charles Loewen Mastronardi Produce Ltd. Mazda Canada Inc. McCarthy Tétrault Robert R. McEwen Paul and Martha McLean Jack and Vodrie McOuat Merrill Lynch Eleanor and Jack Mintz Mizuho Corporate Bank (Canada) The Honourable Robert S. and Dixie Anne Montgomery Murphy’s Food Sales & Marketing Nestlé Canada Inc. The Nielsen Company Nissan Canada Inc. Olymel, S.E.C./L.P. Ontario Potato and O.P.D.I. Logistics Mr. John G.B. and Mrs. Deanne Orr David and Bernadette Palmer Roger and Maureen Parkinson PCL Packaging Corporation Pepsi QTG Canada Piller Sausage & Delicatessens Ltd. Dr. Lloyd M. Piszel Zenon and Sonia Potichnyj Mary Jean and Frank Potter PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Procter & Gamble Inc. Joan R. Randall In memory of Elizabeth Rhind Estate of Norma Ruth Ridley Mrs. Norman S. Robertson Rosenbloom Groupe Inc. Rotman Family Arthur and Mary Sawchuk Lionel and Carol Schipper Shinkikai (Association of Japanese Canadian Businesses & Professionals) Shiu Pong Group of Companies Shoppers Home Health Care SMBC Global Foundation Inc. St. Helen’s Meat Packers Limited & Lazar Yitzchok Kosher Meats Barbara L. Steele Estate of Donald and Frances Strudley StuCor Construction Ltd. Sumitomo Canada Ltd. Symbol Technologies Canada, ULC TD Friends of the Environment Teknion Corporation Thomas, Large & Singer Inc. Toronto Cathay Lions Club Toronto Elegant Lions Club Toshiba of Canada Limited Towers Perrin Toyota Financial Services/Lexus Financial Services Turner Fleischer Architects Inc. UFJ Bank Canada Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko Unisource Canada Inc. Vanbots Construction Phyllis and William Waters Gary and Heidi Weddel Dr. Fred Weinberg and Mrs. Joy Cherry Weinberg Western Creamery Donald and Sally Wright Roman (Moko) Wynnyckyj and Maria Lialka Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. John Yaremko, Q.C. and Mary A. Yaremko Simon and Jan Zucker & Family Anonymous (3)
the renaissance roM Campaign Cabinet is a diverse and inclusive body, broadly representing the vibrant communities the Museum serves, and striving to engage the world through the wonder of natural history and world cultures.
CaMpaign eXeCUtiVe the hon. hilary M. Weston Chair Mr. Rudolph P. Bratty Senior Partner Bratty and Partners LLP Mr. Jack Cockwell Group Chairman Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Ms. Linda Hasenfratz CEO Linamar Corporation Mr. John S. Hunkin Former President & CEO CIBC Mr. Michael Lee-Chin Chairman Portland Holdings Inc. Mr. G. Wallace McCain Chairman Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Mr. James. W. McCutcheon Mr. Joseph M. Tanenbaum Chairman & CEO Jay-M Holdings Limited Mr. James Temerty Chairman Northland Power Inc. Mr. William Thorsell Director & CEO Royal Ontario Museum Ms. Rita Tsang President & Chief Executive Tour East Holidays Inc. honorary patron hih princess takamado honorary Cabinet Members Dimitris Azemopoulos Consul General Consulate General of Greece Ms. Penelope Erotokritou Consul General Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Ji In Hong Consul General Consulate General of the Republic of Korea Mr. Tassaduq Hussain Consul General Consulate General of Pakistan Mr. Bandula Jayasekara Consul General Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mr. Koichi Kawakami Consul General Consulate General of Japan Mrs. Priti Saran Consul General Consulate General of India Dr. Kunjar M. Sharma Honorary Consul General Royal Nepalese Consulate General Ms. Maureen Siu Director, Toronto Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office Mr. T.T. Tsui Wanchai, Hong Kong Madame Zhu Taoying Consul General People’s Republic of China, Toronto
Message froM the president
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CaMpaign CaBinet Mr. Shreyas Ajmera President Seenergy Foods Ltd. Ms. Jennifer Ivey Bannock Director Ivey Foundation Mr. Joe F. Brennan President J. F. Brennan Design/Build Inc. Hon. David Crombie President & CEO Canadian Urban Institute Hon. William G. Davis Counsel Torys LLP Mr. Michael E. Detlefsen Co-Managing Director Muir Detlefsen & Associates Mr. Roman Dubczak Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets CIBC World Markets Mr. Robert T. Gillespie President Gilvest Inc. Dr. Natasha Gurevich Mr. Kenneth W. Harrigan Chairman K.W. Harrigan Consultants Mrs. Patricia Harris Mr. William B. Harris Ms. Gwen Harvey President BridgeWater Family Wealth Services Management Inc. Mrs. Martha J. Hogarth Ms. Donna Ihnatowycz President Affinity Resource Management The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman President Hal Jackman Foundation Mr. Peter S. Janson Corporate Director Mr. Chris Jordan President & CEO Young & Rubicam Advertising Canada Mr. Bipin Khimasia CEO Sigma Capital Management Group Inc. Mr. Thomas E. Kierans Mr. Stanley P. Kwan Partner Stanley Kwan & Company Mrs. Elsie Lo Mrs. Susanne Loewen Mr. Stephens B. Lowden Mr. Bahadur Madhani President Equiprop Management Limited Ms. Malika Mendez Chair DMV Fundraising Committe Royal Ontario Museum
Dr. Jack M. Mintz Palmer Chair in Public Policy University of Calgary Mr. David Mirvish President Mirvish Productions Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell President Department of Museum Volunteers (ROM) Dr. Elizabeth Muir Past President Department of Museum Volunteers (ROM) Mr. Manabu Nishimae President & Director Honda Canda Inc. Mr. Kazuto Ogawa President & CEO Canon Canada Inc. Mr. Perukazu Okahashi President & CEO Mitsui & Co (Canada) Ltd. Mr. Peter Oliver Partner Oliver-Bonacini Restaurants Mrs. Deanne M. Orr Co-Chair, Bishop White Committee Royal Ontario Museum Mr. Robert E. Pierce Partner Stonegate Private Counsel LP Mr. Frank Potter Chairman Emerging Markets Advisors Inc. Ms. Jean M. Read Jean M. Read Dispute Resolution Mr. John A. Rhind Ms. Irene So Senior Vice President RBC Dominion Securities Mr. Suresh Thakrar Vice President RBC Financial Group Mr. Yoichi Tomihara President & CEO Toyota Canada Inc. Mrs. Harriet Walker President Harriet Walker & Associates Mr. V. Prem Watsa Chairman & CEO Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Mr. Richard S. Wernham President Soutterham Investments Limited Mr. Doug Wilson President & COO Sony of Canada Limited Mr. Lynton R. Wilson Chairman CAE Inc. Mr. Robert C. Wong Vice-Chairman Leon Frazer & Associates Ltd. Mr. I. Richard Wookey President Soutterham Investments Limited Mrs. Sharon Zuckerman
hope you are reading this near a window somewhere, watching our world come alive after such a long and cold winter. The month of May reminds me that the world begins anew again and here at the ROM, we are celebrating the diversity of life this spring with the opening of the inspirational Schad Gallery of Biodiversity on May 16, 2009. A profile of Robert and Elizabeth Schad is featured in this newsletter. As you will read, their commitment to the environment and passion for action-oriented philanthropy is truly motivational. Looking back at the events over the last four months, I am amazed at some of the ‘firsts’ we have experienced here at the Museum. In December, we celebrated the opening of the Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth’s Treasures. This suite includes the Vale Inco Limited Gallery of Minerals with more than 2,000 remarkable specimens, the spectacular Gallery of Gems and Gold and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame Gallery. The Teck Suite of Galleries also marks a new ‘digital’ first for the ROM, as it introduces a new system of e-labelling that adds a considerable depth of additional information about our specimens. We continue to receive extraordinary feedback from both guests and staff alike on this engaging new element at the ROM. We enjoyed our most successful March Break ever with over 70,000 families experiencing the wonderful activities that were on hand to entertain our younger visitors. On March 22, 2009, we also welcomed our one millionth visitor of the fiscal year. In this season of springtime and re-birth, it is also a season of new beginnings here at the ROM Governors office, as we move closer to the end of the Renaissance ROM Campaign. We look forward to the start of a new era and supporting innovative and exciting initiatives on behalf of the Museum. It is my great pleasure to inform you that the Renaissance ROM Campaign has reached
the $280 million fundraising mark, officially making it the most successful cultural campaign in Canadian history. I would like to personally thank each one of you for getting us this far; your steady passion, commitment and support for Renaissance ROM has been an inspiration to me and our entire team here at the ROM Governors. As we enter the final months of fundraising for the campaign, the Countdown to Completion Task Force, ROM Governors staff, and many other volunteers are focused on raising funds to complete the final phase of Renaissance ROM. We hope you will consider making a gift, however large or small, or additional donation to the campaign, as we need your support now more than ever to reach the top of the “fundraising summit.” By the end of June 2009 we will celebrate and reflect on the success of Renaissance ROM and its incredible legacy. Thank you again for being part of this transformational campaign. As we gear towards the triumphant completion of Renaissance ROM, it is definitely our time in the sun.
Dr. Marie Bountrogianni
Upcoming Events
Chairmen’s reception June 23, 2009 (by invitation) This annual event celebrates philanthropy at the ROM, thanking and recognizing those donors, patrons, sponsors and volunteers who have generously contributed their financial support and considerable time to making the ROM one of the world’s great museums. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Royal Patrons’ Circle, the ROM’s annual giving program that combines ROM Membership with a long tradition of philanthropy. Guests will also have the first opportunity to preview the exhibition Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World. Culture shock: Celebrity Watch September 23, 2009 Tickets: $500 each Join the Institute for Contemporary Culture (ICC) at the ROM for the second annual Culture Shock event themed Celebrity Watch—an unforgettable film and fame fundraiser, produced in association with Filminute—the one minute online film festival. Enjoy a sneak peek of Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913–2008, a stunning star-studded exhibition of celebrity portraiture! All proceeds support the ICC Endowment Fund. Contact Kirsten Kamper at 416.586.8064 or [email protected] for tickets.
fact or fiction: get real! October 22, 2009
Presented by: Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. Beaujolais Private Investment Management
Tickets: $250 each Patron opportunities: $5,000, $10,000 Come play with us at the ROM’s trademarked guessing game of deception, deduction and discovery. Contestants are told two facts by curatorial staff at each of 20 game tables, and must guess which objects or stories are the real-deal! This year’s event also promotes an upcoming ROM exhibition Fakes, Frauds and Forgeries. It will take a savvy guest to get the most correct answers and win an exotic trip courtesy of Tour East Holidays. All proceeds support the ROM Research Endowment Fund. Contact Kirsten Kamper at 416.586.8064 or [email protected] for tickets.
Passion for the ROM
The spectacular Schad Gallery of Biodiversity has inspired generous gifts of all levels from donors, volunteers and friends of the ROM who are passionate about life on Earth.
A view of the Earth Rangers Studio coming to life. The Schad Gallery of Biodiversity under construction.
“Conserving the boreal forest is a uniquely Canadian opportunity and one with global significance. The Ivey Foundation is working with organizations across Canada to help protect the boreal forest so that it becomes a valued treasure, not another crisis in biodiversity. We are pleased to be part of the Schad Gallery, assisting the ROM in bringing these critical issues to the public’s attention. “ Bruce Lourie President, Ivey Foundation
Robert Schad, Elizabeth Schad, Peter Kendall
“I have been a supporter of Renaissance ROM from the beginning, but recently I had a preview tour of the Schad Gallery which made a powerful impression on me. I was so impressed by the concept of the gallery and its potential for education and raising public awareness in the area of biodiversity that I made a second donation specifically to this gallery.” Elizabeth Mitchell President, Department of Museum Volunteers & Renaissance ROM Donor
A colourful aquarium houses a rich diversity of live reef invertebrates and small fishes.
“In the past 70 years, we have rapidly and extensively altered our planet’s ecosystems, resulting in a substantial biodiversity loss. In the hopes of furthering our understanding and commitment to change. The Salamander Foundation is proud to support the Great Lakes Ecosystems exhibit in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity at the ROM.” Nan Shuttleworth President, The Salamander Foundation
Robert & Elizabeth Schad are Seeing Green
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One of seven intricate ecosystems on display, a view of the Arctic system taking shape
reference letter from Albert Einstein and $25 – that was all Robert Schad had when he arrived in Canada in 1951. Nearly 60 years later, his success in building Husky Injection Molding Systems into a $1 Billion company has allowed him to give back to the community – devoting his time and energy to funding projects that generate public awareness and provide education on environmental issues. Robert Schad and his wife, Elizabeth, share a passion for the environment and wildlife conservation. In 2004, they along with Peter Kendall, Executive Director of the Schad Foundation, established Earth Rangers, a non-profit organization that empowers kids to improve the health of the planet. By building on kids’ natural connection to wildlife, Earth Rangers’ live shows and interactive website motivate hundreds of thousands of kids each year to make realistic lifestyle changes to better the planet. The Schads strongly believe that life on earth is in crisis, but that there is hope for change by providing education that will inspire action. “There is hope if we become accountable for our actions and make a commitment to change. It’s not only up to the government and large organizations, we as individuals must also make changes to our lifestyle,” says Robert. Given the Schads’ passion for the environment and their deep concern with the current state of the planet, it’s no surprise they jumped at the opportunity to support a permanent gallery at the ROM, focused on the diversity and fragility of life on Earth and the
numerous factors affecting its survival. The highly anticipated Schad Gallery of Biodiversity is scheduled to open its doors to the public on May 16, 2009. This innovative and interactive gallery combines seven ecosystem experiences, roughly 2,500 specimens, and the Earth Rangers Studio to convey an important message about the stunning variety of life on Earth and the interconnectedness of nature’s amazing web. Earth Rangers’ Power of One show is a 15-minute multi-media experience featured in the Earth Rangers Studio. It incorporates some of Earth Rangers’ most dynamic live animal ambassadors, including a lemur, snowy owl, serval cat and American kestrel, and demonstrates the responsibility each of us has to care for the environment. Several educational and interactive programs related to the latest scientific research, news and issues concerning life on Earth will also be offered to Schad Gallery visitors. These programs include Eco-Challenge, which motivates visitors to learn more about the environment with fun puzzles and challenging quests, and Backyard Naturalists, which encourages participants to think globally while acting locally as they discover the world through the eyes of a naturalist. Gallery Highlight puts the spotlight on certain touchable Schad Gallery specimens, such as animal pelts, shells, feathers and insects and Lost in the Wilderness explores a park, protected area or ecosystem. The ROM has also teamed up with environmentally-conscious organizations to present green initiatives taking place in our communities with Partners in Protection. Continued on back page
Passion for the ROM continued The Schads’ passion for the ROM began with their initial involvement as members, nearly two decades ago. “Our visits to the ROM were fun, educational experiences for our son and his friends,” says Elizabeth. We went regularly and especially enjoyed the March Break programs.” Elizabeth is now a member of the ROM Board of Governors and sits on the Fact? or Fiction? Committee, that helps organize an annual fundraising event in support of ROM research. Robert recounts how impressed they were with the forward-looking vision of the ROM and the bold, new design of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. “Finally, the Museum had moved away from the look and feel of a dark, old English institution and was adapting itself to modern day design, and focusing on relevant issues like threats to biodiversity,” he recalls. “We loved the progressive, contemporary approach William Thorsell [Director & CEO] brought to the ROM.” The Schads paid no attention to the early-day critics of the new ROM, instead choosing to look ahead to what the Museum could become. “Already the Museum has totally changed – you can really see a difference and feel the renewed sense of wonder,” says Elizabeth. Their hope for the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity is that it will engage the public in a new and provocative way to educate people on the critical issues that are putting life on Earth in crisis. “We hope that the gallery will serve to inspire change and instill hope for the future through education, especially for the younger generation,” says Elizabeth. “We are systematically destroying our world. If we don’t do anything now to change our unsustainable lifestyles, how can we possibly expect our world to be habitable in the future?” asks Robert. “It is very important to understand the environmental consequences of our actions, change our bad habits, and educate our children for a better future.” Earth Rangers reached 165,000 school children last year and plan to reach nearly 350,000 kids, parents and teachers in 2009, in part through their expanded presence at the ROM. “The number one concern for children when it comes to the environment is the state of animals and their habitats,” says Peter. “Children fall in love with the live animal ambassadors they meet in person at our shows or online at EarthRangers.com and feel inspired to make a difference.”
The transformational gift to the ROM from the Schad family not only supports the creation of the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, but also funds its programming and research related to biodiversity and environmental conservation through the ROM’s Department of Natural History. The ROM is celebrating the new Schad Gallery of Biodiversity with a special reception and private dedication event leading up to the public opening in midMay. “It’s getting more exciting every day and we can’t wait for the opening. We are pleased to partner with the ROM and proud of the role played by Earth Rangers and the Schad Foundation to help the ROM bring the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity to reality,” says Robert.
Renaissance ROM Campaign Overview
RaiSEd tO datE: $280.9M LEft tO RaiSE
$42M Provincial Government
$30M Federal Government
$166.6M Capital
$42.3M Related Priorites
$16.5M Capital
The Renaissance ROM Campaign, the most successful cultural fundraising campaign in Canadian history, is counting down to completion. Renaissance ROM has accomplished much: doubling the number of artifacts and specimens on display within 300,000 square feet of new and renovated gallery space, creating a stateof-the-art digital gallery, and improving the ROM’s classrooms, studios, and teaching spaces. The ROM continues to secure funds to complete the final phase of Renaissance ROM.
(Above) Photo of Earth Rangers show wowing children over March Break. (Left) Renaissance ROM has re-engaged ROM members while attracting a new audience to the ROM’s enlivened spaces.
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Contact: Laura Sutherland
Be a part of the successful completion of Renaissance ROM!
All contributions are gratefully acknowledged with a receipt for income tax purposes. Click www.rom.on.ca/donate to make your online donation Call Laura Sutherland at 416.586.7946 Email [email protected] for more information.
Royal Ontario Museum Governors 100 Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2C6
t 416.586.5818 f 416.586.8048 [email protected] www.rom.on.ca
Produced by the Royal Ontario Museum Governors Photography by Brian Boyle Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program Programme d’infrastuctures Canada-Ontario
