CIBC has been a pivotal partner throughout the ROM’s history. In fact, it was Sir Edmund Walker, President for the Canadian Bank of Commerce, who co-founded the ROM a century ago. He was a generous patron of the arts, and was the driving force behind the campaign to build an inspired museum in Toronto. Today, CIBC and the ROM are iconic Canadian institutions built on Walker’s visionary leadership and legacy.
As the ROM’s bank of record since 1912, CIBC has generously supported various Museum initiatives over the past 100 years, both corporately and through the volunteerism of its passionate and committed employees. CIBC was the Inaugural Season Sponsor for the opening of the Museum’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal in 2007. In 2011, CIBC was the Supporting Sponsor for the Bollywood Cinema Showcards: Indian Film Art from the 1950s to the 1980s exhibition, which gave ROM visitors a fascinating visual journey through the history of Bollywood advertising. This unique show celebrated the Year of India in Canada, bringing early Bollywood culture and design to life for the community.
The CIBC Discovery Gallery at the ROM welcomes thousands of young visitors every year, encouraging them to interact with touchable artifacts and specimens. As part of the bank’s long-time focus on supporting children and youth, this imaginative gallery allows curious young minds to explore the ROM’s world-class collections and take charge of their own learning and discovery by trying on costumes, digging for dinosaur bones and examining fossils and meteorites.
Building on the legacy of Sir Edmund Walker, CIBC is honoured to be the ROM’s Centennial Partner, helping to bring the ROM experience to life for Toronto’s diverse community and ensure a continued legacy for many years to come. “We are proud to be the ROM’s Centennial Partner and continue CIBC’s longstanding support of the Museum,” says Victor Dodig, Senior Executive Vice-President, CIBC. “CIBC congratulates the ROM on 100 years of building and enriching our communities, connecting people to their world and to each other."
