Hundreds of ROM supporters gathered at the Museum on May 8, 2013 for the Chairs’ Reception, hosted by Won J. Kim, Chairman of the ROM Board of Trustees and Robert E. Pierce, Chairman of the ROM Board of Governors. The annual event celebrates philanthropy at the Museum, acknowledging donors, patrons and sponsors who generously contribute their financial support and considerable time to making the ROM an indispensable resource for building community.
This year, the Distinguished Service Award was presented to Kenneth Harrigan and Flavia Redelmeier for their outstanding contributions to the Museum. Learn more about Flavia’s remarkable contributions to the ROM (video) and Ken’s dedication to the Museum (video).
“The ROM has been the love of my life,” said Flavia Redelmeier. “I’ve enjoyed coming here for the past 75 years and I feel I have contributed to it.” A former ROM employee, donor, patron and Board member, Flavia first joined the ROM as an Assistant in the Ethnology department in 1957.
Soon after she joined the Department of Museum Volunteers and went on to serve as its President and guide ROM trips in China, the Galápagos Islands and Turkey. Flavia has been an active supporter of the Museum giving her time and energy to numerous projects and committees.
In 2007, she and the late Ernest Redelmeier generously made a leadership gift to the Renaissance ROM Campaign in support of her passion for textiles and weaving. In recognition, the Museum proudly named the Flavia Redelmeier Exhibit in her honour in the Patricia Harris Gallery of Textiles & Costume.
Ken Harrigan took on the dual responsibility of chairing the ROM Board of Trustees and serving as founding Chair of the ROM Board of Governors in 1992. His leadership and vision was integral to the Museum at this critical time and his commitment and guidance set the course for the future growth and development of the ROM Governors, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Ken has served on numerous committees including the Renaissance ROM Campaign Cabinet. Together, he and his wife Jean Harrigan have been generous supporters of the Museum for more than 23 years and have been Royal Patrons Circle (RPC) members since 1993.
The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honour the Museum can bestow on a volunteer and is reserved for those deserving individuals who have generously provided extraordinary and meritorious service to the ROM.