2025 Yearin Review

2025 was a landmark year for ROM, marked by dynamic exhibitions, groundbreaking research, and transformational projects. Chief among these achievements was the reimagined Age of Dinosaurs Gallery—the first major milestone in the OpenROM project—generously supported by and named for James and Louise Temerty.

With 3,500 square feet of additional gallery space, the revitalized gallery includes more models, specimens, and displays, including a thrilling life-sized fight scene between Zuul, the famous club-tailed dinosaur, and the apex predator Gorgosaurus.

While dinosaurs were a major draw for our visitors, so too were our many exhibitions. And in 2025 we truly had something for everyone, from the ROM-original Crawford Lake: Layers in Time, a dynamic look at the record of human life on Earth recorded right here in Ontario, to Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks, a doorway into the Southern Netherlands of 1400 to 1700, to Picnics and Pastimes, a glimpse into the cultural vibrancy of Iran during the Safavid dynasty. 2025 also marked the remarkable eight-month presentation of Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., a powerful exhibition on the Holocaust that also delivered free education programs that reached thousands of students across Ontario.

As ROM’s programs and exhibitions engaged the public, ROM research pushed the boundaries of knowledge. Of particular note was the groundbreaking work that is showcased in the Crawford Lake exhibition, as well as the 50th anniversary of ROM fieldwork in the Burgess Shale, which has led to the discovery of dozens of new species and reshaped our understanding of early marine life. That same fieldwork is the foundation of the ever-popular Willner Madge Gallery, Dawn of Life, which includes nearly 1,000 fossil specimens spanning 4 billion years of life on Earth. The Museum’s curators also made many contributions to art and culture research. Among them was a paper by Dr. Justin Jennings, the curator for the upcoming exhibition Psychedelics, on how hallucinogen-laced beer helped elites rule in the ancient Andes.

2025 also brought an influx of curatorial talent to ROM, including Dr. John Creese, the new Isabel and Gino Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology, and Tandazani Dhlakama, the new Curator of Global Africa. But it was a year of goodbyes, too.

After a decade leading ROM, Josh Basseches stepped down as Director & CEO at the end of 2025. During his tenure, Josh championed the mission at the heart of his vision: to help people understand the past, make sense of the present, and come together to shape a shared future. As Interim Co-Directors and CEOs, we’ll continue to embrace this mission as we guide ROM into 2026—a year rich with possibility.

— Yoke Chung & Jennifer Wild, ROM Interim Co-Directors & CEOs

New Exhibitions

Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away. (January 10, 2025 – September 1, 2025) provided a comprehensive look at one of the darkest moments of the 20th century using more than 500 original objects, from concrete fenceposts strung with barbed to suitcases that never returned home.

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks (June 28, 2025 – January 18, 2026) opened a window into the Southern Netherlands of 1400 to 1700, a dynamic period when new artistic styles flourished.

Crawford Lake: Layers in Time (September 27, 2025 – September 13, 2026) chronicled the epic history of the local lake with historical objects, core samples, and artwork, providing a powerful look at how our actions shape the Earth—and the legacy we leave behind.

Sharks (October 11, 2025 to March 22, 2026) provided a unique look at this fascinating—and oft-misunderstood—group of fishes via a compelling mix of life-sized models and interactives.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 (November 8, 2025 to March 29, 2026) included everything from gorgeous landscapes to intimate animal portraits, capturing the sweeping majesty of nature—and the urgent need to protect it.

Picnics and Pastimes (November 26, 2024 to May 3, 2026) showcased a large, treasured tile depicting a royal picnic and a gorgeous lute, offering a window into the pleasures, pastimes, and artistic heritage of Iran during the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736).

NEW INSTALLATIONS

Connection Stations (Opened March 7, 2025) invited visitors to reflect on Museum objects to build a deeper understanding of the world and how others may experience it—all in service of cultivating social cohesion.

Chinese Zodiac Case: Year of the Snake (January 29, 2025 to February 9, 2026), a part of ROM’s annual zodiac installation, presented an exquisite array of snake and tortoise-themed objects, including a mythical double-headed serpent from the early 500s.

Research & Collections Highlights

Dr. Kim Tait, the Teck Endowed Chair of Mineralogy, co-authored a landmark paper in Nature on samples from the asteroid Bennu, which contain “molecules that, on our planet, are key to life.”

Dr. Justin Jennings, the Senior Curator of American Archaeology and curator of the upcoming exhibition Psychedelics, co-authored a paper suggesting that the “afterglow” from consuming psychedelic-spiked beer in ancient Peru “could have helped rebuild communities after the disruptions of imperial expansion.”

Dr. Burton Lim, the Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, was one of the authors on a paper in Nature looking at bats’ immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. (8 out of the 10 samples in the study came from ROM—yet more proof the Museum’s collections are essential for important research.)

Dr. Wen-chien Cheng, the Louise Hawley Stone Chair of East Asian Art, hosted a sold-out lecture by renowned scholar Dr. Hui-Wen Lu tracing the thousand-year evolution of Chinese writing from 3,000-year-old oracle bone inscriptions to mixed media works by leading contemporary artists.

Dr. Jean-Bernard Caron, the Richard M. Ivey Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology, and Joe Moysiuk, his former Ph.D student, co-authored a paper in the Royal Society Open Science describing a remarkable new 506-million-year-old predator from the Burgess Shale. The find was covered everywhere from The New York Times to the BBC.

Dr. Akiko Takesue, the Bishop White Committee Associate Curator of Japanese Art & Culture, acquired a standing figure of Shō Kannon (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), a rare wooden statue from the late Heian period in Japan with the help of nine donors, including members of ROM’s Bishop White Committee.

Events Highlights

Award-winning journalist Lisa LaFlamme hosted the inaugural ROM Immortal Gala: The Art of Fashion—“the most stylish event on the Toronto social calendar”—raising more than $1.1M for the Museum, highlighting its extensive collection of global fashion and textiles, and honouring Suzanne Rogers for her commitment to fashion and philanthropy.

Over two nights in January, the acclaimed actor Saul Rubinek presented excerpts from his play All in the Telling to sold-out audiences at the Museum.

In May, ROM Celebration awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Distinguished Service Award to two worthy recipients: Isabel Alves-Vettoretto, member of the ROM Board of Governors; and Patricia Olasker, Vice-Chair of the ROM Board of Governors. The annual Distinguished Corporation Award went to longtime ROM corporate partner Desjardins; and the Donor of Merit award was bestowed upon the extraordinary Temerty family who, through their Foundation, have made numerous transformational gifts to ROM over many years.

From a Caribbean-inspired celebration in partnership with the Bahamas Tourist Office to a late-summer “Block Party,” the ever-popular ROM After Dark series continued to welcome new audiences to the Museum.

As the trusted philanthropic partner of the Museum, ROM Governors generates essential and enduring funding in support of ROM’s mission.

The past year at ROM has been defined by the dedication and vision of those who champion this mission. Donors, sponsors, corporate partners, Patrons, and volunteers have helped share new stories, care for world-class collections, pursue pioneering research, and welcome visitors from across Ontario and beyond.

From the return of the beloved Patrons event Fact or Fiction and special fundraisers like Run for ROM and the ROM Golf Classic, the donor community once again came together in myriad ways to show its support for Canada’s leading museum.

Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.—an exhibition philanthropy made possible

From January 10 to September 1, 2025, ROM hosted Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., an exhibition that spoke not just to the horrors of the Holocaust, but to the systems, people, and beliefs that allowed it to happen. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. included more than 500 original artifacts as well as stirring survivor testimonies. The stories and images in the exhibition urged visitors to confront the past—and come together to shape a shared future.

Close to 165,000 people visited the exhibition during its run at ROM. Audiences left feeling moved, challenged, and inspired—generating one of the highest post-viewing satisfaction scores in ROM’s exhibition history, with 83% of solicited visitors indicating they would recommend the experience to others. The exhibition also inspired the launch of ROM’s Connection Stations—five interactive installations presented throughout the Museum and designed to combat bias and cultivate social cohesion.

In collaboration with ROM’s Education Partner, the Toronto Holocaust Museum, ROM was also able to provide educational opportunities for young visitors, including 20,000 elementary and secondary school students—many visiting free of charge—who took part in curriculum-connected programming. An additional 8,000+ students engaged with the exhibition virtually. That impact is only possible because of the generosity and vision of our community.

Hosting this exhibition was a significant undertaking, and philanthropy made it happen. At the heart of this effort was our Philanthropic Partner, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, which was essential in mobilizing support. Through the leadership of Leslie Gales and Keith Ray, who co-chaired the UJA’s fundraising effort, more than 70 donors and sponsors came together to bring this exhibition to ROM.

In fact, the very idea of bringing Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. to Toronto began with a conversation more than four years ago between ROM and UJA. That shared commitment set in motion a remarkable partnership—one that shows what’s possible when we work together.

“This exhibition was a powerful reminder that the lessons of the Holocaust belong to all of us,” says Janice Benatar, Senior Vice-President of Integrated Philanthropy at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. “Its impact reflects what can happen when institutions and communities unite with a shared purpose. UJA is grateful for the partnership that brought this project to life and for every donor who helped ensure these stories are preserved and heard.”

As we look back on this year, we celebrate not only the exhibition itself but the generosity that made it possible.

Additional Highlights

Free Main Floor, made possible once again by Founding Benefactor the Temerty Foundation, ran through fall (October 1 - November 30, 2025) for the first time ever, offering a mix of live performances and pop-up programs supported by The Schmidt Family.

In December, ROM reopened the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs—with an additional 3,500 square feet of display and programming space. Among the highlights in the newly expanded gallery is a dramatic life-sized battle scene between Zuul, the armoured dinosaur with a sledgehammer-like tail first introduced to audiences in the popular 2018 exhibition Zuul: Life of an Armoured Dinosaur, and its main predator Gorgosaurus, a close cousin of T. rex.

ROM welcomed two new curators: Tandazani Dhlakama, Curator of Global Africa, and Dr. John Creese, the Isabel and Gino Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology.