Royal Ontario Museum Blog

Monthly Archive: December

Museums and Climate Change: Two Easy Steps and One Provocative Move

Posted: December 2, 2015 - 10:05 , by royal
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#COP21 logo in the public access area for the 2015 UN Paris Climate Change Conference

Our world leaders converged on Paris yesterday for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, or #COP21.  During the opening ceremonies we heard from the top dogs, including US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China President Xi Jinping. None of them explicitly called out to the museums of the world, but certainly we are ALL implied in the action required to battle our rapidly changing climate.

10th Annual Eva Holtby Lecture

Posted: December 1, 2015 - 17:50 , by ROM
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We were thrilled to welcome Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Art Foundation and Director of the Sharjah Biennial  to the ROM for the 10th annual Eva Holtby Lecture on Contemporary Culture on November 10. More than 400 people heard Al Qasimi live at the ROM and via Synaptop worldwide streaming.

Women in Wildlife Photography

Posted: December 1, 2015 - 17:50 , by ROM
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Britta Jaschinski, the only female photographer amongst the winners of the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Photo by Mark Hamblin

Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Krystal Seedial

Only eleven finalists and one winner of the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest are women. Why are there so few female photographers involved in WPY? Environmental Visual Communication student Krystal Seedial explores this question further.

An Important Bird Area (IBA) and an Awesome Spectacle!

Posted: November 30, 2015 - 10:35 , by royal
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Bonaparte's Gull flying over the ocean

Looking for a fun activity one winter weekend? Head down to Niagara Falls and be amazed by the annual gull spectacle that takes place each year along the river. As many as 100,000 gulls of up to 12 species spend December along the river between Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Drive the River Road and get a great look at thousands of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls and a wonderful variety of waterfowl like Bufflehead. The river has recently been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Canada.

Premier Kathleen Wynne visits the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity

Posted: November 24, 2015 - 16:19 , by ROM
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Dave Ireland in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity at the ROM

On Tuesday, November 24, Premier Kathleen Wynne visited the Royal Ontario Museum to announce the new Ontario Provincial Climate Change Strategy

Mark Engstrom, Director and CEO of the ROM, Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario and Dave Ireland, Managing Director of ROM Centre of Discover of Biodiversity. Photo credit: Jenna Muirhead-Gould

WPY - The Proof is in the Picture

Posted: November 20, 2015 - 14:10 , by ROM
“Tundra Buggy and Sun Dog” Don Gutoski’s snowy view on a photography adventure in Cape Churchill, Manitoba.

Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Kendra Marjerrison

For some wildlife photographers, a kill shot is the ultimate goal. It creates compelling photographs that highlight moments people don’t often get to see. For others, it’s a difficult scene to witness from behind the lens. Don, the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, had no idea that the predatory behaviour captured in the photograph he took on the last day of his northern adventure would be more than just an interesting shot. It’s a powerful story about what can happen when the Earth becomes warmer and two competing predators, the red fox and the Arctic fox, are driven to cross paths...

 

Nature Stories through Photography: Insights from Connor Stefanison

Posted: November 17, 2015 - 13:33 , by ROM
Connor Stefanison at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Natural History Museum, UK

Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Sean de Francia

Connor Stefanison is this year’s recipient of the Rising Star Portfolio Award, given to outstanding photographers 18-25 for images that will be featured at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibit. He was also awarded the Eric Hosking Portfolio Award in 2013. Here he shares his insights into producing powerful narratives through nature and wildlife photography.

Weekend at the Museum: A Community Affair

Posted: November 16, 2015 - 13:21 , by Jaclyn Qua-Hiansen
Teenage boy reads the ROM MagnusCards on a smartphone held by his mother

A Guest Post by Christa Sawyer, Community Events Supervisor, Autism Ontario

New to ROM: Tiger Claw Necklace

Posted: November 16, 2015 - 11:56 , by Deepali Dewan

On the one hand, it is an example of delicate Victorian jewelry. On the other, it is a reminder of a past when the conservation of wildlife species was far from the minds of people. Written by Deepali Dewan.

ROM wins Ontario’s Accessible Tourism Award

Posted: November 11, 2015 - 14:18 , by royal
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Cheryl Blackman, ROM Assistant Vice President, Audience, and Heather Hiscox, CBC News anchor and Awards Gala emcee

The ROM is proud to announce that we have been honoured with Ontario’s Accessible Tourism Award at the 2015 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence. Creating access at the ROM is a journey which our Museum has embraced, and this recognition is a great testament to our direction.