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A collector's gift for future generations
For Philip Cheong, collecting is an intergenerational affair. With his father and maternal grandfather both avid collectors, he notes his formative years surrounded by carefully curated objects as a lasting influence in building his own treasured holdings. His first serious acquisition—a
A Decade of Excellence
The ROM’s collections are a springboard for discovery, inspiring wonder and promoting learning for our diverse communities. And for outstanding up-andcoming scholars advancing bold research ideas at the Museum, they are the focus of innovative lines of inquiry across art, culture, and nature.
A Family Affair With a Land Before Time
Dr. Maureen Trudeau and her family first discovered the Burgess Shale while wandering the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. She and her “dinosaur-obsessed son” came across an exhibit with large replicas of bizarre early life creatures that had been unearthed in Yoho National Park,
A Family Gift Inspired by a Mother’s Dedication
“The opportunity to inspire people, to make the past meaningful and relevant, has been incredibly fulfilling,” says Barbara. “And that opportunity came from the curators who offered their expertise and time, giving us the confidence to tell the Museum’s stories.” Moved by her
A Generous Life and an Enduring Legacy
Few people can lay claim to building the foundations of a city. Arthur Kennedy is on that short list. As a lifelong civil servant, Arthur played a pivotal role in developing and overseeing the water system for the Region of Peel, an impressive feat of engineering that continues to serve over 1.5
A Gift That Lasts Forever
The late Harold Robert Stankaitis was always strong in his conviction that ROM is a cultural haven that will be around forever to inspire the next generation. Thanks to a generous gift-in-kind from his estate, his vision will come true. Harold was a lifelong avid art collector with a special
A Gift to Future Generations
During his decades as an elementary school teacher, Thomas Charles Messecar Logan was devoted to inspiring brighter futures for young people. And though he passed away in March 2022, his impact will continue thanks to his generous estate gift to ROM. “Thomas believed in the power of the arts to
A Golden Opportunity
For almost 12,000 years, the world has been a pretty stable place, at least in terms of geology. But scientists submit that with the intense acceleration of human activity over the last century, we’ve entered a new epoch: the proposed Anthropocene. Dr. Francine McCarthy is an Earth Sciences
A Great Ship's Bell Tolls Again
On September 7, 2014, one of Canada’s greatest mysteries was solved when the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition team discovered Her Majesty’s Ship Erebus off the coast of Nunavut. After more than 160 years of searching to understand the fate of English explorer Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated
A Historic Gift from The Slaight Family Foundation
In March 2017, The Slaight Family Foundation announced a $12-million donation to be shared by the ROM and 14 other not-for-profit organizations committed to improving the well-being of Canada’s Indigenous populations. This historic gift marks one of the largest donations ever directed to support
A Legacy Comes Full Circle
Like so many others who grew up in Toronto, Emma Jenkin holds a special place in her heart for the ROM. From weekend visits with her parents to school field trips to summer camps, the Museum was a big part of her youth. “The ROM was always an adventure,” says Emma. “It felt like home, but
A Legacy in the Making
Balancing family, career and finances can be a rewarding juggling act. As a mother of two young children, June Perry is used to having her hands full. Like many parents, her daily life is full of joy as she watches her kids grow and learn, while balancing the financial responsibilities and
A Legacy Not Forgotten
Joan Thompson, James A.S. Thompson and Evan Thompson Joan Thompson was a long-time ROM volunteer – one of the iconic ‘Three Joans’ who were founding members of the Volunteer Committee (now known as the Department of Museum Volunteers) in the late 1950s. During her near-50 years of involvement
A Legacy of Japanese Art and Storytelling
The ROM’s world-class Japanese collection and Japan’s storied Edo Period (1603–1868) captivated members of the Japanese business and cultural community, who gathered on April 12, 2016 for an exclusive look at some stunning, newly acquired ukiyo-e woodblock prints and a salon-style talk
A Legacy of Knowledge for Future Generations
Patricia Haug and her husband Kjell on their wedding day. Photo courtesy Haug Estate Trustee Molly Yeoman. A lifelong champion of curiosity and creative thinking, Patricia Haug devoted her retirement years to her community and educating the younger generation. Committed to the ROM, she
A Life of Service
Growing up in Northern Ontario, Marguerite Low was raised to be of service to others—from Brownies and Girl Guides to church and health care service groups. Today, as a dedicated member of the Department of Museum Volunteers, she continues to fulfill this purpose, bringing ROM objects and stories
A lifelong love becomes a lasting legacy
At a young age, Marnie Hunt’s father introduced her to books, the theatre, film and classical music. The result was a lifelong love for all the arts – including ROM. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Department of Psychology, Marnie spent her career as a social worker with the
A Lifelong Relationship
As both a member and an employee, Connie Swenson has always felt a strong sense of connection to the Royal Ontario Museum. A native of Iowa by way of Chicago, she moved to Toronto with her family in 2008, after a brief sojourn in Alberta–and the ROM quickly became a big part of their lives. “As
A Love for the ROM
Celebrating 100 Years of Nurturing Discovery The ROM experienced an incredible wave of affection felt in Toronto and beyond as we celebrated the Museum’s 100th anniversary and launched our $15M Love the ROM Centennial Campaign. The City of Toronto marked the Museum’s birthday by declaring March
A Love for the ROM Endures
As dedicated members of the Department of Museum Volunteers (DMV), Rodger and Joann McLennan led countless tours over the past 20 years, enrapturing visitors with their infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the Museum’s collections. Joann, a native New Yorker, met Rodger while
A Man with a (Retirement) Plan
An afternoon exploring a favourite gallery, a long lunch at the café, a stroll through Philosopher’s Walk – these are some of the things Swee Goh and his late wife, Lilian, enjoyed most about ROM. Upon retiring to Toronto, they lived across the street from the Museum and decided to get to know
A Night in Pompeii
The ROM proudly welcomed 200 guests for an unforgettable evening of Pompeian flair and style in celebration of the Canadian premiere of Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano on Tuesday, June 9. 2015. Guests enjoyed an exclusive preview of this highly anticipated show, an exquisite dining
A Night to Honour our ROM Supporters
Close to 500 members of the ROM family attended our annual Chairs’ Reception on May 4, 2016, celebrating our exceptional donors, patrons, sponsors and volunteers. The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented the Lieutenant Governor’s Distinguished Service Award
A Passion for Music and the Arts Inspires a $3M Leadership Gift
Helga Schmidt is a lover of operetta and live performance, and a benefactor of many cultural organizations in Europe. As lead donors, she and her late husband Mike Schmidt have made a transformational gift to the Love the ROM Centennial Campaign. Arriving in Canada from Germany in 1956 with
A Rock Star Collection Hits the ROM
A one-of-a-kind ore and mineral collection is making its way to the ROM, thanks to the amazing generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors. The Kirwin Collection—a staggering global assortment of 25,000 ores and minerals—will be the largest single acquisition in the history of ROM Earth
A Tailor-Made Approach to Philanthropy
Joseph Wong’s penchant for fashion started at an early age. As a teenager, he was roused by the vibrancy and variety of the Japanese and Italian designs that ruled Toronto in the 1970s and 1980s, a stark contrast to the strict world of school uniforms he had left behind in his native Hong Kong.
Adriana Morrison
Meet YPC Committee Vice Chair Adriana Morrison What is your occupation? I am a corporate governance professional at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. I work with CPPIB’s investment teams, companies we invest in and organizations around the world on governance issues like executive pay,
Alf Wirth: A Museum Aficionado
ROM Governor Alf Wirth has visited hundreds of museums. We caught up with him in the Wirth Gallery of the Middle East—one of many ROM initiatives he has generously supported—to talk about his passion for arts and culture. “I used to come to the ROM with my dad,” recalls Alf Wirth. “I
Amer Bhatti
Meet YPC Member Amer Bhatti What is your occupation? I am an inside sales representative at Microsoft Canada, in the enterprise business group. What was the last book you read? The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what
An Artful Legacy
Strong, passionate, and principled. These are some of the words Jessica Peatling uses to describe her late grandmother, Vera Kircheis. More than a beloved matriarch, Vera was a dispenser of wisdom who shared many practical life lessons with her children, grandchildren, and even
An Enriching Relationship
In the Canadian multicultural mosaic, Jayshree Khimasia sees ROM as a vital institution. The Museum has brought her closer to her own South Asian identity and nourished her lifelong passion for textiles and global fashion. And that’s why she has chosen to entrust part of her legacy to the
An Unwavering Commitment to the ROM
Frank Potter, left, and Jack Cockwell The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honour the Museum can bestow on a volunteer and is reserved for those who have generously provided extraordinary and meritorious service to the ROM. The ROM recognized Jack Cockwell and Frank Potter with this
Apprendre avec cœur
Près de vingt ans après avoir reçu une invitation à participer à un événement de conservation au ROM, le Musée est devenu comme une seconde maison pour Neera Chopra et son mari, Deepak. Ils sont devenus membres du Cercle royal des bienfaiteurs et Neera Chopra a eu envie d’y faire une
Barrick Gold Family Day at the ROM
The ROM was pleased to host Barrick Gold Corporation employees and their families on Sunday, February 23, 2014. This special day celebrated the recent opening of the new Barrick Gold Corporation Gallery, an interactive space in the ROM’s Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth’s Treasures. A new
Beloved Assistant Curator Inspires Generous Gift to ROM Palaeontology Department
Janet Waddington was a cherished ROM staff member for over 40 years. Even after her passing in 2020 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, her legacy continues to flourish, leaving a lasting impact on her colleagues and the Museum. “Janet had a deep passion for fossils,” says
Bishop White Committee Establishes ROM Curatorship
For close to 60 years, the Bishop White Committee has enabled the ROM to steward and display the greatest collection of Japanese art in Canada. Together with the ROM, this passionate group of volunteers has established the Bishop White Committee Curator of Japanese Art & Culture—an endowed
Carolyn Slon
Carolyn Slon, YPC Member since 2011 NEW YPC Committee Member What is your occupation? Lawyer What was the last book you read? Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, play by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan! If you could only listen to one song for the
Celebrating 10 years of ROM support
Hosted by technology expert and journalist Kris Abel, YPC Speaks celebrated 10 extraordinary years of the Young Patrons Circle (YPC) by exploring how we interact with our world through technology. This fun night of cocktails and conversation took place at the ROM on February 25, 2015, and featured:
Celebrating a Century of Partnership
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
Celebrating Ada Slaight's Enduring Impact
For over 40 years, Ada Slaight (1931–2020) was a dedicated supporter of the ROM. Her lifelong passion for art and culture, her commitment to children and learning, and her generous philanthropy led to the creation of the Ada Slaight School Visits Bursary Fund in 2009, which has enabled tens of
Celebrating Hatch's Outstanding Philanthropy
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), McMaster University and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre proudly congratulate Hatch, a global engineering and professional services firm, as the 2015 recipient of Outstanding Corporation Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Philanthropy Awards.
Celebrating Michael Lee-Chin’s Philanthropy
Michael Lee-Chin’s extraordinary gift of $30 million in support of the ROM in 2003 was one of the largest philanthropic gifts to a cultural institution in Canadian history. As the lead donor to the Renaissance ROM Campaign, his vision and commitment launched the transformation of the Museum and
Celebrating ROM Philanthropy and Volunteerism
The ROM warmly welcomed more than 450 guests for its Chairs’ Reception on June 14, 2017. This annual event celebrates the ROM family of supporters and volunteers whose generosity enables world-class exhibitions, curatorial research and public programs for the community. Guests enjoyed an
Celebrating ROM Supporters
The ROM warmly welcomed close to 400 guests for its Chairs’ Reception on May 9, 2018. This annual event celebrates the ROM family of supporters and volunteers whose generosity enables world-class exhibitions, curatorial research and public programs for the community. Attendees enjoyed a private
Celebrating ROM Volunteer Patricia Harris
On April 6-12, 2014, we celebrated National Volunteer Week, a special time to recognize and pay tribute to the many contributions that volunteers have made in Canada and around the world. Now in its 72nd year, National Volunteer Week celebrated the efforts of volunteers and the incredible impact
Celebrating the ROM's Centennial in Style
Currelly Society members gathered for a traditional afternoon tea in celebration of the ROM’s Centennial on April 3, 2014. More than 100 guests—many wearing vintage hats and gorgeous gloves—enjoyed fine teas, gourmet sweets and savoury bites. Against the backdrop of a beautiful palm court,
Celebrating YPC Members
As we near the end of 2017, we want to begin a new tradition of celebrating long-time and new YPC members whose continued philanthropic support has been vital to the ROM. Thank you for your generosity, and happy anniversary! 10+ years* (joined before December 2007) Brian Astl Jonathon Borland
Chaire de conservateur des arts et des cultures du Canada
Le philanthrope Red Wilson établit une chaire permanente des arts et des cultures du Canada. Les objets sont les conteurs par excellence du ROM – ouvrant des fenêtres sur des mondes illimités et contribuant à la connaissance du monde qui est le nôtre. Mais leurs récits ne seraient pas
Collector’s Items
When Ali Adil Khan and his wife Shehla emigrated from Pakistan over 30 years ago, Canadian art provided a way to connect to their new home. Ali Adil began collecting artworks depicting the Canadian wilderness – slowly at first and on a shoestring budget, eventually progressing to larger
Congratulating ROM Donor Jack Rhind on his 100th Birthday
Jack Rhind has been a true friend to the ROM for more than three decades. As one of our most senior and beloved volunteers, and a generous donor, Jack has truly helped shape the Museum. He served on the Board of Trustees from 1985-88 during the ROM’s Gallery Development Campaign. He joined