Blanche and Wes Mitchell shared many passions in their life together: the arts, learning, and travelling—but chief among them all was the Royal Ontario Museum. They loved the ROM so much they left a significant gift to the Museum in their wills—making them members of the Currelly Legacy Society (CLS).
Blanche and Wes’ social calendar revolved around the ROM—rain or shine. They enjoyed attending new exhibitions, lectures and talks at the Museum and often persuaded friends to join them. They also attended many CLS events which allowed them to deepen their connection to the Museum through exclusive programming and behind-the-scenes tours.
Sharing an unmatched zest for life, the Mitchells were also avid travelers, visiting over 25 different countries across the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, North Africa and South America. They shared an insatiable desire to learn about history and new cultures and returned from their trip with memories as well as a souvenir for their home.
Over the years, the couple visited New Orleans, Buffalo, Cleveland, Charleston and Savannah, taking in the history and architecture of each city. There were also numerous trips around Southern Ontario to small towns with live theatre productions—their second love. In their later years, the ROM collections and exhibition brought the world to them when travel was less convenient.
Wes and Blanche passed away in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Their legacy will live on through their generous estate gift which provides valuable unrestricted funding for the ROM’s highest priorities. The ROM is deeply grateful to the Mitchells for their support and commitment to ensuring the Museum remains a place for learning, discovery and connection for all.