The Rooms gets $1M boost from BMO for WWI education program

The Bank of Montreal presented The Rooms with a $1 million cheque Monday afternoon in support of its First World War commemoration plans for July 1, 2016. 

Back in October, the Rooms announced it was scaling back on its 100th anniversary exhibit and celebrations due to the downturn in the economy. 

• The Rooms scales back WW I fundraising goals due to slowing economy 
• WW I exhibit at The Rooms gets $3.25-M donation from Fortis

Since then, a number of First World War tributes have been unveiled. 

• IceCaps new jersey pays tribute to Beaumont Hamel
• Behind the scenes of The Rooms WW I short film
• The Rooms recruit students to train like WW I soldiers
• The Ennis Sisters honour WW I fallen in video for I Will Sing You Home​

"Our funds will be earmarked to the BMO First World War education program, a social studies program designed to be delivered to large groups of students in a newly-built exhibition … here at The Rooms," said Victor Pellegrino, BMO's senior vice-president for Atlantic Canada. 

Pellegrino said BMO plans to create a mobile education program for students across the province in 2017 and 2018, called the First World War heritage project.

The bank also has plans for an online interactive project for students.

Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Brian Tobin is vice-chair of BMO Capital Markets. He attended the cheque presentation.

Tobin said the institution has a long history of meeting the financial needs of the people of the province. 

"Following the bank crash in Newfoundland in the 1890s, the Bank of Montreal was the first bank to lend assistance to the province and made the greatest contribution by lending the Newfoundland government sufficient funds to meet interest payments and to resume construction of the railway," he said. 

Tom Foran, co-chair of The Rooms First World War capital campaign, said the contribution will aid in preserving the memory of the fallen soldiers. 

"BMO's gift will help us tell the story of those incredibly brave soldiers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and all of those who supported them at home," he said. 

Foran said it will also provide students with an understanding of the significance of the First World War and its relation to their own history.