Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 4, 2010The following is being distributed at
the request of The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and
Labrador:
The Rooms Receives $2.5 Million from
Husky Energy;
Largest Gift Ever Made to a Cultural
Institution in Atlantic Canada
The Rooms Corporation makes history today in
announcing a major corporate gift of $2.5 million from
Husky Energy (Husky), the largest gift ever presented to
a cultural institution in Atlantic Canada. To mark this
contribution, The Rooms fourth level museum gallery will
be named The Husky Energy Gallery.
"This is truly a remarkable and historical moment for
all of us at The Rooms," said Dean Brinton, CEO, The
Rooms Corporation. "On behalf of the Board of Directors,
the management, staff and volunteers of The Rooms and,
indeed, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, we send
a very big thank you to Husky Energy."
"Husky Energy recognizes the importance of the arts
and culture in shaping a community's identity," said
John C.S. Lau, Husky Energy President and CEO. "By
investing in The Rooms, we believe we are investing in
the preservation of the Newfoundland and Labrador
culture and creating a legacy for future generations."
Upon completion of The Husky Energy Gallery,
the 5,600 square foot museum space will present a
semi-permanent exhibition titled the Cultural
Tapestry of Newfoundland and Labrador (Cultural Tapestry
exhibition). The exhibition will showcase the
province's priceless ethnological and historical
artifacts from the 18th and 19th
centuries; provide the provincial orientation point for
the history and culture of our province as experienced
by the Inuit, Innu, Mi'kmaq, Metis, European and other
settlers; and, trace 300 plus years of the peoples of
the province through a tapestry of artifacts, historical
documents, and historic and contemporary art from the
province and around the world.
Mr. Brinton added that in the five short years since
The Rooms opened, the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador have embraced it as an emblem of their passion
and pride of place. "This fierce sense of cultural
identity which resonates in the people of our province
is represented in everything we do at The Rooms. This
historic gift from Husky Energy is a testament to the
role which The Rooms plays in our community and to the
significance of the work we do in preserving this
identity for future generations. We are very grateful to
be recognized in such a significant manner by a leader
in community giving."
Construction work on The Husky Energy Gallery
will commence in July 2010 with anticipated opening of
the Cultural Tapestry exhibition in 2013.
The Rooms is Atlantic Canada's largest cultural
institution encompassing The Rooms Provincial Art
Gallery, Archives and Museum. Its mandate is to collect,
research, exhibit, educate, and develop the province's
cultural and historical treasures into a constant source
of information and inspiration for all residents and
visitors.
Husky Energy is an integrated energy and
energy-related company headquartered in Calgary,
Alberta. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the company is
involved in the exploration and development of offshore
oil and gas and is the operator of the White Rose oil
field.
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