Return of ROM Fridays & Salon Sundays, plus ROMLife and ROMkids activities
Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) proudly presents A Season of Canada, a time during which Museum visitors will enjoy fascinating temporary exhibitions, beautiful permanent galleries, delicious menu options, inspired merchandise and a great amount of dynamic programming. Launching on Saturday, October 6, 2007, to coincide with the openings of two special exhibitions Canada Collects: Treasures from Across the Nation and Shapeshifters, Time Travellers and Storytellers, plus Charles Pachter’s Canada (II), as well as the new Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada, A Season of Canada offerings will continue through the fall and winter. (For more details, please refer to their individual news releases, at www.rom.on.ca/about/newsroom/index.php)
An extraordinary number of Canadian-themed programs complement A Season of Canada, as they highlight the country’s art, culture and history. After a brief hiatus, the immensely popular ROM Friday Nights returns, starting October 5. Visitors enjoy half-price admission from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm with entertainment for the entire family happening throughout the evening. Salon Sundays is an all-new weekly event starting October 7 with programming geared to all tastes and ages available all over the Museum. One can relax and read complimentary Sunday newspapers in the ROM Salon; sample fresh Ontario-grown produce in Food Studio while meeting the local farmers responsible for the fare; indulge in an elegant brunch in C5; and simply enjoy a Sunday amidst classical music, innovative artists, interesting speakers, engaging family films, and interactive fun. For details on both ROM Friday Nights and Salon Sundays and their performances, please visit our website.
The ROM Digital Gallery is unique to the Museum and is presented through the generous support of Ian Ihnatowycz and Marta Witer, and the Ukrainian Canadian Community. It uses touch-screen computers and state-of-the-art workstations, allowing visitors to interact with the ROM’s collections in virtual two-and three-dimensional space. During A Season of Canada, on select Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, visitors can virtually zoom, rotate and flip 3-D objects on their personal screens while watching Shaping Canada: Our Voices and Stories. This 50-minute presentation explores Canadian history through the eyes of prominent Canadian authors, athletes, entertainers, and politicians, as they examine what it means to be Canadian. There is a limited capacity. Visit our website to check available dates and times.
The ROMLife program, Find Tomorrow’s Retro Treasures takes place on Saturday, October 27 at 1:30 pm and features a panel of experienced collectors sharing its insights. Participants learn how to discover new areas of collecting and search for collectibles before they become too popular. Canadian Icons takes place on Wednesday, November 28 at 6:30 pm, during which a roster of eminent speakers addresses the question, “What Says Canada?” National icons, including beavers, Mounties, Canada geese, donuts, maple leaves, the CN Tower (and perhaps, now, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal), and their evolution over time, are explored. For more information on numerous other programs inspired by A Season of Canada or to register for all ROMLife programs, go to www.rom.on.ca/programs or call 416.586.5797.
Educators are encouraged to book class trips during A Season of Canada. Led by a skilled ROM educator, classes can explore Canada Collects to learn the significance of the remarkable objects which have come together from public institutions and private collectors across Canada. Visits can be booked by visiting www.rom.on.on/schools/visits. For additional information, email schoolv@rom.on.ca or call 416.586.5801.
Children 16 and under can paint masterpieces and explore the world, all before lunch, during Saturday Morning Club (SMC). Generously supported by the Philip and Berthe Morton Foundation, SMC is comprised of eight Saturdays of fun-filled, educational adventures in the ROM’s intriguing galleries. During A Season of Canada, children, ages 11-14, participating in Collector’s Circle will visit Canada Collects for a first-hand look at collecting and appraising artifacts. To register, visit www.rom.on.ca/schools/rom_kids. For more information, email programs@rom.on.ca or call 416.586.5797.
The new flagship ROM Museum Store and ROM Reproductions Shop feature merchandise celebrating A Season of Canada, including Canadian made and inspired jewellery, home décor, books and a large selection of unique gift ideas. Also available is the stunning Canada Collects catalogue. The 176-page hardcover volume features full colour images of all exhibition objects included in the display. Retailing at $44.99 plus applicable taxes, it is edited by exhibition curator Kenneth Lister and is published by the ROM.
The ROM’s two dining areas offer a diverse range of menu items, promotions and opportunities inspired by A Season of Canada. C5 (Crystal Five) Restaurant Lounge, located at the pinnacle of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, provides superlative gastronomic experiences in a sophisticated environment. Its unparalleled five-star menus feature local and artesian ingredients paired with selections from Canadian vintners. Lunch is served Monday through Sunday and dinner Thursday through Saturday. For a more casual experience, Food Studio’s freshly-made meals showcase the bounty of the Ontario harvest. Providing healthy menu options and organic, seasonal ingredients from local Ontario food producers when possible, Food Studio is located on Level B1 and welcomes diners for lunch from Monday to Sunday, and for dinner on Friday nights. For more information on dining at the ROM, go to https://www.rom.on.ca/services/dining/index.php