ROM Infrastructure Announcement

A government of Canada and Ontario press conference was held this morning at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) to announce major infrastructure improvements, which include $1.4M in funding for the repair to the ROM’s roof.

These renovations will enhance the visitor experience at the ROM, and increase the museum’s functional lifespan. The funds allotted to the ROM will be the first project in a joint plan to invest more than $220 million in initiatives to improve various projects across Ontario and Canada.

The announcement was made formerly by the Honourable Denis Lebel, Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation. Also in attendance at this morning’s announcement was Mark Adler, Member of Parliament for York Centre and The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. 

As the Master of Ceremonies and host for the announcement, ROM Director and CEO Janet Carding pointed out the importance of today’s capital funding announcement to the museum’s overall structure from a preservation perspective. Our copper roofing systems, located in the Heritage Building and Curatorial Centre, have not been maintained since they were originally installed starting in the 1930s.

In fact, a recent assessment of these areas found that the roof areas were at or nearing the end of their useful service life. During her remarks Janet shared that, “this infrastructure funding is a critical step to achieving the ROM’s complete goal for heritage roof restoration and to preserving the objects the Museum holds in trust for future generations.”