$240,000 from the Province of Ontario

[Michael OLeary]

The RCR Museum Capital Campaign
Provincial Donation Presented by Deb Matthews MPP
12 May 2007

"Building for the Future"

On 12 May 2007, The RCR Museum "Building for the Future" Capital Campaign was presented with a generous gift from the Province of Ontario Ministry of Culture.  On behalf of the Province and the Minister of Culture, London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews presented a cheque for $240,000 to BGen Phil Spencer (ret'd), the Chairman of the Museum Board.  Other distinguished guests in attendance included London West MPP Chris Bentley, London-Fanshawe MPP Khalil Ramal, and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters.  Among those present on behalf of the Regiment were Maj Oscar Lambert (ret'd) (Chairman of The RCR Association), Claus Breede (Director/Curator The RCR Museum), Gregory Treehuba (Director of Fund Development), and Sgt Abraham van Veen (ret'd) (President London, Home Station and District Branch of the RCR Association).

More photos posted at: http://thercr.ca/gallery/capital_campaign_12may2007.htm

 

[Michael OLeary]

Reproduced in accordance with fair dealings ....

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2007/05/13/4176340-sun.html

'We must preserve our heritage'
Sun, May 13, 2007

Ontario cash will help the Royal Canadian Regiment expand its museum and preserve its storied history.

By NORMAN DE BONO, SUN MEDIA

Josh Rose, 5, checks out a vintage cannon yesterday at the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum at Wolseley Barracks , where area MPP Deb Matthews announced a $240,000 provincial grant to restore and expand the museum. Josh is the son of Sgt. Lamont Rose, who's with 1RCR at CFB Petawawa. (Sue Reeve, Sun Media)

The London-headquartered Royal Canadian Regiment has won 24 battle honours, dating back 122 years.

From sending soldiers to put down the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, to fighting in Canada's mission against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the regiment has a long and storied military history.

Yesterday, it stepped up its campaign to win a different honour -- an expanded regimental museum.

The Ontario government gave $240,000 to the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum building campaign, which aims to raise $2.3 million by 2008.

"It's a fantastic start to the funding for our Building For The Future campaign. It's a significant donation," said Brig.-Gen. Philip Spencer of the RCR. "This bodes very well for the campaign."

The expansion will add about 6,000 square feet to the museum at Wolseley Barracks, near Oxford and Adelaide streets. New display space will be added to show more museum artifacts now kept in storage.

"We believe in investing in culture and history and we think this will also attract people from all over. It's a terrific draw, a destination museum," said MPP Deb Matthews (L -- London-North-Centre).

The display space also will include a current campaign exhibit, showcasing information on military campaigns in which the RCR is engaged, including the war in Afghanistan.

"They made a compelling case and we were in a position to step up and support them in a significant way," said Matthews.

A new entrance will be built off Elizabeth Street, replacing the fenced entrance at the building's north end.

"It is very exciting. We will see more exhibits from the Northwest Rebellion in 1885, to young soldiers sacrificing their lives now in Afghanistan," added Spencer.

"We will see a full spectrum of history of this regiment, and we will see it in a national historic site."

The regiment now will try to lobby the federal government for building funds, while continuing its local fundraising efforts.

Ontario Labour Minister Steve Peters (L -- Elgin-Middlesex-London) also attended yesterday's ceremony. A historian by training, he spoke about the museum's importance to London and the region.

"This is not just important to the RCR, but it is a Canadian historic site," Peters said. "We must preserve our heritage."

The campaign to rebuild the museum, which dates to 1888, now has raised more than $300,000.

 

[jbeach95]

Good to hear that the museum is getting some support from the government. It's really a great place and should be even better after it expands.

I'm a little skeptical about the main entrance being off Elizabeth St. though. It's a narrow street with poor visibility from the north at Oxford and a deadend at the tracks to the south, and is not visible from Adelaide at all. I wonder how this is going to be dealt with. Possibly something that grabs people's attention on Oxford, and hopefully more effective than the sign they have now (which, I have been told, often goes unnoticed).

The articles also states that the RCR has "won" 24 battle honours. For those who don't know, it has actually been awarded 54 battle honours, with 25 appearing on the colours.

 

[Michael OLeary]

I'm a little skeptical about the main entrance being off Elizabeth St. though. It's a narrow street with poor visibility from the north at Oxford and a deadend at the tracks to the south, and is not visible from Adelaide at all. I wonder how this is going to be dealt with. Possibly something that grabs people's attention on Oxford, and hopefully more effective than the sign they have now (which, I have been told, often goes unnoticed).

As a working concept, picture the Elizabeth Street face with new landscaping (read reduce the old trees by trimming and/or replacement, move or reduce the signature of the HVAC systems, other complementary landscaping, etc.), and peel back the chain link fence along the entire building frontage.  The current entrance isn't visible from Adelaide either, and better signage on Oxford will eventually be addressed as well.  Functionally, the entrance is already off Elizabeth St. into the parking lot or up to the entrance at the north end of the west wing of Wolseley Hall.  Moving the entrance to the archway enables the Museum to incorporate a significant architectural detail back into the Museum plan.

The articles also states that the RCR has "won" 24 battle honours. For those who don't know, it has actually been awarded 54 battle honours, with 25 appearing on the colours.

And the number of battle honours is actually 57.

 

[jbeach95]

I look forward to seeing the completed renovations. Any idea when they'll be completed?

57? Time for me to get a new catechism.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Finish date will depend on the fundraising. 

A new edition of the Catechism will be going to print this week, and issued to the soldiers of the Regiment as soon as it is available. See it on line here.

 

[jbeach95]

Maybe it's just me, but the links don't seem to be working.

 

[Pte_Martin]

just you.... it works for me

 

[armyvern]

Maybe it's just me, but the links don't seem to be working.

They work for me too.

 

[jbeach95]

Time to check my computer then.

I see where the 54/57 difference comes from:

Ypres 1915, 1917
Arras 1917, 1918
Scarpe 1917, 1918

Some sources have the different years together as one battle honour (which gives you 54), others have them as separate battle honours (giving you 57). Which is official?

 

[Michael OLeary]

It's 57 battle honours; someone came up with 54 when they counted the names.

 

[jbeach95]

I see. 57 is better anyway. 

The articles also states that the RCR has "won" 24 battle honours. For those who don't know, it has actually been awarded 54 battle honours, with 25 appearing on the colours.

I guess that means that there's 26 on the colours (Ypres 1915-17 being two).

 

[a_majoor]

Mr McGuinty is looking for a "Battle Honour" as well; notice how the money shows up close to election time... :

Never the less, the Museum is a great place and this will certainly help in the future plans.

 

[Marauder]

Hey, Dalton will be throwing out the pork regardless, I'm just glad that something as worthwhile as the Museum will be getting some of that windfall.