News Releases
$2.7 Million more donated to Museum
November 17, 2006
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights today announced an additional $2.7 million towards the capital fundraising campaign. Doug Harvey, President and CEO of Maxim Transportation Services Inc. personally pledged $1 million towards the Museum. He is joined by Marjorie and Morley Blankstein who have recently doubled their donation from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
“We are thrilled to witness this latest phenomenon of people doubling their gifts,” said Campaign Chair Gail Asper. “At our last news conference, Arni Thorsteinson and Susan Glass announced that they would double their donation and now the Blanksteins are doing the same. What a great testament to the visionaries in this city like Doug Harvey who fully know and understand what this Museum means to our country and to the world!”
“Any time we have an opportunity to do something world class in this city, I believe the local community should be the first to get wholeheartedly behind it,” said Doug Harvey. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s why I am investing $1 million in this Museum.”
“We, too, strongly believe in the benefits the Museum will bring to our City. However, our additional support for the Museum emanates from our firm belief in the hope that it will bring to the world,” said Marjorie Blankstein.
Additional donations announced today totaling $1.2 million include gifts from Charles R. Bronfman; Cangene Corporation; Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd.; Elba and Marshall Haid and Lara Secord-Haid; Bob and Deirdre Kozminski; The Thomas Sill Foundation and an anonymous donor.
This announcement brings the total private funds raised to date to $67.7 million – with $93.3 million remaining. Total project costs are $311 million. “Well over 1,000 people have contributed to the Museum and we are thankful for each and every gift – regardless of the size,” says Asper. “It will be the combined gifts of everyone that make this Museum a reality.”
Targeted to open in 2010 in Winnipeg, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights will be the largest human rights centre in the world. By year two of operations, it is expected that more the 20,000 students from across Canada will visit the Museum annually as part of a comprehensive national human rights program for young people.
