$1.4 Million Donated to The Robert Bateman Centre at RRU
Victoria, B.C. - Royal Roads University today announced $1.4 million in donations to The Robert Bateman Centre at RRU. The donations come from the Royal Bank of Canada, which contributed $200,000, and two private individuals, who contributed $200,000 and $1 million respectively.
"It's truly an honour to support this important and unique partnership between two leaders in sustainability: Robert Bateman and Royal Roads University," said Debora Linehan, regional vice-president of Royal Bank of Canada. "The Robert Bateman Centre project is a powerful synergy of art and science that will lead to new learning."
The Bateman family has donated $11 million of art, archival material and a bequest to the project, with the intent that the collection and the centre will primarily serve as an international model for education, research and public dialogue on topics of environmental sustainability.
"I'm delighted to hear of these generous donations that will help move this project forward," said Robert Bateman. "I am thrilled at the plan for my life's work to become an integral part of the Royal Roads picture - which includes a deep commitment to the environment and making this world a better place."
Speaking at a reception at the university shortly after returning from a tour of the Antarctic, the artist presented Royal Roads with his latest painting created specially for the university: Raven's Roost, valued at $90,000 U.S.
At the event, university president Allan Cahoon also announced that a new site has been selected for the Robert Bateman Centre. Rather than a two-storey building on a restored wetland in the southwest portion of the campus, a one-storey building is planned near the entrance to the campus and the wetland restoration will be carried out as a separate project. The changes reduce the total projected cost of the project from $28 million to $18.2 million (for the building and support infrastructure).
"These changes not only reduce costs but reduce the need for road infrastructure," said Cahoon. 'That in turn will reduce the carbon impact of the tens of thousands of visitors who are expected to come to the centre each year."
The Robert Bateman Centre is the current priority of the Royal Roads University Legacy Campaign, a multi-year fundraising campaign that is supporting academic, heritage and sustainability initiatives at the university. The campaign was launched last year with the goal of raising $100 million from the private and public sectors through philanthropic donations, strategic partnerships and funding from the provincial and federal governments.
So far, the campaign has raised $35.8 million. Of that amount, more than $6 million is dedicated to the capital costs for the Robert Bateman Centre. Cahoon said other major donations to the centre are being confirmed and will be announced in the New Year.
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Royal Roads University was established by the Province of British Columbia in 1995 as a special purpose university charged with advancing professionals in the workplace. It is the only public university in Canada exclusively designed for this demographic and, as such, all its programs and research are focused on applied, real-world relevance and experience.
For media queries, contact:
Communications Officer, Phil Saunders
phil.saunders@royalroads.ca 250-391-2526, cel 250-812-5065 or,
Community Relations Director, Stephanie Slater
stephanie.slater@royalroads.ca 250-391-2712, cel 250-361-5020
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