CIBC donates $100K to The Rooms Where Once They Stood We Stand campaign

The RoomsWhere Once They Stood We Stand capital campaign has reached $11.1 million in donations after CIBC contributed $100,000 Tuesday afternoon.

Sylvain Vinet, CIBC's senior vice president of retail markets for eastern Canada, presented Tom Foran, chair of The Rooms Corporation, and Dean Brinton, CEO of The Rooms Corporation,with the donation bringing the campaign closer to its goal of $15 million.

The Rooms has organized the country's largest project for the commemoration of the100thanniversary of the First World War.

When asked why CIBC wanted to make the donation, Vinet said "It's part of our history."

"It's part of the history of Newfoundland, and we want to be a part of it and recognize all the sacrifices of the people of Newfoundland in the First World War."

OnJuly 1, theanniversary will be marked with the dedication of the Fortis Courtyard and Amphitheatre at The Rooms, as well asthe opening of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Gallery by HRH The Princess Royal.

"We are less than a month away from commemorating the 100thanniversary of Beaumont-Hamel and honouring all those who served on the homefront and overseas," Foran said in a statement Tuesday.

"The Rooms is delighted that CIBC has joined our very special team of donors who have helped turn our legacy project into a reality."