CTVglobemedia yesterday turned over a cheque for $400,000 to the Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation (CBMF) demonstrating its on-going support for the preservation of Canada’s broadcast heritage.
The donation is part of the philanthropic package required by the CRTC following CTVgm’s acquisition of the CHUM properties.
The foundation brings together a who’s who of broadcast industry players as well as government agencies, including the Library and Archives of Canada. Each has contributed seed money to help sustain the venture, which has an annual budget of about $550,000. There are unanswered questions about ongoing costs, space and museum displays.
The museum plans to fan out to several locales, likely with a central gallery facility in Ottawa and satellite branches in Montreal and Toronto, and will feature artifacts, presentations on performers, journalists and builders, and tell the story of broadcasting technology.
In announcing this substantial grant, Paul Sparkes, Executive Vice-President Corporate Affairs, CTVgm, stated: “We are pleased to continue our support of the CBMF and salute their mission to ensure our nation’s broadcasting history is preserved as an important component of Canada’s cultural heritage.”
On receipt of the grant, an elated Peter Herrndorf, Founding Chair of the CBMF, said: “This sustaining commitment by CTVgm has really set the bar for Canada’s broadcasters. In 2001, CTV was the first network to acknowledge the need for this country to salvage its broadcast legacy and celebrate the important role that French and English radio and television have played in shaping contemporary Canada. CTV’s ongoing partnership helped the Foundation develop the concept for the National Broadcast Collection, now the largest in the country.
“If other industry sponsors follow this lead, the Collection will continue to grow and new opportunities will be created nation-wide to celebrate our broadcast legacy. In effect, CTVgm’s commitment is an evergreen gift to the people of Canada for which we are profoundly grateful.”
To date, the Foundation has assembled a collection of more than 6,000 items that includes radio and television programs, sets, costumes, props, scripts, photos, promotional material, technology and other artifacts. They provide the content around which a series of real and virtual exhibitions are being planned across the country.
Since its creation in 2001, Canada’s private and public broadcasters and the Ministry of Canadian Heritage have supported the Foundation and its mandate to collect, preserve and celebrate the history of Canadian broadcasting.
