The First World War and the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel were pivotal events in the history of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Fortis has made a $3.25 million commitment to the Where Once They Stood We Stand Capital Campaign to support the commemoration of Newfoundland and Labrador’s contributions to the First World War and the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel.
Our investment enabled The Rooms Museum to complete a new exhibit, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Gallery, and an outdoor site that includes the Fortis Courtyard and Amphitheatre. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Gallery is a place where people from every nook and cranny in this great province of ours can go to trace their family connections to the war, where school children can learn about their ancestors' role in shaping our province's place in history, and where the collective stories of our forefathers can be shared and remembered by future generations. The Courtyard and Amphitheatre offers a special space for families with personal connections to the First World War and the public to contemplate the sacrifices of those who served. The Fortis Courtyard and Amphitheatre was unveiled to the public in a ceremony on July 1, 2016, the 100th anniversary of Beaumont-Hamel.
The contribution from Fortis is the largest known corporate donation ever made to a cultural institution in Atlantic Canada.