University administration, faculty, staff and students gathered Sept. 29 to celebrate an historic donation to Memorial that will address fresh water concerns in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador through enhanced outreach and research over the next decade.

The $800,000 donation, which is the largest philanthropic contribution RBC Foundation has ever made to an educational institution in Atlantic Canada, was announced in The Landing in Memorial’s Smallwood Centre (University Centre). Dr. Christopher W. Loomis, Memorial’s president and vice-chancellor, pro tempore, and Greg Grice, RBC regional president, Atlantic provinces, were joined by provincial Environment and Conservation Minister Charlene Johnson, special guests and representatives from RBC. The donation will be directed to Memorial’s Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development.

“This funding will enable the Harris Centre to continue its regional workshops, and initiate a whole new focus on the critically-important fresh water needs of the province,” said Dr. Robert Greenwood, director of the Harris Centre.

Dr. Loomis said the support of RBC Foundation will also enable Memorial to facilitate invaluable research opportunities involving faculty and students, and to further advance the rural and regional development goal in Memorial’s strategic plan.

“The university is integral to the social, cultural and economic development of Newfoundland and Labrador. Through this generous gift, Memorial will continue to partner with the provincial government and other community stakeholders to fulfill our shared vision of a prosperous and sustainable future.”

The funding is allocated through RBC Foundation’s Blue Water Project.

"It will help provide research and regional targeted ‘water’ workshops on issues relating to municipal drinking water needs in rural and remote communities,” said Mr. Grice. “We liked the approach of the centre in that it not only brings the resources, knowledge and expertise of the university to communities throughout the province, but also brings the knowledge and information held by those communities back to the university."

Minister Johnson said the provincial government is doing great work in the province in terms of drinking water quality, and looks forward to working closely with the Harris Centre to share expertise, resources and water-related information. “This funding will help strengthen the knowledge base of municipalities, and assist with our ongoing efforts towards drinking water safety and sustainability,” she said.

In conjunction with the announcement, RBC Foundation is holding a student initiative just outside The Landing. Students who correctly answer a water trivia question will receive an aluminum sports bottle in exchange of a 500 ml plastic bottle. Five hundred new water canisters will be distributed until 3 p.m.