The Rooms scales back WW I fundraising goals due to slowing economy
Remember Them campaign to honour soldiers who fought at Beaumont-Hamel and other battles
The Rooms has scaled back its First World War commemoration plans for July 1 next year because of the downturn in the economy.
"Obviously with some of the downturn in the economy and oil prices having collapsed and so on — we want to be a little more modest in our goals," he said.
"So we have scaled things back to $15 million, so we have about $5 million to go," Brinton told St. John's Morning Show host Anthony Germain, during a special remote broadcast from The Rooms Thursday morning.
The Rooms launched the public phase of Remember Them at The Rooms — what Brinton describes as the largest First World War commemorative project in the country.
"It's very fair to say that what happened in the First World War, and particularly Beaumont Hamel, is very dear to people in Newfoundland and Labrador, so its not surprising that our efforts here are a little more grandiose than you're going to find in other parts of Canada," he said.
Beautiful music this morning by <a href="https://twitter.com/ENNISmusic">@ENNISmusic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRooms_NL">@TheRooms_NL</a> <a href="https://t.co/f4PQkO0qiU">pic.twitter.com/f4PQkO0qiU</a>
—@ChantalCBCBrinton says a huge event is scheduled for July 1st making The Rooms "the place to be."
In the meantime, there are a number of activities designed to build momentum, including completion of the public fundraising campaign.
Brinton said one of the ways the public can contribute to the Remember Them at The Rooms campaign is by donating $100, $10 of which will go towards assisting today's military families in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Donors will receive a pewter Forget-Me-Not commemorative keepsake. Brinton says the limited edition pin is engraved on the back with the words We Remember You and there's a place where a loved-one's name or someone in the family's name can be engraved as well. Charitable tax receipts will be issued.
"So we're hoping that with the lead up to Christmas and so on, that we're going to sell thousands and thousands of these."