Lee-ChinMICHAEL LEE-CHIN, chairman of AIC/National Commercial Bank, has donated 30 million Canadian dollars (J$1.14 billion) to a cultural attraction project for that country's largest museum of natural history and human cultures.
In response to the "extraordinary contribution" to the Royal Ontario Museum's (ROM), Renaissance Campaign, the museum said, in a news release that it would name its 'Crystal' building the 'Michael A. Lee-Chin Crystal' and the interior atrium court the 'Hyacinth Gloria Chen Crystal Court', in honour of Mr. Lee-Chin and his mother who were recognised because of the important role that family relationships have played "in shaping his values and success".
Mr. Lee-Chin's contribution, described as "the most significant donation received towards the campaign", brings to Cdn$114 million, the confirmed commitments towards the project which is due to start in May.
According to the release, Mr. Lee-Chin said that he was "thrilled to make the contribution to support a project that will change the face of Toronto and create an invaluable cultural and educational legacy for Ontario and Canada." He said that the museum's core mission of building bridges of understanding and appreciation for the world's cultural and natural diversity was increasingly relevant and important to the youth and adults of the country.
Hilary Weston, chair of the Renaissance ROM Campaign, said they were moved and delighted by the remarkable act of generosity.
The project will allow Canadians to take many rare and significant collections out of storage and present them to the public in the Crystal's new galleries. The project will be built in two phases. Phase One of the construction will begin in May 2003, with the Crystal and initial heritage restorations in the existing buildings to open in 2005. Phase Two will complete the historical renovations by 2006.
Michael Lee-Chin, a Jamaican-Canadian, is one of both countries' most successful and highly regarded financial leaders and entrepreneurs.
He was born in Jamaica in 1951 and went to Canada in 1970. He acquired AIC Ltd. in 1986 and has taken the organisation from CDN$1 million to CDN$11.7 billion in assets under his management. AIC has grown to become Canada's largest privately-held mutual fund and financial services company, with operations in Jamaica, the United States and the United Kingdom.
