Renewed Museum Subway Station an Inspiring Step Forward for Toronto

    TORONTO, April 8 /CNW/ - 11 a.m., Tuesday April 8th marks the official
opening of the dramatically redesigned Museum Subway Station on the Toronto
Transit Commission's Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. The highlight of
the opening will be the unwrapping of the spectacular columns designed to
reflect the historical treasures of the recently reinvigorated Royal Ontario
Museum and the Gardiner Museum which stand above the station.
    "This is a moment of excitement and pride for all of Toronto," said Rahul
Bhardwaj, President and CEO of the Toronto Community Foundation, which
launched the project three years ago. "As a philanthropic organization, we are
very pleased to see this wonderful idea come to life as a gift to the people
of our great city and its visitors."
    Toronto Mayor David Miller spoke in celebration of the launch, calling
the redesigned platform, "a shining example of what our public spaces can be
and what people dedicated to this city can accomplish."
    Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George
Smitherman declared, "This exciting expansion of our province's cultural
sector into the subway is a tremendous example of the incorporation of art and
culture into public spaces."
    "Arts on Track is taking arts and culture to a new level," said Minister
of Culture Aileen Carroll. "We are transforming Museum Station into a
magnificent public space and highlighting two of Ontario's vibrant cultural
attractions. By expanding into the subway, the ROM and the Gardiner will
entice many new visitors through their doors."
    "On behalf of the TTC, I would like to thank the Toronto Community
Foundation and the Province of Ontario for their contribution to revitalizing
Museum Subway Station," said TTC Chair Adam Giambrone. "The TTC plays a
monumental role in the everyday lives of Toronto citizens and this visionary
"Arts on Track" plan is a tremendous gift to all citizens."
    The speakers' remarks were punctuated by the arrival and departure of the
TTC's subway cars which carried on business as usual. Many riders were happy
to join in the celebration.
    The opening of the redesigned Museum Subway Station reflects the Toronto
Community Foundation's commitment to connecting philanthropy to community
needs. The impetus for the "Arts on Track" project came from the Mayor's
"Clean and Beautiful City" initiative. The idea of beautifying and
invigorating public spaces in the city appealed to a handful of Toronto
Community Foundation donors who asked the Foundation to further explore the
concept. Subsequent dialogues convened by the Toronto Community Foundation
brought together a diverse group of donors, stakeholders and community leaders
who worked together to complete this "Public Philanthropic Partnership".
Partners included an inspirational $1.0 million gift from the Budd Sugarman
Foundation while an additional $1.0 million was raised from a total of 14
donors affiliated with the Toronto Community Foundation. Public support came
from the Toronto Transit Commission, which contributed $1.25 million, and a
further $2 million in funding came from the Province of Ontario.
    The design for the new station platform was created by celebrated Toronto
architect, Jack Diamond of Diamond + Schmitt Architects. Working with ROM
curators and other specialists, five evocative designs were chosen for Museum
station columns; the column designs replicated throughout the station
represent First Nations Canada ("The Wuikinuxv First national House Post"),
Ancient Egypt ("The Osiris Pilaster"), Mexico's Toltec Culture which ruled
Yucatan from 900 to 1200 AD ("The Toltec Warrior"), China's traditional
culture ("The Forbidden City Columns") and The Parthenon of Ancient Greece
("The Doric Columns"). The new Museum Station is an inspiring sight for the
thousands who pass through the station daily and an ongoing invitation for all
citizens and visitors to enjoy the cultural treasures above.


    /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
    the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
    Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
    website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
    members of the media/

For further information: Carole Boivin, [e-mail]; Jonathan
Naymark, [e-mail]; Website: www.tcf.ca; Phone: [phone]