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RBC Donates $300,000 to Help New Citizens Explore
Canada's Cultural Attractions for Free
RBC renews its support of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship's
Cultural Access Program
TORONTO, March 6, 2013 — RBC today announced
a $300,000 commitment to the Institute for Canadian Citizenship's
(ICC) Cultural Access Pass program, helping new Canadian citizens
explore our country's cultural attractions for free. RBC has
committed more than $575,000 to the program during the past
four years.
The Cultural Access Pass (CAP) is a gift to Canada's newest
citizens and their children, offering a year of free access
to almost 1,200 museums, historic sites, national and provincial
parks across the country. It introduces new citizens to a
variety of Canadian experiences, including access to online
volunteer and employment resources. And, CAP helps Canada's
cultural attractions connect with a new audience to build
future ambassadors, volunteers and potential donors.
"We believe in the power of communities and the individuals
who live in them," Shari Austin, vice-president, Corporate
Citizenship, RBC. "The Cultural Access Pass creates a
great opportunity to connect new citizens to a wealth of Canadian
cultural places, spaces and experiences. We're proud to partner
with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship to welcome new
citizens and celebrate Canadian citizenship."
With RBC's support, the Cultural Access Pass has experienced
a tremendous expansion:
- Its roster of attractions has increased from 127 to almost
1,200;
- More than 60,000 new citizens have participated in the
program - 168 new citizens once registered in a single day;
- With additional support from Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (ICC's other key partner), every new citizen - 170,000
each year - is now introduced to CAP at their citizenship
ceremony
"Since 2008, the RBC Foundation has been a champion
of our Cultural Access Pass program," said Leith Bishop,
Acting Executive Director, Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
"Its support has empowered us to build a truly national
program that touches each and every new Canadian citizen,
as well as our attractions who are eager to foster long term
relationships with members. RBC shares our passion for inclusion,
and we look forward to having them in our corner for the next
three years and beyond."
Who is eligible for a Cultural Access Pass?
A new citizen becomes eligible for a Cultural Access Pass
the day he/she receives his/her Canadian citizenship. New
citizens must be 18 years of age or older to participate,
but each member can use his/her pass with up to four minor
dependent children (under 18 years of age). The pass is valid
for one year, expiring on the first anniversary of a member's
date of citizenship (not the date of registration). Members
can visit any participating attraction as many times as he/she
wishes during their year of eligibility.
Visit culturalaccesspass.ca for full details.
About the ICC
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) is a national,
non-profit charity that promotes active citizenship. Through
innovative programs and partnerships, the ICC works to ensure
new citizens are welcomed and included as equals, create meaningful
connections among all Canadians, foster a culture of engaged
citizens and celebrate what it means to be Canadian. Our Building
Citizenship program welcomes and connects new citizens by
hosting community-led citizenship ceremonies across Canada.
Our Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program introduces new citizens
to Canadian experiences by offering a year of free access
to almost 1,200 attractions from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
The LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium, our intellectual platform,
is a national, interactive lecture on citizenship. And ICC
Insights, our partner-focused initiative, brings new citizen
voices to national conversations through collaborative projects.
The ICC was founded and is co-chaired by the Right Honourable
Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul, and is supported
by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). For more information,
visit icc-icc.ca.
You can also follow us on Twitter (@ICCICC).
About RBC Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries
operate under the master brand name RBC. We employ approximately
80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15
million personal, business, public sector and institutional
clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 49 other countries.
RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and
environmental leaders and is listed on the 2012 - 2013 Dow
Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American
Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC
is one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50
Most Socially Responsible Corporations and among the Global
100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through
donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities.
In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide,
including donations and community investments of more than
$64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.
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For more information please contact:
Jess Duerden, Institute
for Canadian Citizenship
(416) 593-6998 ext.225 | jduerden@icc-icc.ca
André Roberts,
Corporate Communications, RBC
(416) 974-3678 | andre.roberts@rbc.com
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