National travelling exhibition and community outreach program will give Canadians the opportunity to explore Canada's immigration story

TORONTO, April 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Between 1928 and 1971, more than one million people entered Canada via Pier 21 in Halifax. They included refugees, evacuees and displaced children. These new Canadians would go on to contribute immeasurably to Canada's way of life and growth as a nation. It is estimated that today, one in five Canadians has a direct link to Pier 21.

RBC is pleased to announce a gift of $500,000 from the RBC Foundation, to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, to aid in launching the Canada: Day 1 Travelling Exhibition and Community Outreach Program. This exhibition from Canada's newest national museum, will offer visitors a powerful living history experience including displays of personal stories, original artworks and archive images.

"Immigration is one of the main pathways to nation building," notes Gord Nixon, CEO, RBC. "People often come to our country because they are driven by the dream of a better life. As a result, Canada is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Our diverse population is both a unique strength and a critical component of our economic success and why RBC is proud to support this important initiative."

This gift will contribute to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21's new national mandate of ensuring that the story of immigration is shared and celebrated throughout Canada. Through this donation RBC is reinforcing our commitment to diversity, supporting newcomers and building strong and inclusive communities.

"We are elated to be celebrating RBC Foundation's transformational gift in support of the Museum and our shared commitment to cultural diversity and its role in shaping the character of our nation," said Marie Chapman, CEO of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. "This gift comes at a defining moment in our evolution as a new national museum and will allow us to expand our reach in communities across the country and deepen our impact on the lives of Canadians."

About RBC's Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) is Canada's largest bank and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 42 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2014 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, and one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships, community investments and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in sponsorships. Learn more at rbc.com/community-sustainability.

About the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 collects, shares and pays tribute to the Canadian immigration story. The Museum is situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia at Pier 21, the National Historic Site that served as the gateway to Canada for one million immigrants between 1928 and 1971. The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 enhances public understanding of the experiences of immigrants to Canada, highlights the vital role immigration has played in the building of our country and the contributions of immigrants to Canada's culture, economy and way of life. It is Canada's sixth national museum and the only one located in Atlantic Canada.

SOURCE RBC