Ireland Park Foundation 20/20 - Progress To-Date
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Ireland Park Foundation 20/20
Progress To-Date
Who we are
• Ireland Park Foundation (IPF) is Canada’s premier non-profit
Arts, Culture and Heritage organization, dedicated to
celebrating and commemorating the story of the Irish in
Canada.
• IPF promotes artistic connectivity, engages in original
academic research, and hosts public art and cultural events
to help build a stronger sense of community between
Ireland and Canada. In the Province of Ontario alone, some
two million people claim Irish ancestry.
• Through this lens, the people of Canada and Ireland benefit
from a shared understanding of the connection between our
intertwined cultures.
• Ireland Park Foundation takes a multidisciplinary approach
to celebrating and commemorating the story of the Irish in
Canada. Through public parks we create a sense of place;
through theatre and film we relate to each other’s stories;
through music we inspire; through history we discover; and
through migrant stories we learn.
Dr. George Robert Grasett Park 2020 Bicentenary 2020 marks the bicentenary of healthcare in Toronto, with the construction of the first brick hospital in 1820. With this important date in mind, we were excited to be able to commence construction of Grasett Park, located on the same plot of land as the original hospital reserve, right in the downtown core of Toronto. • We have, however, made the decision to postpone the formal opening of Grasett Park due to COVID-19. • We are now on schedule to complete the park during the summer of 2021. • The symbolism of this park has only grown in significance for us all during these times of illness and quarantine.
Ireland Park Foundation 20/20 Until COVID-19 forced us to socially distance, Ireland Park Foundation (IPF) was as busy as ever bringing people together, sharing stories and celebrating the story of the Irish in Canada. • Now we can share our treasure trove of historical and contemporary stories digitally on our refreshed website www.irelandparkfoundation.com. Please do visit, explore, learn and connect with us in new ways. COMING SOON: After three years of research, development, and community engagement, we will be ready to launch a major new online resource, Irish Famine Migrant Stories in Ontario, later this summer. Presented in conjunction with the Virtual Museum of Canada, this will be the largest online archive of Irish Famine material related to Ontario.
Events 2020
Events – Celebrating the Story of the Irish in Canada
Breakfast Talks – Building Community
In early March we were honoured to welcome Salesforce Country Lead,
Margaret Stuart, for a breakfast talk with Board Member Claire Lehan, in
the offices of McCarthy Tétrault.
• Ms. Stuart spoke of her expansive career to date and the lessons she
has learned at some of the world’s leading technology companies,
including helping Blackberry successfully pivot from a hardware
company to a software company.
Chair’s St. Patrick’s Luncheon & Concert – Celebrating Canada & Ireland
In early March we welcomed a small group to our building for the first
time, in order to celebrate our Chair’s St. Patrick’s Luncheon.
• During this lunch we were delighted to announce over $350,000 of
funding for the building and the Foundation.
• Later that evening we hosted Owen & Moley Ó Súilleabháin in
concert.
Jane’s ‘Virtual’ Walk – Commemorating Our History
With COVID-19 lockdown in full effect, Chair Robert G. Kearns & Board
Member Mary-Margaret McMahon, gave a ‘Virtual’ walking tour of
Ireland Park and Grasett Park.
• This opportunity also provided a segway into the broader history of
the Irish in Toronto and beyond!
• On the first sunny and warm day of the year, we were delighted that
55 people joined us to listen, learn and engage in a great discussion.
North Facing Dock Wall Rehabilitation of the Dock Wall A complete rehabilitation of the dock wall, directly south of Ireland Park and our Building (known as the North Facing Dock Wall) commenced late last year and construction continued throughout the winter months. This will double the amount of new space around Ireland Park and will situate the memorial in the middle of a great public amenity, with unparalleled views of Toronto Harbour. • The City is now on track for a completion of the project in the Fall of this year. • This entirely new public walkway around Ireland Park will be the first section to be completed in the rehabilitation of the wider Eireann Quay.
The Corleck Building The Corleck Building - A Unique and Permanent Home With Ireland Park Foundation’s successful acquisition of the Administration Building at 3 Eireann Quay, adjacent to Ireland Park, the Corleck provides an opportunity to host public events, restore an under-utilized heritage public asset in a unique waterfront setting, and build an epicenter from which to tell the many stories of the Irish in Canada. • Ireland Park, opened in 2007, is now a touchstone for visitors who wish to honour the Canadian-Irish diaspora. With the Corleck, Ireland Park Foundation can deepen the experience and broaden the impact of the Irish story within Toronto and Canada as a whole.
2020 Campaign 2020 Campaign Building on the successful Capital Campaigns for both Ireland Park and Dr. George Robert Grasett Park, Ireland Park Foundation has created a Capital Campaign to establish The Corleck as Canada’s premier hub, dedicated to preserving and celebrating Irish history and culture in Canada. Funds raised through the campaign will refurbish and fit out The Corleck which, upon completion, will host a range of cultural events throughout the year. • Our campaign goal is to raise $6 Million by the end of 2020, in order to have the space fully accessible to the public by the end of 2021. • We are pleased to announce that we have already received $1.5 million from various sources and so we are already 25% complete. • We have a number of opportunities for partners and donors to be part of this historic achievement in Canada.“ For more information please contact william@irelandparkfoundation.com
March 2020 Donors Thank You to the Following Incredible Donors: CN 100 • On March 12th, 2020, we received a generous donation of $300,000 from CN. Mr. Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer, presented this generous gift. • In collaboration with CN, we continue to share the story of the Irish in Canada. From the construction of the railway to the construction of Toronto, the impact of Irish workers is a critical part of the story. With the donation received from CN, we will continue to work towards developing our home at 3 Eireann Quay. • We are grateful for this ongoing partnership with CN and their years of support for Ireland Park Foundation. Mr. Alan Duffy • On the same day, Mr. Alan Duffy presented IPF with $50,000 in honour of his Family’s Irish roots. • Mr. Duffy has spent several years rehabilitating his family’s original homestead. He will be converting the main building and barn into a museum and events centre. We hope to share more on this incredible story with you soon. With the support of our friends and donors we are able to carry out the important work of celebrating Canada's Irish heritage, and Irish culture in Canada.
Contact & Members
Mr. Robert G. Kearns Mr. William B. Peat
Chair & Founder Executive Director
robert@irelandparkfoundation.com william@irelandparkfoundation.com
The Board
Robert G. Kearns (Chair), David Clarke (Secretary), Mark Duffy (Treasurer), Claire Lehan
Dan Burns, Cormac Monaghan, Mary- Margaret McMahon, Diana Conconi, Kevin Flynn, Charmaine Lindsay, Scott Beckett, Mark Purdy, Connor Turnbull, Damien McCotter
Executive Committee:
Robert G. Kearns, Dan Burns, David Clarke, Mark Duffy, Claire Lehan
Communications Committee:
Diana Conconi, Scott Beckett, Josh Dyer, Anthony Gurrisi
Historical Committee:
Charmaine Lindsay, Robert G. Kearns, Connor Turnbull, Dan Burns
Fundraising Committee:
Dan Burns, Robert G Kearns, Mary- Margaret McMahon, Kevin Flynn, David Clarke, Connor Tunbull, Claire Lehan, Scott Becket
Governance & Nominations Committee:
Claire Lehan, Mary Purdy, Damien McCotter
Young Professionals Committee:
David Clarke, Sonya Erick, Constance Obrien, PJ Kelly, John Stoneman, Shawn Ogborne,
Dale McDermott, Tat Winnington, Samantha Madigan
Honorary Directors:
Gen (Ret’d) John De Chastelain, Jonathan M. Kearns, Norma Smurfit, H.E. Ambassador Jim Kelly
Historical Advisor:
Dr. Jason King,
Archeological Advisor:
Dr. Katherine HullYou can also read
