RBC donates $300,000 to help new citizens explore Canada's cultural attractions for free

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 /CNW/ - 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.

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

SOURCE: Institute for Canadian Citizenship

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CO: RBC
ST: Ontario
NI: CHARITY 

-0- Mar/06/2013 10:59 GMT