The Rooms scales back WW I fundraising goals due to slowing economy

The Rooms hasscaledback its First World War commemoration plans for July 1next year because of the downturn in the economy.

CEO Dean Brinton saysthe 100th anniversary exhibit and celebrations wereplannedto cost $20 million, but now thegoal hasbeen lowered.

"Obviously with some of the downturn in the economy and oil prices having collapsed and so on we want to be a little more modest in our goals," he said.

"So we have scaled things back to $15 million, so we have about $5 million to go," Brintontold St. John's Morning Show host Anthony Germain, during a special remote broadcast from The Rooms Thursday morning.

The Rooms launched the public phase of Remember Them at The RoomswhatBrintondescribes asthe largestFirst World War commemorative project in the country.

"It's very fair to say that whathappened in the First World War, and particularly Beaumont Hamel, is very dear to people in Newfoundland and Labrador, so its not surprising that our efforts here are a little more grandiose than you're going to find in other parts of Canada," he said.

Brinton says a huge event is scheduled for July 1stmaking The Rooms "the place to be."

In the meantime, there are a number of activities designed to build momentum, including completion of the public fundraising campaign.

• Behind the scenes of The Rooms WW I short film

Brinton said one of the ways thepublic can contribute to theRemember Them at The Roomscampaign is bydonating $100, $10 of whichwill go towards assisting today's military families in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Donorswill receivea pewter Forget-Me-Not commemorative keepsake. Brinton says the limited edition pin is engraved on the back with the wordsWe RememberYouand there's aplace where aloved-one's name or someone in the family's namecan be engraved as well.Charitable tax receipts will be issued.

"So we're hoping that withthe leadup to Christmas and so on, that we're going to sell thousands and thousands of these."