The Banff Centre: Communications

Market Wire: “For more than three decades, Gordon Arnell has shown vision and leadership within the real estate industry and his community. Chairman of the board of directors and a former president and chief executive officer of Brookfield Properties, he has been a mentor and role model for many young executives. He is equally well-known as a supporter of and contributor to many arts and educational institutions. Over the years, the Banff Centre and the University of Alberta have benefited from his dedication and support.”

The Globe and Mail: “A new, national initiative is under way to heighten Canadians’ awareness of the arts, their accessibility to art and artists, and their ‘participation in and engagement with’ the activities of the cultural sector.

“The initiative, called Culture Days, may result in the dates of other cultural events being moved to run at the same time. Details are sketchy at this point but the initiative, set to make its debut next September, has already lured some of the country’s top arts mavens onto its steering committee…. Other participants include Sarah Iley, vice-president of programming for the Banff Centre….”

Banff Crag and Canyon: “Dr. Keith Archer is getting the opportunity to do what few every will: shape the political landscape of the province. Archer has been named to the Electoral Boundaries Commission, which will make recommendations to divide the province into 87 political ridings, four more than Alberta has right now.”

Archer is director of research at The Banff Centre.

Canadian Heritage: “Renewed investments in the arts represent $504 million in support over five years and are in addition to measures announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. These measures include a 41-percent increase in the budget for the Canada Arts Training Fund) and additional funding of $60 million over two years for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund,( doubling the budget for the program this year and extending it to 2010-2011.”

The Globe and Mail: Stephan Benediktson of Cochrane last year donated $100,000 to The Banff Centre to finance a visiting Icelandic artist program.

“The first fellowship recipient is Ragnar Kjartansson, a young performance artist and graduate of the Icelandic Academy of Arts whose productions have been performed around the world; he is representing Iceland in the Venice Biennale, which opens tomorrow.”

Banff Crag and Canyon: “Six individuals and organizations are being honoured this year for their outstanding contribution to heritage in Banff National Park. Ron Warner, Jim Olver, Discover Banff Tours, Ralphine Locke, The Banff Centre / Sather Family and Pam Manning will all be honoured at the heritage awards celebration June 11 at the Whyte Museum….

“For over 25 years, Olver has been the face of the Banff Centre, greeting countless visitors and giving them a unique experience.

“The Adaptive Reuse of a Heritage Building Award is going to The Banff Centre and Sather Family for preserving the Walter Painter residence by moving it up to the Leighton Artist Colony.”

From the Government of Alberta:

Eight Alberta community leaders and innovators have been selected to receive the province’s highest honour. Chosen in recognition of outstanding service to their province and country, the Alberta Order of Excellence (AOE) members for 2009 are:

…

Bernadette McDonald (Banff) – for her work to promote mountain culture through a range of Banff-based programs and to increase awareness of mountain environmental preservation.

Additional Information about Bernadette McDonald.

BCLocalNews.com: “A wealth of artistic talent could lead Salt Spring towards becoming a “Banff-on-the-Sea,” where arts professionals from across Canada and around the world come to improve their skills.”

Annapolis [Nova Scotia] County Spectator: “Now that Team Annapolis has opened the toolshed on discussions like how to developing [sic] a Banff Centre for the Arts-like education institution in Annapolis Royal, we can roll up our sleeves and get down to the nitty gritty of building the creative rural economy. “

Banff Crag and Canyon: “Banff Centre sous-chef Jeffrey Merrin cooked his way to the top in the national Copper Skillet competition in Toronto earlier this month.

He’s now going to face chefs from around the world at the end of March in the International Chef of the Year competition hosted by the International Association of Conference Centers.”

CBC: Toronto philanthropist James D. Fleck will receive the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, recognizing his more than 35 years of supporting arts organizations, including chairing The Banff Centre’s board of directors. The award is among the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for 2009.