Minister Joly Announces New Voices to Help Support and Promote Arts in Canada

Minister Joly Announces New Voices to Help Support and Promote Arts in Canada (CNW Group/Canadian Heritage)

The Government of Canada announces eight appointments to the Canada Council for the Arts

GATINEAU, QC, April 7, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced the appointment of eight part-time members to the Board of Directors of the Canada Council for the Arts. These new appointments follow the Government of Canada's open, transparent and merit-based appointment process—one that recommends high-quality candidates who advance gender parity and truly reflect Canada's diversity. The members' terms are for a four-year period. They are:

David W. Binet (Ontario), appointment effective immediately

Cheryl Hickman (Newfoundland and Labrador), appointment effective immediately

Yann Martel (Saskatchewan), appointment effective immediately

Sidney Ben Nind (Northwest Territories), appointment effective immediately

Jesse Wente (Ontario), appointment effective immediately

Jennifer Dorner (Quebec), appointment effective June 6, 2017

Beverley K. Foy (Alberta), reappointment effective June 6, 2017

Nathalie Bondil (Quebec), reappointment effective March 31, 2018

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada's national public arts funder. The Council champions and invests in artistic excellence through a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in dance, integrated arts, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, and writing and publishing. It also promotes public awareness of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities.

Quotes

"Art and culture are crucial to our sense of belonging—to a community, a country and a society. I am pleased to announce the appointment of highly qualified individuals who will help support and promote the arts in Canada. Their vast knowledge and extensive expertise will shape the strategic vision of this organization and promote Canada's dynamic arts scene."

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Quick Facts

• Budget 2016 invested $550 million in the Canada Council for the Arts, to foster the development of the arts in Canada through grants, services and awards to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations.
• In 2016, the Government of Canada adopted a new approach to appointments by the Governor in Council. This approach respects gender parity and is supported by an open, transparent and merit-based selection process—one that will result in the recommendation of exceptionally competent candidates who truly reflect Canada's diversity.
• This new approach requires a selection process for full- and part-time positions. Interested parties can apply online.
• All appointment opportunities for the 18 organizations in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio will be posted as they become available on the Governor in Council Appointments website.

Associated Links

• Canada Council for the Arts| http://canadacouncil.ca/

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

(media only): Pierre-Olivier Herbert, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788 ; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.pch.gc.ca