John McKellar to Receive the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts

WeirFoulds is pleased to announce that Partner Emeritus, John McKellar, is the 2016 winner of the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, an award given as part of the Governor General’s Awards for the Performing Arts (GGPAA). John is in Montreal today where the announcements of all the winners will be made.

The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards are Canada’s foremost distinction for excellence in the performing arts. The awards are a celebration of exceptional achievement in varied disciplines in the arts, and acknowledge those whose passion and creativity move, entertain and inspire. The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts is an award presented as part of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement to those that have demonstrated outstanding voluntary service to the performing arts.

John’s work in support of the arts is well known throughout Canada. He is the recipient of the 2015 Arts and Letters Club President’s Award, 2014 University College Alumni of Influence Honouree, 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2011 Edmund C. Bovey Award (presented by Business for the Arts for demonstrating a lifetime of significant support or leadership in arts and culture in Canada), 2002 Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal recipient, and a Member of the Order of Canada.

An avid patron of the arts, he has held many influential roles in the arts community. He has provided pro bono advice to artists, arts groups and more than 50 non-profit organizations. John is also Vice-Chairman of the Ontario Arts Foundation and Chairman of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Chairman of the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, an advisor to the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, and a board member of Tarragon Theatre, Off-Centre Music Salon, The Glenn Gould Foundation and Toronto Arts Foundation. He is also a former board member of the Toronto Arts Council, a role which was celebrated at the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts in October 2015 for serving eight years as Board Chair.

John will be presented with this award by the Governor General David Johnston as part of a three day gala weekend celebration in Ottawa on June 11, 2016. Each of the laureates will be introduced to the House of Commons, and be presented with a short film made about their individual accomplishments by the National Film Board, which will be distributed in Canada and abroad.

We congratulate John on this well-deserved distinction.

Please click here to watch a Webcast: 2016 GGPAA Recipient Announcement.

Please click here to review a list of the recipients of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards 2016.

Please click here for the coverage of the announcement by the CBCNews, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, and MetroNews Canada.