About the Business / Arts Awards

September 23, 2022

Presented annually, the Business / Arts Awards recognize innovative partnerships and spotlight exceptional volunteers, leaders and corporate champions.

Celebrating the power of partnership between business and the arts

Business / Arts is celebrating enduring partnerships and exceptional service to the arts with the 2022 Business / Arts awards. Presented annually, the Business / Arts Awards recognize innovative partnerships between business and the arts, and spotlight exceptional volunteers, leaders and companies who have made a significant contribution to the arts in Canada. The 2022 Award recipients will be honoured at an in-person celebration on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. Download the announcement here.

Discover the origins of our five prestigious awards and see who has previously received these honours.

Edmund C. Bovey Award

Named after our first chairman, The Edmund C. Bovey Award recognizes a business professional and/or philanthropist who has demonstrated a lifetime of significant philanthropy and/or volunteer leadership in arts and culture in Canada.

The recipient receives $20,000 to direct towards an arts organization(s) of their choice.

Previous Award Recipients

2021 – Donald Ross, O.C. & Gretchen Ross
2019 – Mrs. Jenny Belzberg CM, AOE., LLD
2018 – The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C. O.N.B.
2017 – Tony Gagliano
2016 – Kiki Delaney
2015 – Philip Taylor
2014 – The Hon. Hilary M. Weston
2013 – Gary Slaight
2012 – Pierre Bourgie
2011 – John McKellar, C.M., Q.C., J.D.
2010 – Gail Asper
2009 – A. Charles Baillie
2008 – Hon Henry N.R. Jackman
2007 – Donald K. Johnson
2006 – Michael M. Koerner
2005 – David Fountain
2004 – Michael Audain
2003 – James D. Fleck, C.C, DBA, LL.D
2002 – Dr. Theodore Rozsa
2001 – Israel Asper
2000 – James B. Pitblado
1998 – John F. Fraser, O.C.
1997 – John (Jack) R. Craig, O.C.
1996 – David Lemon
1995 – George R. Gardiner, O.C., O.Ont
1994 – Jake Moore
1993 – Eric Charman
1992 – Dr. Francis Winspear O.C.
1991 – M. Kathleen Richardson C.C.
1990 – Edmund C. Bovey

Peter Herrndorf Arts Leadership Award

Established in 2015, Peter Herrndorf Arts Leadership Award recognizes an arts leader who has spent a lifetime dedicated to fostering the arts in Canada by building partnerships with fellow arts executives, artists, media, business leaders and public sector officials to ensure a vibrant cultural sector for all Canadians.

The recipient receives $5,000 to be directed to the arts organization(s) of their choice.

Previous Award Recipients

2021 – Mavis Staines, C.M., DhumL
2019 – Antoni Cimolino, CM
2018 – Nathalie Bondil, C.M.
2017 – Piers Handling, O.C.
2016 – Karen Kain
2015 – Peter Herrndorf, C.C., O.Ont

Arnold Edinborough Award

Named after the founding president of Business / Arts, the Arnold Edinborough award recognizes a young business professional (40 and under) who has demonstrated exemplary volunteer leadership and volunteerism in the arts.

The recipient receives $5,000 to be directed to an arts organization(s) of their choice.

Previous Award Recipients

2021 – James Ingold
2019 – Paul Desmarais III
2018 – Ali Shivji
2017 – Diane Obam Dallaire
2016 – Irfhan Rawji
2015 – Jan-Fryderyk Pleszczynski
2014 – Chris Farias
2013 – Stephen Delaney
2012 – Mo Dhaliwal
2011 – Simon Foster
2010 – Melanie Joly
2009 – Marcello Cabezas
2008 – Claudia Moore

Corporate Champion of the Arts Award

The Corporate Champion of the Arts Award recognizes a business that has strengthened arts and culture in Canada through its long-standing support of and commitment to the sector.

Previous Award Recipients

2021 – EQ Bank
2019 – RBC Foundation
2018 – Protocase Inc.
2017 – Air Canada
2016 – Sun Life Financial
2015 – Great West Life, London Life, and Canada Life
2014 – BMO Financial Group
2013 – RBC Foundation, RBC Emerging Artists Project
2012 – TD Bank Group
2011 – Enbridge
2010 – Husky Energy
2009 – Telus
2008 – Sun Life Financial
2007 – TD Bank Financial Group
2006 – BMO Financial Group
2005 – Alcan BC
2004 – Sun Life Financial

Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award recognizes an arts and business partnership that has enhanced the quality of life and enriched a local cultural scene through innovative program(s), creative business partnerships or neighbourhood revitalization initiatives.

Previous Award Recipients

2021 – Netflix for their partnership with Hot Docs
2019 – TELUS for their partnership with Green Thumb Theatre
2018 – Sun Life Financial for their Musical Instrument Lending Library
2017 – PATTISON Outdoor Advertising for their partnership with VIBE Arts
2016 – The Daniels Corporation, for their partnership with Artscape
2015 – First Air, for their partnership with the National Arts Centre
2014 – Manulife for their partnership with Luminato Festival

Congratulations to all of the Award Recipients!

Visit businessandarts.org/awards to learn more about the 2022 Business / Arts Awards celebration and to get to know this year’s exceptional recipients.