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
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.
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
- 2022 – Frances and Tim Price
- 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
- 2022 – Dr. Peter Simon
- 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 changemaker who has made an outstanding contribution to the arts sector.
The recipient receives $5,000 to be directed to an arts organization(s) of their choice.
Previous Award Recipients
- 2022 – John-Michael Erlendson
- 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
- 2022 – BT/A Advertising
- 2022 – Canada Goose
- 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
- 2022 – Stangehand for their partnership with Music Mile
- 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
Visit businessandarts.org/awards to learn more about the 2023 Business / Arts Awards Celebration and this year’s recipients.
