Minister Copps Announces the Appointment of the Director of the Canada Council for the Arts
OTTAWA, December 12, 2002 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced the appointment of John Hobday as Director of the Canada Council for the Arts.Mr. Hobday currently serves as Executive Director of the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation. He has worked as a CBC Radio Drama and Features Producer. He served on the Founding Board of the Neptune Theatre, in Halifax, and was its Administrative Director from 1968 to 1971. Mr. Hobday was Theatre Director at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown. He was the first full-time National Director of the Canadian Conference of the Arts from 1971 to 1982. He became Executive Director, Corporate Donations of Seagram, in 1982.
Mr. Hobday has been awarded many honours during his career, including the Order of Canada (2001), the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal, the Government of Ontario Volunteer Service Award, and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. In 1999, he was the recipient of the Diplôme d'honneur awarded by the Canadian Conference of the Arts for his service to the arts in Canada.
The Canada Council for the Arts fosters and promotes the study, enjoyment and production of works in the arts by providing assistance to individual artists and arts organizations through a peer assessment process. It also administers the Public Lending Right program of payments to authors; co-ordinates the development of UNESCO activities in Canada; and co-ordinates Canadian participation in UNESCO activities abroad. The Canada Council for the Arts works closely with the Department of Canadian Heritage in the delivery of its Sound Recording Development Program and the Book Publishing Industry Development Program. www.canadacouncil.ca
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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