Minister Frulla Announces Two Appointments to the National Gallery of Canada's Board of Trustees
OTTAWA, October 6, 2005 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla today confirmed the reappointment of Donald R. Sobey of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, as part-time Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada. The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage reviewed the reappointment and did not request his appearance. Minister Frulla also announced the appointment of Peter Cathcart, of Toronto, Ontario, as a part-time trustee of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada.Since assuming the chairmanship of the National Gallery of Canada Board of Trustees in 2002, Donald R. Sobey has worked to establish sound governance of the institution. In 2003, his passion for the visual arts in Canada lead him to establish the Donald and Beth Sobey Chief Curator's Research Endowment, which enables the National Gallery to conduct and publish scholarly research of national and international significance on its own collection. Also in 2003, Mr. Sobey was awarded the Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership by the Canadian Conference of the Arts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Sobey has served on the board of several businesses and organizations, including Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., Crombie Properties Limited, Highliner Foods, Sobeys Inc., Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury, Toronto–Dominion Bank, and the World Wildlife Fund. A Governor of the Canadian Unity Council, Mr. Sobey has also served as Chair of the Friends of the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry Society and as a member of the Advisory Council of Queen's University.
"I am pleased that Mr. Sobey has agreed to continue to serve on the National Gallery of Canada's Board of Trustees," said Minister Frulla. "His commitment to this cultural institution is exceptional."
Peter Cathcart is a member of the Bar of Ontario and is Counsel in association with McMillan Binch Mendelsohn in Toronto. He practices corporate law, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, joint ventures, and privatization. He was recently appointed to the board of directors of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation as the representative of Ontario.
Mr. Cathcart was, among other things, chair of the board of governors at the University of Windsor. He is a director and officer of several Canadian corporations and charitable organizations, including Porsche Cars Canada, "K" Line Canada, Pearson Canada, and the St. Michael's Hospital Foundation. He is also Chair of the Geoffrey H. Wood Foundation and the Shepherds' Trust (Archdiocese of Toronto).
"The National Gallery of Canada will certainly benefit from Mr. Cathcart's extensive background and dedication to the community," said Minister Frulla.
The National Gallery of Canada Corporation is responsible for managing the National Gallery of Canada and its affiliate, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. It develops, maintains, and promotes, throughout Canada and internationally, a collection of both historic and contemporary art with special, but not exclusive, reference to Canada. It furthers knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of art in general among all Canadians.
Information:
Jean-François Del Torchio
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
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