TORONTO ARTS PHILANTHROPIST JIM FLECK WINS $20,000 AWARD

May 26, 2003: James D. Fleck, O.C., D.B.A., LL.D., entrepreneur and business professor, philanthropist and art collector, is the winner of the 2003 Edmund C. Bovey Award for leadership support of the arts.

The Edmund C. Bovey Award is unique: it honours individuals from the business community by presenting them with a cheque for $20,000 to be distributed to the arts. The annual prize is drawn from interest on a fund to which donations were made by 20 Award Founders in 1990, in tribute to Ed Bovey, the founding Chairman of The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada (CBAC). CBAC administers the national award which has, to date, flowed over $260,000 to arts organizations across Canada and honoured a dozen outstanding Canadians.

Currently Chair of the Art Gallery of Ontario, a director of Rogers Multimedia and Emeritus Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Management, Jim Fleck has been a successful businessman, scholar, teacher and public servant. Since he founded Fleck Manufacturing Inc. in 1954 - and throughout his varied career - he has been an active art collector, patron and volunteer.

From Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra to the Power Plant gallery of contemporary art at Harbourfront; from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to ballerina Veronica Tennant; Jim Fleck's support has been broad and deep. Wrote nominator Matthew Teitelbaum, Director of the Art Gallery of Ontario, "His dedication has strengthened Canadian music, theatre, dance, visual arts and literature, and several individuals attribute the furthering of their lives as artists to his encouragement and support."

Philip Lind, Vice-Chairman of Rogers Communications Inc., seconded the nomination stating, "During all the periods I have known him - as a terrific business professor, Deputy Minister for the Premier of Ontario and an inspiring volunteer board chair - he has been a superb business entrepreneur and investor."

"The letters of support for the nomination were a series of revelations," says juror Thomas d'Aquino, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives in Ottawa. "I was enormously impressed by the way Jim Fleck has rolled up his sleeves and touched such a breadth of activities."

d'Aquino was one of five independent judges appointed by CBAC to adjudicate the 2003 Edmund C. Bovey Award. Serving with him were Peter Gardner, General & Artistic Director of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra; Francine Pˇrinet, Director of Oakville Galleries, and Art Willms, Chairman of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. 2002 Edmund C. Bovey Award Winner Dr. Theodore Rozsa, O.C., of Calgary was represented on the jury by his life-long partner in arts philanthropy, wife Lola.

While the jurors were humbled by the depth and variety of arts support undertaken by nominees from across Canada, they were unanimous in their choice of Jim Fleck as this year's winner.

The Edmund C. Bovey Award will be presented to Dr. Fleck by the CBAC at a special celebration in Toronto in the fall. At that time he will receive a specially-commissioned sculpture by the late William McElcheran as well as $20,000 for his favourite arts organization(s).

For more information: Sarah Iley or Eileen Love: 416 869-3016