Calgary Oilman Wins $20,000 National Award For Arts Patronage

June 3, 2002

Dr. Theodore Rozsa, O.C. is the winner of The Edmund C. Bovey Award for leadership support of the arts. The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada (CBAC), which administers the award, made the announcement at its Annual General Meeting today.

The Edmund C. Bovey Award is unique in Canada: it honours individuals from the business community for outstanding support of the arts by presenting them with a cheque for $20,000 to be distributed to the arts organizations of their choice. The annual prize is drawn from interest on a fund to which donations were made by 20 Award Founders in 1990. To date, over $200,000 has been distributed to performing arts organizations, museums and galleries across Canada through this annual award.

Created in tribute to CBAC's founding Chairman , who was a patron and board member of 18 arts organizations while serving as CEO of Norcen Energy Resources, The Edmund C. Bovey Award recognizes leadership.

"Ted Rozsa has played a pivotal role in the history of the arts in Calgary", commented CBAC President Sarah Iley. "According to his nominators, this talented geophysicist has invested in music as well as oil, stepping in to provide leadership at crucial times. The jury was very impressed with the impact this one man has made on the arts institutions in his home town."

The Chairman of the National Arts Centre, David Leighton, chaired the jury which comprised 2001 Edmund C. Bovey Award winner Israel Asper of Winnipeg, who is Executive Chairman of CanWest Global Communications Inc. as well as: Doris Bradstreet Daughney, who is Chair of BC PavCo as well as Chair of the Vancouver Opera; Tom McCabe, President of Theatre Calgary; and Vincent Varga, Director of the McMichael Canadian Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario.

While the jury was amazed by the depth and variety of arts support undertaken by nominees from across Canada, and moved by the eloquence and enthusiasm of their nominators, the jurors were unanimous in their choice of Ted Rozsa as this year's winner.

Rozsa first came to Calgary with Shell Oil in 1949. He stayed in Canada to create, manage and eventually sell an oil-drilling business and then an oil exploration business before founding his present company, Rozsa Petroleum in 1979. Ever the entrepreneur, he understands the ambition for excellence. That's why he agreed to fund the conductor's chair for the Calgary Philharmonic for many years. That's why he chose to support the creation of the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. And that's why he embraced the University of Calgary's vision for a state-of-the-art concert hall, providing $3.5 million for the project.

Nominated by the Calgary Opera and seconded by Petro-Canada, Ted Rozsa received many letters of support. Wrote Calgary lawyer James Palmer, "I think what makes him unique is that he extolls the virtue of giving money and, as a result, has caused many businessmen to discover what Ted refers to as 'the joy of giving'."

The Edmund C. Bovey Award will be presented to Dr. Rozsa by the CBAC at a special celebration in Calgary 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