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Winners Announced
Seven Canadian companies recognized for their outstanding leadership
The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards
September 5th, 2006
The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada is proud to announce the 2006 winners of The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards: BMO Financial Group, Vancouver Trolley Company, Vancity and Grant Thornton LLP., Enbridge Inc., TELUS Corporation and Nereus Financial Inc. were also singled out by this year's jury to receive Awards of Distinction.
Nominator, Necessary Angel Theatre Company, talked about the value of their long and trusted partnership with BMO Financial Group, winner of Most Effective Corporate Program. For close to a decade this relationship has enabled the theatre to plan its activities secure in the knowledge that BMO "wholeheartedly encourages us in our rigorous exploration of the theatrical arts and recognizes the artistic value of our endeavours." The many letters of support for the nomination, from arts organizations of every size and discipline, show the impact that this one company makes on the development of Canada's cultural voices.
The Most Innovative Marketing Sponsorship winner is the family-owned business, Vancouver Trolley Company. One of the benefits Arts Club Theatre Company offers to its corporate partners is the opportunity to host clients at a theatrical evening. But the historic Arts Club facility has no such space. Other spaces, appropriate for receptions and dinners, were too far from the theatre to make a comfortable transition. The Vancouver Trolley Company donated its replica, turn-of-the century San Francisco-style trolleys to shuttle Arts Club corporate guests to and from pre-show receptions. The partnership has enhanced the experience of Arts Club's corporate supporters and introduced the Trolley Company to a whole new potential client group.
Another Vancouver company, credit union Vancity, has won the award for Best Arts/Entrepreneur Partnership. The membership of Vancity selected the Vancouver East Cultural Centre to receive a $1 million Vancity Award. This risk capital enabled VECC to do the feasibility, create the design, mount a private sector campaign and attract public sector funds, all of which mean that plans are on target for completing the project in time for the Olympic Cultural Festival in 2010. Vancity's support made it possible to turn an idea into a plan and a plan into a reality. They continue to offer counsel and assistance as the project progresses.
New this year, The First Dance recognizes a corporation which has entered into a partnership with the arts for the first time. Accounting firm Grant Thornton, LLP recognized immediately that the leadership of Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada reflected the same attributes, talents and hard work required to start any new business. CEO Alex MacBeath saw that these qualities "are, in fact, the same values and traits we champion in our entrepreneurial clients every day." Grant Thornton's initial support and ongoing commitment to sustainable funding for Atlantic Ballet Theatre has been pivotal to its growth and development. The relationship has also given Grant Thornton opportunities to highlight its commitment to entrepreneurs of all kinds in Atlantic Canada.
Each of the four winners will receive a Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Award by sculptor Nobuo Kubota, winner of the national design competition earlier this year. The new Award will be unveiled at the Awards Ceremony to be held on October 16th at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Three other companies will be honoured with Awards of Distinction.
In the category of Most Effective Corporate Program, Enbridge Inc. has won for the significant impact its 14-year history of support has had on Alberta Theatre Projects, as well as its support of many other arts organizations in Alberta and across Canada.
TELUS Corporation was nominated by the Royal Conservatory of Music. The Conservatory's relationship with TELUS started in 2001 and in 2004 the company became the Naming Donor of its "Building National Dreams" campaign.
First-time arts sponsor, Nereus Financial Inc., has won a First Dance Award of Distinction for its multi-faceted support of The Writers' Trust of Canada.
Members of the Jury for the 2006 Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards were: Zanana Akande, past President of the Board of Directors, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto; Ian Bourne, Executive Vice-President & CFO, TransAlta Corporation, Calgary; Jennifer Johnstone, Executive Director, Ballet British Columbia; David Moss, former General Director, Opéra de Montréal, Montreal; and Paul O'Regan, Owner, O'Regan's Automotive Group, Halifax.
For more information please contact:
Eileen Love
416 869 3016 x223
e_love@businessforarts.org
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