Organization Profile - Canada Council for the Arts

Canada Council for the Arts

The information presented on the following pages is for reference purposes only and should not be considered or relied on as an authoritative or exhaustive source of all Governor in Council appointments or positions.
Board Profile

Crown Corporation (Exempt from Part X of the FAA)

Home Page Link

Minister Responsible

Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mandate

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts”. To fulfill this mandate, the Canada Council offers a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in music, theatre, writing and publishing, visual arts, dance, media arts and integrated arts. It raises public awareness of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities. The Canada Council’s prizes and fellowships celebrate creativity by recognizing exceptional Canadians in the arts, humanities and sciences. The Canadian Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) operates under the general authority of the Canada Council. The Canada Council’s work is tied to its strategic and corporate plans, which guide the organization as it continues its work to further enrich and deepen the artistic and cultural experience of Canadians.

Head Office

Ottawa, Ontario

Appointment Provisions

Canada Council for the Arts Act
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-2/index.html

The Council is composed of:
  • a Chairperson appointed by the Governor in Council for such term not exceeding five years;
  • a Vice-Chairperson appointed by the Governor in Council for such term not exceeding five years;
  • not more than nine other members appointed by the Governor in Council for a term of four years; and
  • a Director appointed by the Governor in Council to hold office during pleasure.
By statute, no member of the Council, including the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson, having served two consecutive terms is eligible for re-appointment to the same position for twelve months after the expiry of the second term.

Auditor

By virtue of the Canada Council for the Arts Act the Auditor General is the auditor of the Council.

Remuneration

Chairperson

  • Fixed by GiC: Position;
    per diem ($310 - $375)
  • Position; annual ($8,000 - $9,400)
  • Plus travel and living expenses incurred in the course of their duties.

Vice-chairperson

  • Fixed by GiC: Position;
    per diem ($310 - $375)
  • Position; annual ($4,000 - $4,700)
  • Plus travel and living expenses incurred in the course of their duties.

Member

  • Fixed by GiC: Position;
    per diem ($310 - $375)
  • Position; annual ($4,000 - $4,700)
  • Plus travel and living expenses incurred in the course of their duties.

Appointments

Appt/Expiry
Date
Director (CEO-4)
Chawla, Michelle
Ottawa, Ontario
Full-Time Appointment
During Pleasure
2023-06-26
2028-06-25
Chairperson 
Wente, Jesse
Toronto, Ontario
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2020-07-28
2025-07-27
Vice-Chairperson 
Germain, Marie-Pier
Montréal
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2021-12-17
2025-12-16
Members 
Hickman, Cheryl
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2017-04-05
2025-05-20
Leong, Ingrid
West Vancouver, British Columbia
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2021-12-13
2025-12-12
Moraille, Stephane
Boucherville, Quebec
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2022-10-20
2026-10-19
Nind, Sidney Ben
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2017-04-05
2025-05-10
Pleszczynski, Jan-Fryderyk
Montréal, Quebec
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2023-08-03
2027-08-03
Rawji, Irfhan A.
Calgary, Alberta
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2022-04-29
2026-04-28
Schwonik, Karl
Calgary, Alberta
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2018-06-14
2026-06-13
Verna, Gaëtane
Toronto, Ontario
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2020-09-30
2024-09-29
Wall-Andrews, Charlie
Toronto, Ontario
During Pleasure (Interpretation Act)
2022-10-30
2026-10-29