Canadian Heritage: “Renewed investments in the arts represent $504 million in support over five years and are in addition to measures announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. These measures include a 41-percent increase in the budget for the Canada Arts Training Fund) and additional funding of $60 million over two years for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund,( doubling the budget for the program this year and extending it to 2010-2011.”

The Globe and Mail: Stephan Benediktson of Cochrane last year donated $100,000 to The Banff Centre to finance a visiting Icelandic artist program.

“The first fellowship recipient is Ragnar Kjartansson, a young performance artist and graduate of the Icelandic Academy of Arts whose productions have been performed around the world; he is representing Iceland in the Venice Biennale, which opens tomorrow.”

Banff Crag and Canyon: “Six individuals and organizations are being honoured this year for their outstanding contribution to heritage in Banff National Park. Ron Warner, Jim Olver, Discover Banff Tours, Ralphine Locke, The Banff Centre / Sather Family and Pam Manning will all be honoured at the heritage awards celebration June 11 at the Whyte Museum….

“For over 25 years, Olver has been the face of the Banff Centre, greeting countless visitors and giving them a unique experience.

“The Adaptive Reuse of a Heritage Building Award is going to The Banff Centre and Sather Family for preserving the Walter Painter residence by moving it up to the Leighton Artist Colony.”

From the Government of Alberta:

Eight Alberta community leaders and innovators have been selected to receive the province’s highest honour. Chosen in recognition of outstanding service to their province and country, the Alberta Order of Excellence (AOE) members for 2009 are:

…

Bernadette McDonald (Banff) – for her work to promote mountain culture through a range of Banff-based programs and to increase awareness of mountain environmental preservation.

Additional Information about Bernadette McDonald.

BCLocalNews.com: “A wealth of artistic talent could lead Salt Spring towards becoming a “Banff-on-the-Sea,” where arts professionals from across Canada and around the world come to improve their skills.”

Annapolis [Nova Scotia] County Spectator: “Now that Team Annapolis has opened the toolshed on discussions like how to developing [sic] a Banff Centre for the Arts-like education institution in Annapolis Royal, we can roll up our sleeves and get down to the nitty gritty of building the creative rural economy. “

Banff Crag and Canyon: “Banff Centre sous-chef Jeffrey Merrin cooked his way to the top in the national Copper Skillet competition in Toronto earlier this month.

He’s now going to face chefs from around the world at the end of March in the International Chef of the Year competition hosted by the International Association of Conference Centers.”

CBC: Toronto philanthropist James D. Fleck will receive the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, recognizing his more than 35 years of supporting arts organizations, including chairing The Banff Centre’s board of directors. The award is among the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for 2009.

Canadian Heritage: “The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced the appointment of Philip C. Ponting as a member of the Canada Council for the Arts…. Mr. Ponting is a senior partner in the Calgary office of McLennan Ross…. His involvement in the arts sector is stellar. He has served on the boards of a number of cultural organizations, including the Board of Governors of the Banff Centre.”

Globe and Mail: “Jim Fleck, a renowned Canadian businessman and philanthropist, has been chosen to receive the International Angel Award from the International Society for the Performing Arts…. [Fleck] has acted as chair or president of half a dozen other organizations including the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Banff Centre.”

Rocky Mountain Outlook :“‘It’s an opportunity for helping the province think through its future policies on arts and culture, and my experience and resources at The Banff Centre would be an asset,’ said Jeff Kovitz. ‘The Banff Centre is both a local, Bow Valley, provincial, national, and international leader in many areas.’”