Banff Centre Appoints New Board Chair and Members After Alberta Government Dissolves Previous Board

The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is rebuilding its board of governors following a tumultuous period that saw the Alberta government dissolve the entire previous board in October 2023. The move came in the wake of a CEO succession controversy and governance issues at the renowned arts institution.

Alberta has appointed oil and gas executive Paul Baay as the new chair of the Banff Centre's board, along with five new public board members. Baay is tasked with upholding the board's duties and reviewing the centre's internal processes and policies to address the challenges that led to the previous board's dissolution.

The controversy centered around the handling of the CEO succession by the former board chair, Adam Waterous, and the planned departure of former president and CEO Janice Price. This, combined with divergent ideas among board members about the centre's future direction, prompted the government to intervene.

Why this matters: The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a critical institution for the advancement of the arts, leadership, and mountain culture in Canada. The governance crisis and board dissolution highlight the importance of strong leadership and clear vision in steering such organizations through challenging times.

The newly appointed public board members bring a diverse range of experience in the arts, energy, finance, law, business, and non-profit sectors. The restructured board includes Brinna Brinkerhoff, Lori Paine, Naomi Schmold, Pinder Sandhu, and Myron Tétreault. The government has emphasized the need for Indigenous representation and gender equality in the board's composition.

Banff Centre president and CEO Chris Lorway expressed confidence in the new board, noting that it is aligned with the organization's core mission and vision. "The new board, led by Baay, is aligned with the organization's mission and vision," Lorway stated.

The remaining eight board positions will be determined over the next year as the Banff Centre works to fully reconstitute its governance structure. The new leadership aims to refocus the centre on its primary role as an advanced education institution dedicated to the arts, leadership, and mountain culture, moving away from the previous board's divergent ideas about the centre's direction.

Key Takeaways

• Banff Centre's board dissolved, new chair and 5 public members appointed
• Controversy over CEO succession and divergent board vision led to dissolution
• New board aims to refocus centre on arts, leadership, and mountain culture
• Diverse expertise in arts, energy, finance, law, business, and non-profit
• Emphasis on Indigenous representation and gender equality in board composition