The Banff Centre’s commitment to creativity and leadership has inspired individuals and organizations across Canada, resulting in the most successful fundraising campaign in the Centre’s 75-year history. To date, the Campaign for The Banff Centre has raised $123 million.

During the first six months of 2008, corporations and individual donors pledged several major contributions to the Campaign.

In April, the Jarislowsky Foundation announced a $1-million gift to establish the Gail and Stephen Jarislowsky Master Artist Program Fund. The fund will bring internationally acclaimed artists to Banff annually for Jarislowsky Distinguished Master Artists residencies. During the residencies, participants enrolled in the Centre’s arts programs will have the opportunity to work with the Distinguished Master Artists during studio sessions, master classes, and other collaborative activities.

“Gail and I are honoured to make this contribution to The Banff Centre,” says Dr. Stephen Jarislowsky, chairman and CEO of Jarislowsky Fraser Limited and the Jarislowsky Foundation. “The Jarislowsky Master Artist Program will create a legacy of excellence in the performing and fine arts, enriching Canada’s cultural life and creating stronger communities.”

For Enbridge Inc., the Centre’s focus on Aboriginal arts and leadership prompted one of the largest donations in the corporation’s history.

On May 6, Patrick D. Daniel, Enbridge president and CEO, announced a $1-million contribution to support the construction of a dedicated Aboriginal program building at the Centre. The first of its kind in Canada, the new building will house the Centre’s Aboriginal Leadership and Aboriginal Arts programs. It will include the Enbridge Indigenous Cultural Circle — a central meeting area — classrooms, multidisciplinary performance and rehearsal facilities, and rooms for ceremonial and social gatherings.

”We place very high value on our relationships with more than 70 First Nations and Métis communities across Canada,” says Daniel. “Enbridge is proud to support The Banff Centre in establishing the Enbridge Indigenous Cultural Circle, part of a new facility designed to be a world-class learning and performing place for Aboriginal arts and leadership.” The new building is scheduled for construction between 2010 and 2014.

Six weeks later, on June 17, Nexen Inc. announced a $1-million investment in The Banff Centre that will support groundbreaking research on the critical success factors behind leading Aboriginal communities and organizations in Canada.

Nexen’s donation will establish the Nexen Chair in Aboriginal Leadership. The Chair will work with Aboriginal communities to identify their research needs and to conduct case studies of successful Aboriginal organizations, businesses, and leaders in Canada. Key findings will be shared with Aboriginal communities, published through an on-line library, and incorporated into the Centre’s leadership programs.

“Nexen is committed to supporting Aboriginal communities,” says Charlie Fischer, president and CEO of Nexen Inc. “Our contribution will provide learning opportunities to develop and strengthen Aboriginal leaders and help foster sustainable communities. The Nexen Chair will develop practical action-based research that will document and support social, economic, and educational success stories.”

Perhaps the most unusual donation to the Campaign for The Banff Centre came in the form of a 95-year-old heritage home. Glen and Ann Sather announced in March they would donate their Banff home — the historic Painter residence — to create a new studio in the Leighton Artists’ Colony.

The home was moved to the Centre in early May. The addition of the Painter residence will provide opportunities for senior artists to work in a more spacious studio setting or for a group of artists to work collaboratively.

“The house has been part of our family since 1974 and holds many fond memories,” says Glen Sather. “We’re thrilled to be able to work with the Town and the Centre to preserve it, and to provide a space for creative work to flourish.” Built in 1913, the Painter residence was designed by architect Walter S. Painter, who also designed the Banff Cave and Basin Bathing Pavilion and the 1914 additions to the Banff Springs Hotel.

The Centre’s Dance programs received a boost in May with the announcement of the Arnold Spohr Distinguished Guest Artist Endowment for Dance. The endowment will enable the Centre to bring internationally renowned dance artists and teachers to Banff as instructors in the Centre’s Professional Dance Program.

Newly restructured for the Centre’s 75th anniversary, the Professional Dance Program provides five weeks of intensive training, followed by a week of mainstage performances. Dancers in the program are chosen by the artistic directors of seven top ballet companies — the royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Alberta Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, Ballet Jörgen, and the Boston Ballet.

The endowment — which currently stands at over half a million dollars — was spearheaded by Susan Glass and Arni Thorsteinson. “We are honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate Dr. Spohr’s legacy by supporting the dancers of tomorrow,” says Susan Glass, “and we are immensely grateful for the generosity and vision of the donors who contributed to this endowment.”

The Centre also received generous donations from Great-West Life, London Life, and Canada Life, and from TD Canada Trust. Great-West Life, London Life, and Canada Life contributed $250,000 from their The Key to Giving™ national corporate citizenship program to support the collaborative facilities and resources of the Paul D. Fleck Library & Archives in the new Kinnear Centre. TD Canada Trust donated $150,000 to establish the TD Canada Trust Music Fellowships in Jazz. The fellowships will provide funding for musicians attending programs from 2008 through 2011.