Joan Chalmers

Margaret Joan Chalmers C.C., O.Ont, D.F.A. (born 30 May 1928 in Toronto) [Birth Notices, "The Globe and Mail", 31 May 1928, page 12] is a Canadian philanthropist and supporter of the arts.

In 1972, she and her parents, Floyd and Jean Chalmers, founded the annual Chalmers Awards, which donates $25,000 CAD to artists in dance, theatre, crafts, film, the visual arts and music.

She was involved with the traveling exhibit, "Survivors in Search of a Voice: The Art of Courage", which as a collaboration among 24 prominent Canadian women artists and over 100 breast cancer survivors.

While celebrating her 70th birthday in 1998, she announced that she would provide 20 arts groups with a total of $1 million in funding. [ [http://www.arts.on.ca/English/Winners-of-the-1998-Chalmers-Awards-Are-Announced-and-Joan-Chalmers-Gives-Away-Extra-Million.html Ontario Arts Council press release, 25 May 1998] ]

Chalmers is the partner of former singer-songwriter Barbara Amesbury.

Honours

* In 1987 she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
* In 1987 she was awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa from NSCAD University.
* In 1992 she was promoted to Officer of the Order of Canada.
* In 1994 she was awarded the Order of Ontario.
* In 1994 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Waterloo.
* In 1997 she was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada.
* In 2001 she received the Governor General's Award for Visual and Media Arts in the Outstanding Contribution category.

References