Fil Fraser, CM Founding Chair
Fil Fraser has been a life-long broadcaster, journalist, television program director and CEO, and a television and feature film producer. Based in Edmonton he is the author of the best-selling memoir, Alberta’s Camelot – Culture and the Arts in the Lougheed Years and Running Uphill – the Fast, Short Life of Harry Jerome, a biography of the Canadian Olympic sprinter, soon to be a feature documentary film produced by the National Film Board.

Fraser is an adjunct professor of Communications Studies at Athabasca University, Canada’s pioneering distance learning institution where he teaches a graduate course on film policy. He is a former Chief Commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, and the former CEO of Vision TV.

When he’s not trying to improve his tennis, he keeps his journalistic chops up by writing a column on corporate ethics for Alberta Venture. He has two more books under way; a biography of Toronto radio station owner, Denham (Flow 93.5, Toronto and The Bounce, Edmonton) Jolly, and a novel built around Black immigration to British Columbia in the 1850s.

Fil and his wife, Gladys Odegard, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 2008.

Jenny Belzberg, CM, AOE Founding Director
Jenny Belzberg’s philanthropic work resonates throughout Calgary and beyond. Born in 1928, the lifelong Calgarian has been an agent of change, a mentor and a faithful volunteer. Her leadership abilities have brought success and credibility to a variety of community efforts in the realm of social action and the arts, and enhanced the quality of life for many.

Jenny’s initial volunteer work began with local Jewish groups that supported women and families. With organizations such as Beth Israel Sisterhood, Calgary Jewish Community Council, Israel Bonds, Jewish National Fund and the National Council of Jewish Women, she engaged in a range of activities from chairing a review committee for Jewish day schools to honouring Holocaust survivors. With her growing experience and leadership training, her responsibilities expanded. She quickly emerged as a natural leader and rose to executive level positions on both national and international fronts.

John E. Poole, OC, AOE Founding Director
A well-respected businessman, he implemented profit-sharing in his company and took innovative steps to permit the employees to assume control after his retirement. To ensure continuous support for a wide range of health, education and arts activities, he spearheaded the rejuvenation of the Edmonton Community Foundation. His quiet and unassuming generosity has directly benefited many organizations, such as the University of Alberta and the Salvation Army.

Tommy Banks, OC, AOE Founding Director
During the administration of the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, Tommy Banks was appointed for two consecutive terms to the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts, and to a further term as policy adviser to the Board.

He was appointed by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Michael Wilson to two consecutive terms as a member of the Sectoral Advisory Group, International Trade (SAGIT) which advised the Government during negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Under the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark he served as Alberta spokesman in the campaign for the national referendum on constitutional amendment and, with Professor Kathleen Mahoney, argued the "yes" side, opposing Stephen Harper and Mel Hurtig on the referendum?s televised debate.