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Granted each year by the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto to a non-member who has made a significant contribution to the arts, but who has not been fully recognized, the award consists of a fine bronze medal designed by club member Andrew Benyei, an honorarium, and free club membership for a year. Previous winners include Mary Lou Fallis (music), Rollo Myers (heritage preservation), and Albert Schultz (theatre). This nomination was directly connected to Joe Gill’s work over fifteen years in the promotion and preservation of the Fort York National Historic Site. His many achievements during these years were recounted in an introduction by landscape architect Bob Allsopp. Joe then spoke about the work of the Friends and the major project for which they are currently fundraising, a $17m Visitor Centre scheduled to open in 2012 in time for the celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Also present in the audience were the architect, Jonathan Kearns, and the Chair of the Visitor Centre Steering Committee, Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone.
Joe Gill’s speech was well received and after questions from the audience he was thanked by the Club’s Chair of Architecture, George Hume. Club President Peter Large then presented the Award. Scott James, now Archivist, Arts and Letters Club, was formerly City Archivist and Managing Director, Toronto Historical Board.
Mail: 260 Adelaide St. E., E-mail: fofy@sympatico.ca / Phone: 416-860-6493
Joe Gill wearing his Arts and Letters medal and Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone A full house gathered in the Great Hall at 14 Elm Street on February 24 to witness the presentation of the Arts and Letters Award for 2010 to Joe Gill, Chair of the Friends of Fort York.
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