Bard on the Beach Founder Receives Order of Canada

Christopher Gaze, the founding artistic director of Bard on the Beach, has been appointed to the Order of Canada, recognizing five decades of work in performance, education, and arts advocacy.

The Governor General of Canada, Louise Arbour, announced the appointment Tuesday as part of 61 new Order of Canada recognitions. Gaze is described in the appointment as a "visionary arts leader" whose contributions help Canadians "see our country and our place in the world with greater clarity and purpose."

Gaze founded Bard on the Beach in 1990, growing it from a single production under a tent in Vanier Park to one of Canada's largest theatre companies. The not-for-profit Shakespeare festival is mounting four productions this summer: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Macbeth, Goblin: Oedipus, and Antigone.

"Canada gave me the chance to spend my life doing work that has brought me immense joy and purpose," Gaze said in a release. "To be recognized in this way is deeply moving, and receiving the honour in the same year I published my memoir makes it an especially memorable moment for me."

Claire Sakaki, executive director of Bard on the Beach, said Gaze's vision and commitment have "profoundly shaped Vancouver's cultural landscape and inspired generations of artists and audiences."

Gaze has received other notable honours, including the Order of B.C. in 2012 and a Member of the Order of the British Empire appointment in the King's Birthday Honours List earlier this year. Other Canadians appointed to the Order of Canada on Tuesday included Michael J. Fox, Christine Sinclair, and David Fung.