Museums Act - National Gallery of Canada

16 Annual Report 2002–2003
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ITS COMMITTEES
ON GOVERNANCE
In all of its activities, the Board of Trustees of the National
Gallery of Canada strives to maintain good governance,
ensuring responsible and transparent management of
Canada’s visual-arts heritage for the benefit of all Canadians,
fostering efficiency in the delivery of services, and meeting
the goals established by the federal government.
Corporate governance at the National Gallery of Canada
is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. Accountable
to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of
Canadian Heritage, the Board of Trustees is comprised
of eleven members, including the Chairman of the
Board, appointed by the Minister with the approval of
the Governor-in-Council.
Stewardship and accountability are the two primary
principles the Board of Trustees has strived to recognize
and achieve in accomplishing its commitment to corporate
governance. By establishing a Governance committee in
1996, the Board of Trustees has strengthened its role as
stewards of the Gallery. The Governance committee has
implemented several innovations including an annual
assessment of its performance, the results of which are
used to ensure the effective functioning of the Board of
Trustees and its six committees. This year, the Governance
committee conducted a survey of information needs of
members of the Board of Trustees.
The Audit and Finance Committee, a key part of the
accountability structure, advises the Board of Trustees on
the soundness of the financial management of the Gallery.
The Audit and Finance Committee continues to monitor
improvements in reporting to ensure the consistency and
integrity of the Gallery’s performance information.
Once a year the Board of Trustees meets outside Ottawa.
In October 2002, the Board held its meeting in Vancouver,
British Columbia, where it took the opportunity to visit
galleries, view the work of local artists, and host an evening
with the visual arts community at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003
Chairperson
H. Harrison McCain, Florenceville, New Brunswick
30 June 1999 – 2 December 2002
Donald R. Sobey, Stellarton, Nova Scotia
3 December 2002 – 18 November 2005
Vice-Chairperson
Merla Beckerman, West Vancouver, British Columbia
8 March 1998 – 17 March 2005
Trustees
Ardyth Webster Brott, Hamilton, Ontario
27 October 1998 – 5 November 2004
Mina Grossman-Ianni, Amherstburg, Ontario
3 June 1998 – 30 July 2004
Jean H. Picard, Montreal, Quebec
22 April 1997 – 18 November 2002
Robert T. Ross, Winnipeg, Manitoba
28 September 1999 – 27 September 2002
Réjane Sanschagrin, Shawinigan, Quebec
1 October 1996 – 10 February 2006
Donald R. Sobey, Stellarton, Nova Scotia
23 November 1995 – 2 December 2002
Irene Szylinger, Toronto, Ontario
22 April 1997 – 26 July 2003
Joseph-Richard Veilleux, Saint-Georges, Quebec
19 November 2002 – 18 November 2005
Sara Vered, Ottawa, Ontario
1 October 1996 – 30 September 2002
Meeka Walsh, Winnipeg, Manitoba
23 October 2001 – 22 October 2004