Dr. James Fleck, O.C., recipient of the 2009 Angel Award at the New York 2009 ISPA Congress, Transformation: Art as an Agent of Change.  View other ISPA Award winners.

Nominating Statement | "Jim Fleck has been a larger-than-life figure in the arts world in various capacities as patron, advocate, board member, and a mentor to many artists and arts administrators in the visual and performing arts."

Dr. Fleck’s achievements are many and varied. Jim Fleck has had four major careers over his lifetime, with outstanding accomplishments in the academic world, in business, government and finally in philanthropy, not only with economic support but also with active involvement; he was the founding president of The Power Plant, a wonderful and innovative organization that would not have been likely to reach fruition without Jim. He served as President of the Art Gallery of Ontario. He was the driving force behind the creation of the Yo Yo Ma Music Garden on the waterfront. His arts directorships include Business for the Arts, the North York Symphony, Toronto Free Theatre, The Banff Centre, Harbourfront,” and the list goes on!

His major causes include: the Fleck clerestory at the Power Plant; the Fleck Galleries at the Art Gallery of Ontario the Fleck Atrium at the Rotman School; the Humphrys Chaplaincy at Trinity College; the Fleck Tannenbaum Chair in Prostatic Diseases at Toronto General; Studio Prima at the National Ballet; the Paul D. Fleck Marquee in Stratford; the Yo Yo Ma Music Garden on the waterfront; the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront; and the Paul D. Fleck Fellows Program at the Banff Centre.

Not content to restrict his activities to Canada, he started “The Canadian Friends of the Phil” to support the presentation of Canadian talent at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples, Florida.

If you were to speak to any number of national performing arts organizations in Canada, they would say similar things about the astonishing generosity and long-time commitment of the Fleck family to the arts.  Jim Fleck has left his mark in so many ways, not only as a donor, but as a visionary leader and advocate on behalf of the arts.  In short, he is a fitting example of all that the Angel Award stands for: demonstrating significant and lasting contribution to support the performing arts.