OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(EMWNews – Aug. 6, 2008) – The Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced the appointment of Joseph L. Rotman as Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts.

“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Rotman to the Canada Council for the Arts,” said Minister Verner. “I am positive that his wealth of experience and dedication to the arts will greatly benefit the organization.”

Mr. Rotman is currently Chair of Roy-L Capital Corporation, a private family investment company. His business career has focused on establishing a number of private and public companies active in oil trading, petroleum distribution, oil and gas exploration, merchant banking, real estate, and venture capital. He is the founder of Clairvest Group Inc., a Canadian-based merchant bank, for which he is still a board member. He was involved with numerous other corporate boards, including the Bank of Montreal, Barrick Gold Corporation, and Canada Northwest Energy Ltd.

Mr. Rotman was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contribution to the educational, cultural, economic, health care, and research communities. Many organizations have benefited from his generous leadership and financial support, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, CIHR, MaRs, the Toronto Hospital, and the University of Toronto. He was educated at the University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto and Columbia University.

The Canada Council for the Arts fosters and promotes the study, enjoyment, and production of works in the arts by providing assistance to individual artists and arts organizations through a peer-assessment process. It also administers the Public Lending Right program of payments to authors, coordinates the development of UNESCO activities in Canada, and coordinates Canadian participation in UNESCO activities abroad. For more information on the Council, please visit www.canadacouncil.ca.

This news release is also available online at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.