Artscape Welcomes New Members to its Board of Directors

As Artscape enters a new decade, we are pleased to bring the fresh perspectives of three new members to our Board of Directors. Phil C. Gillin, Barbara Hall and Geoff Rush are each leaders in their respective fields and in the city of Toronto and will be instrumental in helping to guide the strategic direction of Artscape in 2020 and beyond.

“We are pleased to welcome Phil C. Gillin, Barbara Hall and Geoff Rush to the Artscape board of directors,” said Susan Pigott, Chair of the Artscape Board. “Each of these very accomplished individuals brings a wealth of experience and expertise to support the mission of Artscape to make space for creativity and transform communities.”

The Artscape Board of Directors is comprised of 19 dedicated volunteers, who contribute immensely to Artscape’s strategic planning and governance year-round, supporting Artscape to successfully mount a variety of projects and initiatives that directly impact Toronto’s creative community.

About the new directors:

Phil Gillin

Phil Gillin is Executive Vice-President and Portfolio Manager for Bentall Kennedy (Canada) Limited Partnership and Sun Life Investment Management. Phil oversees Canadian Property Investments for the General Account of the Sun Life Financial Group of Companies, with responsibility for its large portfolio of Canadian commercial mortgages and real estate investments. In addition, Phil is the Chair of Sun Life Financial’s International Sustainability Council. Phil is also Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for the Sun Life Canadian Commercial Mortgage Fund, with responsibility for the management and performance of the fund.

Phil has over 36 years’ experience in the property investment sector. He joined Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada in 1998 as Vice-President of Canadian Real Estate, overseeing the growth and enhancing the management of the portfolio, and was appointed as Senior Managing Director and Head of Canadian Real Estate in 2007. Phil’s responsibilities were expanded in 2012 to also include Canadian commercial mortgages. Prior to joining Sun Life Assurance Company, Phil managed the real estate assets at one of Canada’s largest retailers, and prior to that he with was one of North America’s largest real estate companies. Phil speaks frequently on property investment topics and is very active in industry and community organizations. Among others, he is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (known as NAIOP) and the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Urban Land Institute and serves on the Real Estate Advisory Board of the Schulich School of Business. Phil holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business. He is also a Certified Management Accountant/Certified Public Accountant.

Barbara Hall

Barbara Hall, former Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and former Mayor of Toronto, has served for more than 50 years as a community worker, lawyer, municipal politician and champion of a grassroots approach to community-building. In 1998, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Ryerson University. She is an honorary witness of the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. In 2016, Hall was made a Member of the Order of Canada for leadership in Human Rights.