Press Release
Ottawa, June 6, 2022—The Canada Council for the Arts is delighted to announce the appointments of Richard Kistabish as President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO), and of Sarah Gamble as Vice-President. They will assume these roles in June and September 2022, respectively.
Since its creation in 1957, CCUNESCO has been operating under the authority of the Canada Council for the Arts. An Executive Committee composed of representatives from civil society and government stakeholders oversees CCUNESCO’s activities and provides strategic guidance.
About Richard Kistabish
About Sarah Gamble
“I am thrilled by this news and feel confident that my congratulations to Richard Kistabish, and to Sarah Gamble, will be echoed by many in the Indigenous community. With this combination of thoughtful leadership and the CCUNESCO’s focus on the important intersection between culture, land and language, the voices of the ancestors, will carry into the future (and around the globe) for generations. ”
—Jesse Wente, Chair of the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Richard Kistabish and Sarah Gamble to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. In the role of CCUNESCO President, Richard Kistabish’s expertise as a facilitator, organizer and community leader will be indispensable. His guidance will be especially meaningful over the course of the International Decade for Indigenous Languages, as the Commission advances on its priorities related to Indigenous languages and cultures in support of the Truth and Reconciliation process. Similarly, in the role of CCUNESCO Vice-President, Sarah’s background in archaeology and expertise in cultural heritage, are great assets. Their combined dedication represents the spirit of CCUNESCO, an organization focused on building a society of peace, equity and shared knowledge. We wish them every success in these new roles.”
—Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts
‘’The presidency of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO is a form of recognition for Indigenous peoples, an opportunity to bang the drum and show that we are still alive. By helping to open the door to sectors and institutions to which we do not yet have access, the Commission is an important ally that will allow us to reclaim the space that was taken away from us or denied to us.’’
—Richard Kistabish, President of the CCUNESCO
“I am very honoured to have been nominated Vice-President of the CCUNESCO. Over the past several years, through my role with the Canadian Geoparks Network, I have been closely involved with the work of CCUNESCO, and look forward to helping guide the Commission’s work as it relates to UNESCO designated sites, and its linkages between natural and cultural heritage. I am very excited to be working with Richard Kistabish as President and support the advancement of truth and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.”
—Sarah Gamble, Vice-President of the CCUNESCO
About the Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes, and payments contribute to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and support its presence across Canada and abroad. The Council’s investments foster greater engagement in the arts among Canadians and international audiences.
About the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) serves as a bridge between Canadians and the vital work of UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Through its networks and partners, the Commission promotes UNESCO’s values, priorities and programs in Canada and brings the voices of Canadian experts to the international stage. CCUNESCO operates under the authority of the Canada Council for the Arts.
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