The Chan Centre appoints Co-Managing Directors, Joyce Hinton and Cameron McGill

The Chan Centre presents a new leadership model effective immediately 

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) announces a change in leadership effective immediately. Sid Katz, Managing Director, begins his transition to other roles at UBC following a one-year administrative leave of absence as long-time Chan Centre staff members Joyce Hinton and Cameron McGill prepare to take centre stage as Co-Managing Directors of the arts organization and award-winning facility.

Hinton and McGill are both original staff members hired during the opening of the Chan Centre in the mid-1990s and most recently have served as Associate Managing Directors of Programming and Administration and of Facilities and Operations respectively. They bring to their new roles combined expertise in the dual function of the Chan Centre as both an arts presenter and as a venue. This expertise, coupled with a strong commitment to uphold the current strategic plan as drafted in 2009 by Katz and the organization’s 22 full-time staff members, will permit a smooth leadership transition.

“Joyce and Cam have both played significant roles in getting the Chan Centre to its current status,” Katz notes, “I am confident that they are well-prepared to step into their new leadership positions.”

Katz came to the Chan Centre in 2002 succeeding the original Managing Director, Michael Noon, when he retired. Prior to leading the Chan Centre, Katz served as Executive Director of Science World British Columbia and the Director General and CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. An avid arts enthusiast and catalyst in community engagement, Katz drew new audiences to the Chan Centre by increasing the volume and variety of programming through several seasons of co-presentations with local arts organizations such as the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Chutzpah! The Lisa Nemetz International Showcase of Jewish Performing Arts, the Vancouver Recital Society and Global Arts Concerts to name but a few.

“Sid has led the Chan Centre to become one of North America’s leading university-based cultural centres,” says Stephen Owen, UBC Vice President – External, Legal and Community Relations. “He has successfully brought the highest level of performing arts and global dialogue together with academic and wider community interests.”

Hinton and McGill are enthusiastic about moving forward with their new appointments. With an extensive background and shared commitment to the success of the Chan Centre, they look forward to working together to continue developing the organization as it enters this new era of co-leadership.

About The Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC

Since opening in the spring of 1997, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has earned an international reputation for its striking design and stellar acoustics. Artists, critics, and patrons alike are unanimous in their praise of the multi-faceted facility, winning it a place among North America's premier performing arts centres.

Inside, the Chan Centre boasts three unique venues: the superb Chan Shun Concert Hall, the dramatic Telus Studio Theatre, and the intimate Royal Bank Cinema. All share a spectacular glass lobby that faces a mature evergreen forest.

From classical, jazz, and new music to opera, folk, and world music, the Chan Centre is a vital part of UBC campus life – a place where the artistic and academic disciplines integrate with one another to inspire new perspectives on life and culture. As such, the programming at the Chan Centre strives to enhance the values of the UBC community through its annual roster of dynamic artists and musical traditions. Past performers and guest speakers include Yo-Yo Ma, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Renée Fleming, Al Gore, Kronos Quartet, Meredith Monk, Muhammad Yunus, Ornette Coleman, Mariza, and Shirin Ebadi.

Sid Katz

For nearly a decade, Dr. Sid Katz served as Executive Director of the Office of Community Engagement at UBC and Managing Director of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Katz, a tireless enthusiast of the arts has said that his years spent leading the Chan Centre have been some of the most rewarding of his entire career. In addition to his roles at the Chan Centre and in Community Engagement, Katz also holds a position as Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Prior to being seconded to join the UBC President’s Office, Katz had a long and distinguished career as a teacher and researcher publishing more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and graduating more than 20 Masters and PhD students. He has maintained a parallel career in science journalism having contributed over 400 items to CBC Radio regional and national programs and was the national health science correspondent on the CTV National News. For more than 20 years, Katz has promoted science education for elementary and high school children and played a part in developing science centres around the world. In 2003, Katz was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to science awareness and education in Canada.

Joyce Hinton

Joyce Hinton began her career in the performing arts sector over 20 years ago after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre at Queen’s University and an Arts and Cultural Management diploma at Grant MacEwan College. Hinton has worked as a presenter, artist manager, agent, arts administrator, tour co-coordinator and stage manager for a variety of organizations across the country. She currently serves on the board of the Association of Cultural Executives and is a conference committee member of CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association), a member of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, British Columbia Touring Council, International Society for the Performing Arts, Association of Performing Arts Presenters and the Western Arts Alliance. Hinton has also been a jury member for the Juno Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre. In 2008 she was awarded Presenter of the Year by the British Columbia Touring Council.

Cameron McGill

Cameron McGill holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design/Production from UBC as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington. In addition he has obtained diplomas from the National Theatre School in Montreal and from the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). Most recently, he earned the Certified Facilities Executive designation from IAAM in 2008. Over the past 30 years, McGill has worked as an educator, designer, technical director, production manager and facility manager for a variety of venues and arts organizations including Concordia University (Montreal), Seattle Children’s Theatre, Alberta Ballet and The Epcor Centre (Calgary). McGill is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and the IAAM where he has served on a variety of committees and is currently the vice-chair on the Board of Governors for IAAM’s Senior Executive Symposium program at Cornell University.