OTTAWA, January 30, 2008 -The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today announced the appointment of Anna Porter as a member of the Canada Council for the Arts.
"I am very pleased to welcome Ms. Porter to the Canada Council for the Arts," said Minister Verner. "I know that her expertise in the publishing industry, as well as her passion for culture, will greatly benefit the Council."
Anna Porter was chief executive officer and publisher of Key Porter Books, one of Canada's leading book-publishing houses, until 2004 when she sold her majority interest in the company to devote more time to writing. She has lectured and given speeches throughout Canada and abroad on Canadian culture, the arts, and publishing. Ms. Porter is an Officer of the Order of Canada and was also awarded the Order of Ontario. She is the author of three novels, all of which have been published in several editions and languages throughout the world. Her most recent book, Kasztner's Train, was published in 2007.
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.
Information:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788
