Gail O’Brien, LL.D.

Gail O’Brien was appointed to the National Arts Centre Board of Trustees on October 1, 2013 and is part of the Capital Planning Committee as well as the Audit and Finance Committee.

Born in Montreal, and with a Bachelors Degree in English and Fine Arts from McGill University, Gail moved to Calgary with her husband David and 3 children in 1978. Her career in fashion spanned the next 25 years including 10 years as General Manager of Holt Renfrew Calgary.

During that time Gail began her deep commitment to community involvement serving on the boards of both the YWCA of Calgary and as Vice-Chair of the Glenbow Museum. Since her retirement, she has devoted herself fulltime to the Not-for-Profit sector focusing largely on women, medicine and the arts in organizations across Canada.

Current Board commitments include: The Hospital for Sick Children Board of Trustees and Foundation Board of Directors; Co-Chair, Council for Canadian American Relations;Trustee of the National Arts Centre; Director of Business for the Arts; as well as involvement at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary as Chair of the Advisory Board and member of other Institute Advisory Boards.

Past Board commitments include the National Arts Centre Foundation as Chair and the Ontario Science Centre.

Gail received the Women of Distinction Award for Business and Entrepreneurs in the year 2000. In 2010, Gail received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Calgary as well as the Eric Harvey Award  from the Glenbow Museum. In September 2011, Gail received  the Alberta Medical Association Award of Honor (for a non medical person) for her contribution to Health Quality in Alberta.

Ms. O’Brien is married to David O’Brien. They have 3 children and 10 grandchildren all residing in Toronto.