Margaret Fountain, C.M., D.F.A. (h.c.), D.H.L. (h.c.)

Margaret. Fountain has devoted a lifetime to philanthropic endeavors in support of provincial, national and international organizations. A renowned patron of the arts, Margaret has made a lasting and irrefutable impact with organizations including Symphony Nova Scotia, the National Ballet of Canada, the National Arts Centre Foundation, the advisory board of the Talent Fund for Telefilm Canada, and she was a founding member of the Foundation for Heritage and the Arts.

While her contributions to the arts are unparalleled, Margaret’s philanthropy extends to the broader community through her advocacy in the areas of education and healthcare. She is Global Benefactor, Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, and her work as a founding member of the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia (CFNS) and as a member of the Halifax Foundation, were instrumental in improving the quality of life for Nova Scotians, and to opening the doors to endless possibilities.

Margaret served on the board of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) for 14 years and was honored by that institution with a DFA (hc). She also served as a governor on the board of Mount Saint Vincent University for six years.

Margaret’s many honours include: Outstanding Individual Philanthropist 1977 from the Society of Fundraising Executives Nova Scotia; Honorary Membership, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association 1999; the Canadian winner of the 1999 Mont Blanc de la Culture Awards; she became a Member of the Order of Canada in 2016; and she was awarded an honorary degree from her alma mater, Mount Saint Vincent University, in 2021.

She lives in Halifax with her husband, David. She served on the NAC Foundation Board of Directors from 2010 to 2015 and rejoined in 2017.