Catching up with NAC donors: Denzil Feinberg and June Wells

Denzil Feinberg and his spouse June Wells are enthusiastic NAC donors and patrons. Their apartment into which they moved in 2005 after living in Winnipeg for about 30 years is within walking distance of the NAC.

Denzil was President of Canada's first professional financial planning association in 1983 in Winnipeg. He provided daily reports on the Winnipeg stock market, as well as some tax, investment and budget reporting on CBC radio and television. But the arts have always been part of his life. His father was a violin maker and a coach of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra violin and viola players. (He was also a music teacher, a watchmaker and repairer, a forester-timberman, and a spy in the First World War.)

June expressed her creativity through hair styling. She is still remembered in mid-Canada for her energy and knowledge of Clairol colours, with 50 years of experience in four countries – England, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.

When they moved to Ottawa, Denzil and June quickly became regular patrons of the NAC, enjoying Dance performances and the NAC Orchestra. They began supporting the NAC Foundation in 2012 and have been annual fund donors ever since. The couple has also planned a gift in their Will to support the next generation of Canadian performing artists and audiences.

Denzil and June are both looking forward to the day when the NAC re-opens, and to seeing more performances from NAC Indigenous Theatre and Dance. For now, they are making the most of their time at home.

Denzil’s office-den is just seven floors below their apartment. A member of the Hash House Harriers, he logs his runs virtually and rides his chainless folder bike. June will return to daily exercise at the Jack Purcell Community Centre, and walks to stores for groceries. Denzil wears a mask from a sports “buff” when in elevators and outside. He phones the nearby Brown Loaf Bakery on Elgin Street to pick up bread, croissants and buns straight from the oven which are still hot when he bikes home.

The NAC Foundation is so grateful to Denzil and June for their support of the NAC and the Canadian performing arts. We look forward to welcoming them – and all of our donors – back to the NAC when our doors are open again.