Finalist: Ross Manson

Rita Davies and Margo Bindhardt Cultural Leadership Award

Ross Manson, actor, director, translator, visionary, creator, advocate, activist, teacher and mentor, is described by Peggy Baker as "one of the most vibrant, inspired and hard working people in Toronto’s performing arts community" As the founding Artistic Director of the internationally acclaimed Volcano Theatre, Ross has taken his company across Canada and around the world, and has brought back the world’s theatre innovators to Toronto artists for workshops in craft and performance. Ross has been a forceful advocate for the arts, founding the innovative Go7 Arts Pass and co-founding The Wrecking Ball, an on-line political arts blog. Ross goes beyond his duties as an organizer of artist-friendly housing. As well as numerous Dora nominations and awards, Ross is the winner of both a Harold award for community service and a KM Hunter Award for excellence as an emerging theatre artist.