George (middle) in conversation with Christie Darville, COC Deputy General Director (left) at the AGM Board Dinner, 2015; photo: Dave Cox

As a non-profit national performing arts organization, the Canadian Opera Company is grateful to our COC community for its dedicated attendance, support, and philanthropy through the years.

The company’s Life Trustees Council honours those who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to Canadian opera, saluting the individuals who have been integral to the COC’s artistic evolution and history of accomplishment. The Council is chaired by long-standing COC supporter and noted philanthropist David Ferguson, who served on the COC Board of Directors in a variety of roles (Treasurer 1995-2006; President 2006-2008; Chair 2008-2010), leading the company through some of the most critical junctures in its recent history. David continues to sit on the Board as an ex officio member in his capacity of Chair of the Life Trustees Council, strengthening the connection between these leadership volunteer bodies.

George Dembroski is the newest inductee into the Life Trustees Council, a group of Canadian arts champions that includes: Rob Collins, Jerry Heffernan, A.J. Diamond, Henry Jackman, Arthur Scace, and legendary tenor Ben Heppner.

The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts under construction, 2006

George has been a part of the COC family for over three decades, providing invaluable time, leadership, and expertise as a member of the Canadian Opera Company Board of Directors and, most recently, as a member of the Canadian Opera Foundation Board of Directors.

Over the years, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to grow and galvanize support for critical projects. George’s extraordinary service to the COC has seen the company through a series of transformations, from the historic and exhilarating opening of Canada’s first purpose-built opera house, our home at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, to our shared sense of loss at the unexpected passing of Richard Bradshaw, to the company’s continued resilience and evolution in the face of a global pandemic.

A scene from the Canadian Opera Company's production of Die Walküre, 2006, photo: Michael Cooper

The Canadian Opera Company would not be the world-renowned organization that it is today without the incredible generosity and passion of supporters like George and, as a community, we toast to his extraordinary accomplishment!

Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio performing at Centre Stage, 2018, photo: Gaetz Photography