Cathy Loblaw has been selected as Toronto Harbourfront Centre's new chief executive officer.JENNIFER ROBERTS/The Globe and Mail
Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre has named a new chief executive officer, hoping she will help it rebuild from pandemic-related financial problems and recent departures among its leadership.
The non-profit arts organization announced Wednesday that it has appointed Cathy Loblaw as CEO. Ms. Loblaw was previously CEO at Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada and vice-chair of McDonald’s Women’s Leadership Network.
Harbourfront said in a statement announcing the appointment that Ms. Loblaw was a “natural fit” to lead the organization. Ms. Loblaw declined an interview request.
Situated on the edge of Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto, Harbourfront Centre has been home to events such as the Toronto International Festival of Authors and the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival, and includes an outdoor concert stage and the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery. Prior to the pandemic, Harbourfront Centre played host to nearly 4,000 events and ran close to 500 programs each year, alongside camps and school visits for 30,000 youth.
However, like many arts organizations across Canada, Harbourfront has struggled with attendance and revenue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago and, more recently, has suffered from instability in leadership. In December of last year it parted ways with Marah Braye, its chief executive of nearly a decade. Then, three months ago, its chief programming officer, Iris Nemani, left to run Stanford Live, a performing arts organization at California’s Stanford University.
Several spaces in the complex are empty, and its popular skating rink has been closed since last year, even though the organization received $20-million from Ottawa in 2021 to cover “urgent” refurbishment work.
In February, the federal government said managers at Harbourfront need to diversify the struggling downtown cultural complex’s revenue sources, particularly as it grapples with an expected $106-million in deferred maintenance over the next two decades. The report by the Department of Canadian Heritage said Harbourfront does not have a “sustainable operating foundation.”
The federal government set aside $10-million in its 2024-25 budget to cover repairs.
Recently, the centre laid off 24 of its employees as it sought to cut costs. Board chair Tenio Evangelista said Wednesday in an e-mailed statement that the layoffs were primarily among the centre’s operations and custodial teams, as well as programming and marketing.
He added that the layoffs are unrelated to the federal funding announced earlier this year, as that money is for capital expenses and not operations.
Mr. Evangelista said the centre’s existing financial problems have been exacerbated by inflation, reduced government funding and the ongoing maintenance needs of the aging facilities.
“Our financial stability heavily depends on government support to maintain our operations effectively,” he said.
He said Harbourfront is looking at partnering with corporate sponsors and other organizations as it looks for new revenue sources.
“Our commitment remains steadfast in delivering accessible and affordable or free programming that enriches cultural experiences for our city, province, and country,” Mr. Evangelista said.
The said the organization has been working to diversify its revenue sources, including by securing new tenants such as the Queens Harbour restaurant and Sobr Market, a retailer specializing in non-alcoholic drinks.
Ms. Loblaw, born and raised in Toronto, said in a news release announcing her appointment that living on the waterfront in the past has made her a passionate advocate of Harbourfront, and that she is “deeply inspired to see it live into its fullest purpose.”
“As CEO, I am honoured to build upon Harbourfront Centre as the heartbeat of our waterfront,” she said. “Harbourfront Centre will be a place where creativity thrives, artistic talent is nurtured and communities connect.”
Ms. Loblaw said in the news release she is eager to bring together the community at large through various arts and culture programs, as well as recreational activities catered for all ages and interests.
Fatima Raza