The Royal Occasion 2023

The Royal Conservatory’s signature fundraising event, The Royal Occasion, will take place this year on May 12 to celebrate and honour those who are shaping and supporting our cultural landscape.

This year, one of Canada’s most loved and legendary comedic actors, Eugene Levy, will join philanthropists James and Louise Temerty, and singer, actress, and philanthropist Jackie Richardson as Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory of Music.

“The Honorary Fellow is The Royal Conservatory’s highest designation and is awarded to those who have had a profound impact on society through their contributions to the arts,” said Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO.

The 2023 honourees will receive their designation at the gala event held annually at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.

Mr. Levy, the Temertys, and Ms. Richardson join a distinguished group of Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory of Music, including Oscar Peterson, k.d. lang, Ben Heppner, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, David Foster, Leon Fleisher, The Tragically Hip, Chantal Kreviazuk, Adrianne Pieczonka, and Lang Lang.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROYAL OCCASION
 

Eugene Levy

Best known for his memorable characters in SCTV, American Pie, and Schitt’s Creek, actor, writer, musician, and producer Eugene Levy is a national treasure who has won countless awards including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011 and was made Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022. He has appeared in more than 60 motion pictures, including Best In Show, Waiting For Guffman, For Your Consideration, and A Mighty Wind, in which he starred and co-wrote with Christopher Guest. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Mr. Levy appeared in The Royal Conservatory’s online documentary series Music of My Life where he spoke about how learning music in his youth was a foundational element of his professional success.

James and Louise Temerty

As long-standing philanthropists and volunteers, James and Louise Temerty have made significant contributions to arts and culture in Canada and abroad. Their generous support of The Royal Conservatory, which includes multiple major gifts and annual scholarships, has been recognized with the naming of Temerty Theatre and The Temerty Orchestral Program at The Glenn Gould School. In 2007, The Royal Ontario Museum named the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of the Dinosaurs in recognition of the couple’s outstanding contribution to the transformative Renaissance ROM campaign.  In September 2020, the Temerty Foundation gifted $250 million to the University of Toronto, naming the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and recognized as the single largest one-time philanthropic donation in Canadian history. The Temertys maintain and foster strong connections with the Ukrainian community and are devoted to numerous Ukrainian cultural causes across Canada and in Ukraine.

Jackie Richardson

Jackie Richardson has a voice that inspires Canadians. A legendary singer of blues, jazz, and gospel, she has graced the stage and screen as an award-winning film, television, and musical theatre actress, with leading roles in record-breaking productions. Throughout her career, having recognized the importance of the transformative power of music, Ms. Richardson was determined to share that knowledge through mentorship and the nurturing of young talent such as those at Toronto’s Regent Park School of Music. A faithful community leader through her volunteering and support efforts, she devotes her heart and voice to numerous charitable organizations and initiatives.