Doctor of Letters, honoris causa
Paul Larocque has demonstrated a commitment to the powerful role that arts education plays in the lives of young people, with a strong belief that our next generation will need to tap into their genuine creative expression to fully address the world’s challenges and opportunities.
As president & CEO of Arts Umbrella — an internationally recognized leader in the area of arts education for young people — Paul has led the 44-year-old, non-profit organization through a period of significant growth, notably, with the opening of its new 50,000 net-square-foot centre on Granville Island.
Paul is proud of the community impact and reach of Arts Umbrella which provides high-quality arts education to more than 20,000 children and youth annually, in Metro Vancouver and beyond. Seventy-five percent of students participate at little to no cost through donor-funded community programs, bursaries and scholarships.
Before his current role, Paul held the position of associate director of the Vancouver Art Gallery for more than a decade. Throughout his career, Paul has been committed to promoting the importance of education in our society.
For several years, Paul has served as a mentor and a selection committee chair with the Loran Scholars Foundation, as well as the McCall MacBain Scholars program.
For close to 20 years, Paul has been an active member of Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, an internationally recognized ensemble that is comprised of approximately 60 volunteer singers. He is also a member of the Granville Island Council.