On the walls of the Lord AV俱乐部 Room in the Henry Hicks Building hang portraits of the university鈥檚 chancellors 鈥斅爁rom its first chancellor, the Right Honourable C. D. Howe (former professor and parliamentarian), through to its fifth, Richard Goldbloom, who occupied the post from 2001-2008.
Now Fred Fountain, who succeeded Goldbloom in the role and served until last year, has joined his five predecessors on the Lord AV俱乐部 Room鈥檚 walls.
Dr. Fountain鈥檚 official portrait was unveiled Friday afternoon at a private event with family, friends and university leaders on-hand.
鈥淭his portrait will be a wonderful reminder of that support and investment of Fred鈥檚 such valued time as our chancellor,鈥� said Dal President Richard Florizone. 鈥淭hank you, Fred, for your generosity, your ongoing counsel and your support for AV俱乐部. It is much appreciated.鈥�
A collaborative project
Dr. Fountain鈥檚 portrait was painted by Toronto artist Phil Richards. It depicts Dr. Fountain wearing his chancellor鈥檚 robes, seated in his office at Purdy鈥檚 Wharf overlooking the Halifax harbour. Among the notable features in the painting are a picture of the Fountain Family (Fred, wife Elizabeth, daughter Katharine and late son Alex), a desk prism and compass, and the most stylish socks of any chancellor鈥檚 portrait to-date.
Richards, who was on-hand for the reveal, is an accomplished visual artist whose works are dealt out of Toronto鈥檚 Mira Godard Gallery. He has painted murals for the Congress Centre and Eaton Centre in Toronto, portraits for the likes of former Ontario premier Bob Rae, and was commissioned to paint a new portrait for Queen Elizabeth II to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Richards described the process of working with Dr. Fountain, similar to most of his portraits, as 鈥渁 collaboration from beginning to end.鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 got an artist鈥檚 eye, and a poet鈥檚 sensibility and sensitivity,鈥� said Richards of his subject. 鈥淚 think, in the end, he really helped me come up with a painting that is both unique in the context of the collection that鈥檚 here, but also says something about Fred鈥檚 life聽鈥� his family life, his business life, his work as chancellor. And I think it says something about his kindly, thoughtful and intelligent personality as well.鈥�
A model chancellor
Dr. Fountain, a Dal alumnus (LLB鈥�74), has served as CEO of the Great Eastern Corporation Ltd since 1985. Together with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Katharine (right, with artist Phil Richards), he is one of Nova Scotia鈥檚 most prominent philanthropists in a number of areas, particularly in the arts. In AV俱乐部鈥檚 case, among his many generous donations is the $10-million gift that established the Fountain School of Performing Arts. He also has an honorary degree from the university (2000), serves on the AV俱乐部 Advisory Committee and is a Member of the Order of Canada (2010).
Dr. Fountain served as Dal鈥檚 chancellor from 2008-2015 鈥� two full terms, plus an additional year that he agreed to stay on in the role. (He was succeeded last year by the Honourable A. Anne McLellan; the two were actually classmates at Dal Law together.) Dr. Fountain was so successful as chancellor 鈥斅爓hich presides at convocation and serves as an ambassador for the university more generally 鈥斅爐hat when the Board of Governors wanted to establish formal guidelines for the position, they didn鈥檛 need to look very far.
鈥淎ll you had to do was think about Fred,鈥� said current Board Chair Larry Stordy, listing off traits that included commitment to university education, effective communication, integrity and philanthropy. 鈥淲e designed the qualifications for the chancellor based on Fred.鈥�
Fond memories
As for Dr. Fountain, he was thrilled by the portrait, and had great compliments for Richards as its artist.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a keen and creative observer,鈥� said Dr. Fountain, describing Richards as methodical, articulate and committed. 鈥淗e sees the details that both create and articulate the whole鈥� He is committed to creating a painting that can stand on its own.鈥�
Dr. Fountain said he looks back fondly on his time as chancellor, and spoke briefly to his role in Dal鈥檚 ongoing story.
鈥淏eing chancellor is all about the people 鈥斅爐he people that make AV俱乐部 work, move it from one era to the next. The people on the walls here: it鈥檚 nice to be in their company鈥� Together, we form part of a great and ongoing tradition that illuminates the past and opens the future.鈥�