Piano-playing Prime Minister and Bob Rae among the first to donate to public fundraising campaign launched today to create sculpture honouring Canadian jazz great Oscar Peterson

Summary: A group of prominent Canadians today launched a fundraising campaign to create of a life sized bronze sculpture of the late Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson.

A group of prominent Canadians today launched a fundraising campaign to create of a life sized bronze sculpture of the late Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson. The permanent tribute by renowned Canadian artist Ruth Abernethy will be installed outside the National Arts Centre, steps from Parliament Hill and the Canadian War Memorial, and unveiled on June 30th as part of Canada Day celebrations.

Among the first donors to the campaign – which aims to raise $210,000 – are Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, as well as the Hon. Bob Rae and his wife Arlene Perly Rae. Messrs Harper and Rae both famously tickled the ivories on the NAC stage recently: the Prime Minister at the NAC Gala last October and Mr. Rae during the Black and White Soirée last month.

“Oscar Peterson is a quintessential Canadian success story,” said Prime Minister Harper. “He came from humble roots to become a legendary performer who inspired countless artists all over the world. He deserves to be honoured in this prominent location of our Nation’s capital.”

Other Canadian luminaries who are supporting the fundraising effort are members of the Oscar Peterson National Committee made up of the Hon. William Davis, the Hon. Roy McMurtry, Senator Tommy Banks, Kelly Peterson, Gail Asper, Brian Robertson, Denise Donlon, Peter Herrndorf, Tim Armstrong, Harvey Glatt, Valerie Pringle, Ross Porter, and Mr. Rae.

“With today’s launch of the public phase of the campaign, our National Committee members hope to engage the jazz lovers and Canadians everywhere to contribute to this wonderful tribute to one of our country’s national treasures,” said Mr. Rae.

Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) emerged from the Montréal working class neighbourhood known as Little Burgundy to become one of the world’s greatest piano virtuosos. His more than 200 recordings place him in the international jazz pantheon with none other than Duke Ellington, who called him “the maharajah of the keyboard.” His compositions include the famous “Canadiana Suite” and “Hymn to Freedom.”

With this sculpture, Canada’s National Arts Centre proudly commemorates the masterful contribution Oscar Peterson made during his 65- year career as a musician, recording artist, composer and mentor.

“Oscar Peterson remains an enormous source of pride for Canada and the world, said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. “The NAC is a fitting venue for the permanent display of this commemorative statue. Oscar performed at the NAC to great acclaim many times, beginning in 1969, when the Centre first opened its doors. It was also here, in 1992, that he was honoured with a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.”

Ruth Abernethy, one of Canada’s most prominent sculptors, has been commissioned to create the sculpture, which depicts Oscar Peterson seated on a bench alongside a grand piano. Following the interactive theme of Ms. Abernethy’s memorial statue to Glenn Gould outside the CBC building in downtown Toronto, the tribute sculpture of Oscar Peterson will encourage passers-by to sit with the musician and “play a duet.”

“There is beautiful wisdom in placing Oscar in Ottawa, and the perfect site seemed to be already in place; steps from Parliament Hill and featuring the NAC façade as an astonishingly uncluttered backdrop,” said Ms. Abernethy.

Donations can be made online at www.nac-cna.ca/oscar or by sending a cheque in the name of the National Arts Centre Foundation - Oscar Peterson to the following address:
National Arts Centre Foundation - Oscar Peterson
P.O. Box 1534, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5W1

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