Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Names Ken Hughes Chair of The Banff Centre Foundation Board of Governors
By
Banff Centre Communications
Posted on
September 25, 2026
BANFF, AB, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honourable Ken Hughes, ECA, ICD.D as Chair of The Banff Centre Foundation Board of Directors. His term as Chair began September 8, 2026.
Hughes was appointed as a Director of the Board of Directors on July 19, 2025 for a three-year term ending July 18, 2028. There is no current change to his term on the Board of Directors.
Ken’s presence on the Foundation’s Board of Directors has been a source of innovation, responsibility, and strength. I’m thankful he has taken on the role of Chair and with his history of estimable governance and leadership, I look forward to working with him as we steward Banff Centre towards our 100th anniversary in 2033.
Chris Lorway, President and CEO of Banff Centre
About Ken Hughes :
Ken Hughes is an entrepreneur and community leader. He serves as Chair of the Board, Providence Therapeutics, Canada's cancer therapeutics company, focused on saving lives through cancer and infectious disease therapeutic development. He is Vice Chair of Beacon Data Centres, a leading developer of hyperscale data centres in Alberta, and serves as Lead Independent Trustee of Nearctic Industrial REIT.
Hughes is also a member of the board of the Banff Canmore Foundation.
Elected at age 34 to the House of Commons of Canada, he served as Chair of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee, leading five all-party unanimous reports and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Hughes was appointed the first Chair of the Board of Alberta Health Services in 2008, creating Canada’s largest health delivery service, leading through early years of development. In 2012, Hughes was elected to the Legislature of Alberta, appointed Minister of Energy, and led the creation of the Alberta Energy Regulator. Subsequently, as Minister of Municipal Affairs, he led the resolution of Disaster Recovery Assistance Program claims for nearly 10,000 Albertan families recovering from the southern Alberta floods of 2013. In September 2014, he returned to private life.
He was recognized as Honourary Chief Badger Runner of the Blackfoot Confederacy Piikani First Nation in 1991. He has received the following civil awards: The 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada Medal (1992), The Alberta Centennial Medal (2005), The Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and The King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025). He and his wife Denise live in Canmore, Alberta and on Salt Spring Island, B.C.
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Carly Maga
Director, Communications
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
tel: +1.403.763.6210
cell: +1.403.431.3423
carly_maga@banffcentre.ca
About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Founded in 1933, Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become a global organization leading in arts, culture, and creative decision-making across dozens of disciplines, from the fine arts to Indigenous Wise Practices. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus—artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences—to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future through education, performances, convenings, and public outreach. banffcentre.ca
Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5
403.762.6100
www.banffcentre.ca
We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Métis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.