Canada Ireland Foundation

On May 28, 2026, Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Key to the City to philanthropist and businessman Robert G. Kearns, during the Canada Ireland Foundation’s Bealtaine Theatre Festival. The key recognizes Robert’s contributions to strengthening cultural ties between Canada and Ireland. Robert played a pivotal role as founder of the Canada Ireland Foundation and we are grateful for his leadership.

Irish contributions to the theatre are as storied as they are influential: Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, Samuel Beckett and, more recently, Martin McDonagh, Enda Walsh, Marina Carr, Conor McPherson — it’s like the Avengers of tragicomedy. Apart from these big names, Ireland has a vibrant independent theatre scene that’s far less likely to be familiar to those of us on this side of the Atlantic. Re-Joyce, for Canada Ireland Foundation’s second annual Bealtaine Theatre Festival is coming up in just a few short weeks, introducing Toronto audiences to bold contemporary voices shaping Irish theatre today.

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Cultural diversity is one of Canada’s greatest assets. We are therefore proud to provide spaces where this diversity can be expressed: spaces that celebrate culture, heritage and identity in all their diversity, while fostering a strong and dynamic economy.

Today, Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament (Spadina–Harbourfront), announced $726,126 in support for the Canada Ireland Foundation to purchase specialized equipment. She made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages.

This investment, which comes from Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, supports the final phase of the Foundation’s venue‑creation project for its new home, The Corleck Building. This funding will enable the Foundation to equip the performance hall with state-of-the-art technology, including lighting, sound, video and staging systems. This renovated, multipurpose performance hall will serve as a venue for the Foundation’s programming and will also be made available to non-profit arts organizations in the region.

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Pictured Above (L-R): Eileen Costello, Canada Ireland Foundation Vice Chair; James Maloney, Member of Parliament (Etobicoke–Lakeshore); Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament (Spadina–Harbourfront); Mark Purdy, Canada Ireland Foundation Chair; and Claire Fitzgibbon, Consul General of Ireland in Toronto.

Canada Ireland Foundation’s Executive Director, William Peat, sat down with CBC Metro Morning this St. Patrick’s Day to discuss the upcoming Bealtaine Theatre Festival, as well as our “jewel box on the waterfront”, the Corleck – a new venue for arts, heritage and cultural programming opening this November. Listen Here.

By Robert G. Kearns
Special to The Globe and Mail

After a happy childhood growing up in Ireland, I chose to emigrate to Canada in November, 1979. I was 24 years of age. My Irish father and British mother and an aunt who lived with us were loving and caring. Of my three siblings, only my eldest brother stayed in Ireland.

The late 1970s were difficult times economically in Ireland. In early 1979, there was a series of strikes, including 200 petrol lorry drivers, making fuel hard to find for businesses. Unemployment was rising.

My arts degree in archaeology, and Greek and Roman civilization, was not an advantage for my employment prospects. However, in the two years before I left, I found work in the Irish ladies’ fashion industry. I have many happy memories of those years, travelling around Ireland, selling skirts and blouses to boutiques in towns and villages all over the country – whenever petrol was available – in my convertible Morris Minor.

Every emigrant has a personal story. It is difficult to impart the magnitude of emotion in leaving the land of one’s birth. I left Ireland in 1979, with a spirit of adventure, proud of my Irish identity and heritage. I was not in any way a victim of oppression or starvation. I wanted to experience life outside of Ireland, lured by the great opportunities Canada had to offer. Read More.

The Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF) has signed a lease with the City of Toronto to transform a derelict heritage building on Toronto’s waterfront into a vibrant new venue for arts, cultural and heritage programming. Ontario recently announced $2.2 million-investment to support the launch of The Corleck.

Construction is underway, and it is expected to open to the public in spring 2026.

The facility, which also received support from the federal government, the City of Toronto, private donors and the Government of Ireland, will feature a main stage and performance space, as well as a café, gallery and museum, meeting and event space and rooftop terrace. CIF will be able to deliver new cultural experiences that celebrate and share Irish culture and Toronto’s immigration history.

“This investment allows us to welcome artists, audiences and visitors from across Ontario and beyond to The Corleck, a space where stories are shared, partnerships are formed and the spirit of cultural exchange thrives,” said William Peat, executive director of the CIF.

The Corleck Building, formerly known as The Administrative Building for the Canada Malting Company, stands beside the silos that overlook Ireland Park and Billy Bishop Airport. With this central location, the venue will help transform a growing section of Toronto’s waterfront and complement nearby attractions, including Ontario Place, the Ontario Science Centre, Harbourfront Centre and Exhibition Place.

Ontario is investing $2.2 million to support the launch of The Corleck, a new Irish-Canadian arts venue on Toronto’s downtown waterfront, to celebrate the contributions of the province’s large and longstanding Irish community. This investment through the 2025 Fall Economic Statement supports the government’s plan to protect Ontario by celebrating the province’s heritage, boosting tourism, creating jobs and strengthening the local economy.

“The 4.6 million Canadians of Irish descent have made lasting cultural and economic contributions to Ontario, making our province what it is today,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We’re thrilled to work alongside the Canada Ireland Foundation to bring The Corleck to life, so millions of people can experience Irish-Canadian art, history and culture in a one-of-a-kind setting on Toronto’s waterfront.”

The new venue will feature a main stage and performance space, as well as a café, gallery and museum, meeting and event space and rooftop terrace. At The Corleck, the Canada Ireland Foundation will deliver new cultural experiences that celebrate and share Irish culture and Toronto’s rich immigration history.

“The Corleck offers a beautiful new space on a revitalized urban waterfront, where visitors can experience more of what makes Ontario such a vibrant and welcoming place to live and explore — art, culture, history and connection,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Our government’s investment in this venue protects cultural assets while driving growth — strengthening tourism, attracting visitors from around the world and supporting good local jobs that keep our province’s economy strong.”

With its central location at Ireland Park and the Bathurst Quay Common, The Corleck will help transform a growing section of Toronto’s waterfront and complement nearby attractions, including Ontario Place, the Ontario Science Centre, Harbourfront Centre and Exhibition Place. Construction on The Corleck is underway, and it is expected to open to the public in spring 2026.

“The Canada Ireland Foundation sincerely thanks the Province of Ontario for its pivotal investment in The Corleck,” said Mark Purdy, Chair of the Canada Ireland Foundation. “This forward-thinking support for the arts is also a meaningful contribution to our shared community. With this funding, we will help transform Toronto’s waterfront, foster new opportunities for jobs and tourism and establish The Corleck as a vibrant gathering place reflecting Ontario’s creativity and cultural richness.”

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Today, we pause to honour Survivors, their families, and the children who never returned.

Canada Ireland Foundation’s mission is to connect the peoples of Ireland and Canada through history, art, and culture. We recognize that the Irish, while often themselves displaced, also came here as settlers. Acknowledging this complicated history is a necessary step in our work.

In recognition of this relationship, and to honour the original caretakers of the land on which we operate, we renew our Land Acknowledgement as a first step toward stronger relationships.

This renewal marks not an end but the beginning of a longer journey of commitment, engagement, and responsibility that the Canada Ireland Foundation undertakes as an organization.

“The Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF) operates and is situated on the traditional territory of Indigenous Nations who have cared for and stewarded this land for generations. CIF recognizes the ancestral lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples – alongside other Indigenous communities, including Inuit and Métis peoples who call Toronto home today. CIF acknowledges that Toronto lies within the lands covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit, as well as the Williams Treaties with multiple Mississauga and Chippewa Nations.

This territory is also part of the ‘Dish with One Spoon’ wampum, a treaty that predates colonial settlement and continues to be acknowledged by First Nations. The Dish With One Spoon Wampum is a covenant between Indigenous Nations in the Great Lakes region that expresses a way of sharing the land and its resources in peace.

CIF honours the relationships Indigenous peoples have with Mother Earth, and are committed to learning about local Indigenous cultures, heritages, and traditions. The Canada Ireland Foundation will continue our efforts to develop partnerships with Indigenous peoples based on mutual respect, trust, and friendship.”

The Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF) is pleased to announce that Barry Columb has been elected to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.

In addition to his leadership role at PC Financial and PC Services, Barry is also a member of the Executive Management Board of Loblaw Companies Limited.

With more than 25 years of banking experience across North America, Barry’s scope of expertise includes general management, risk management, marketing, new product development and operational functions. He possesses a wealth of experience in senior leadership and executive capacities, specifically in personal banking and operations across diverse banking institutions. Notably, as President and CEO of Citibank, he successfully developed and implemented payments programs that contributed to the expansion of retail sales for Home Depot, Staples, and Sears in both the United States and Canada.

Barry is a Director of President’s Choice Bank and President’s Choice Services. He is a member of the Canadian Bankers’ Association Small/Medium Bank Committee, and is a past Director of MasterCard Canada, Equifax Advisory Board, and the Ireland Fund of Canada.

Mark Purdy, Chairman of the CIF Board of Directors said, “We are incredibly fortunate to have Barry join our Board. He was an important contributor to the Ireland Fund’s work, and his operational and business acumen is highly respected in Canada. Barry’s passion, expertise and talent will be valuable as we ramp up to the March 2026 opening of The Corleck – the vibrant new venue for arts, cultural and heritage programming on Toronto’s waterfront that will present new opportunities for the Irish-Canadian community to explore its deep roots while also engaging the many diverse cultures that enrich the city today. I am extremely excited to work alongside Barry to realize our vision for The Corleck and the Canada Ireland Foundation.”

“I am honoured to join the Canada Ireland Foundation and to be part of its remarkable mission to celebrate the Irish experience in Canada, said Barry. I am excited to contribute my skills and experiences to the Canada Ireland Foundation and I look forward to working closely with the board to deepen ties across our communities.”

The Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF) is pleased to announce that Helen Downes has been elected to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Helen serves as Chief Executive of Shannon Chamber in Shannon, County Clare, Ireland. She has been instrumental in transforming the Chamber into a dynamic force for regional and economic development and business advocacy. Under her leadership, the Chamber has launched a series of strategic initiatives that foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally, significantly expanding its membership and influence.

Welcoming her appointment, Mark Purdy, Chairman of the Board of Directors said: “Helen’s vast strategic business experience and relationship building successes in Ireland will bring a welcome international perspective to the Canada Ireland Foundation. As we prepare to open The Corleck, the vibrant new venue for arts, cultural and heritage programming for the Irish-Canadian community, her talents and support will be invaluable in many areas, most especially in stakeholder engagement and HR.”

Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, John Concannon, added: “On behalf of the Embassy of Ireland, I would like to congratulate Helen Downes on her election to the Canada Ireland Foundation’s Board of Directors. Helen will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board. I wish to express my gratitude to the existing Board for giving so generously of their time and playing such an important part in supporting Ireland in Canada. I wish Helen and the Board the very best during their terms. The Canada Ireland Foundation plays a significant role in deepening Ireland-Canada relations particularly in the arts and cultural space, I look forward to seeing their work continue to strengthen this relationship in the years ahead.”

Shannon Chamber represents over 330 companies spanning a wide range of industries, collectively employing approximately 20,000 people in Shannon and the wider region in which it operates. Helen plays a pivotal role in championing the interests of these members — engaging with key stakeholders, policy makers, and influencers to address barriers to enterprise growth and promote sustainable economic development at local, regional, and national levels.

Before joining Shannon Chamber, the Hospital, Co. Limerick native served as HR Business Partner at Thomson Financial (Ireland) Ltd, where she managed core HR functions and compliance with Health & Safety regulations across multiple sites.