Our Legacy: 20 & Extraordinary
Our Story
In December of 2003, two influential business and civic leaders met for the first time to have lunch at a well-known Toronto restaurant. At the time, David Pecaut was founding chair of the Toronto City Summit Alliance; Tony Gagliano, CEO of St. Joseph’s Communications. By the end of that lunch, they shook hands on a plan to transform the city.
Both knew that creativity is best nourished in community; and that people would visit a place that residents were excited to live in.
“Luminato began as a dream; a dream that each year Toronto would invite the world to join us in celebrating creativity.” – David Pecaut
“What matters most are the things that cannot be weighed or measured on a material scale: the beauty of art and music, a close friend, your loved ones, the privilege to serve others.” – Tony Gagliano
David Pecaut
Co-Founder (1955 - 2009)
Bio
An accomplished civic leader and humanitarian, David Pecaut worked tirelessly on initiatives designed to make our city and country a better place. David was a Senior Partner in The Boston Consulting Group and advised companies and governments on public policy issues around the globe. A well-known speaker and writer, David was a frequent commentator on CTV, CNN, CBC, CNBC, and CBS, and in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal to Maclean’s.
David was also the voluntary Chair of the Toronto City Summit Alliance (now CivicAction), a diverse cross-sectoral coalition of civic leaders whose mission is to accelerate social and economic development in the Toronto region. The founder of dozens of initiatives aimed at new comers, youth, neighbourhoods and lower-income workers, David Pecaut was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in November 2009.
Tony Gagliano
Co-Founder, Chair Emeritus
Bio
Tony Gagliano presently serves as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph Communications which was founded by his parents in the basement of their home shortly after emigrating from Italy. Under Mr. Gagliano’s leadership, St. Joseph Communications has evolved from a small family business with a handful of associates to a national, fully integrated communications/media corporation with more than 2,100 associates from coast to coast.
Tony Gagliano is actively involved in a number of organizations. He is a Board member of the St. Michael’s Hospital Board, Salt + Light Foundation, Villa Charities and Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.
In addition, he is a cabinet member of Ryerson University in Toronto, a council member of the Royal Conservatory of Music, an honorary board member of Scouts Canada, and a Board Member and President of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Tony Gagliano is founding chair of Luminato, Toronto’s Festival of Arts & Creativity.
Most recently Tony Gagliano was the recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Volunteer award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter and Graphic Monthly Magazine’s 2010 Printer of the Year.
Through community and partnership, our co-founders together with a larger community of leaders and partners launched Luminato’s first festival in June 2007.
20 & Extraordinary
Luminato Festival transforms the people, places, and possibilities of Toronto with extraordinary art experiences. Every June, we invite everyone to encounter the city like never before. In 2026, we celebrate 20 years of lighting up Toronto with art, culture and creativity.
We gratefully acknowledge the art patrons and civic builders who share a collective vision of an arts festival that helps create a thriving, connected and inspired city. We recognize the Festival’s leadership and Board of Directors (past and present), and founding Luminaries (donors) as part of the Luminato community.
Leadership (past and present)
Olivia Ansell
Naomi Campbell
Tony Gagliano
Lucille Joseph
Chris Lorway
Marcia McNabb
David Pecaut, C.M. †
Janice Price
Josephine Ridge
Anthony Sargent
Celia Smith
Clyde Wagner
Jörn Weisbrodt
Board leadership
Laureates
Mohammad Al Zaibak
Salah Bachir
maxine bailey
Charles Baillie
John Bayliss
Julia Deans
Cam di Prata
Rupert Duchesne
James Fleck
Robert Foster
Michael Foulkes
Anthony Graham
Peter Herrndorf, Past Chair †
Lucille Joseph
Michaëlle Jean
Peter Mansbridge
Roberto Martella
Chetan Mathur
Judy Matthews
Susan McArthur
Robert McEwen
Mark Mulroney
Jonas Prince
Gretchen Ross
Jason Ryle
Javier San Juan
Gary Slaight
Ken Tanenbaum
William Thorsell
Carol Wilding
Board of Directors (current)
Douglas Knight, C.M., Chair
Tony Gagliano, Co-Founder & Chair Emeritus
Mitchell Marcus, Treasurer
Helen Burstyn, C.M.
Laurissa Canavan
Linda Chu
Eva Czigler
Ravi Jain
Jennifer Laidlaw
John Monahan
Jonathan Redbird
David Simmonds
Lisa de Wilde
Catherine Wong
Luminaries
Mohammad and Najla Al Zaibak*
Kate Alexander Daniels and David Daniels*
Tony and Anne Arrell, C.M.
Salah Bachir, C.M.
Charles Baillie, O.C. and Marilyn Baillie, C.M.*
Avie Bennett, C.C., O.Ont.* †
Helen Burstyn, C.M. and David Pecaut, C.M. † *
The David and Stacey Cynamon Family Foundation
Joan T. Dea and Lionel F. Conacher*
Ian and Kiki Delaney, C.M.
Cam and Alexandra di Prata
John Donald and Linda Chu*
Gail Drummond and Bob Dorrance
The Duboc Family Foundation*
Lonti Ebers and Bruce Flatt
Margaret Fleck †
and James Fleck, C.C.*
Kevin and Roger Garland, C.M.*
The Ira Gluskin and Maxine Granovsky Gluskin Charitable Foundation
Anthony and Helen Graham*
Jay and Barbara Hennick, C.M. and Family
Ian Ihnatowycz and Marta Witer
Lucille and Urban Joseph, O.C.*
Patrick and Barbara Keenan, C.M.
Sonja and Michael Koerner, C.M.*
Tiana Koffler Boyman and Marc Boyman
Joan and Jerry Lozinski
Chetan and Clara Mathur*
Judy and Wil Matthews, C.M.*
Sloan Mauran and Adrian Tauro
Luminaries (cont'd)
Rob and Cheryl McEwen, C.M.*
Joseph Mimran and Kimberley Newport-Mimran
David and Audrey Mirvish, C.M., O.Ont.
Pierre L. Morrissette, C.M.*
Janet and Gordon Nixon, C.M., O.Ont.
Nancy Pencer
Sandra Pitblado, C.M. and Jim Pitblado, C.M.*
Jonas and Lynda Prince*
Richard Rooney and Laura Dinner*
Donna and Gary Slaight, C.M.*
Geoff and Megan Smith
Howard Sokolowski, O.Ont. and Senator Linda Frum*
Marisa and Edward Sorbara*
Larry and Judy Tanenbaum, O.C.*
Eli and Philip Taylor
The Roy Thomson Family
Taylor Thomson
John† and Elizabeth Tory Q.C.
The Hon. Hilary M. Weston, C.M., C.V.O, O.Ont and W. Galen Weston, O.C., C.V.O, O.Ont †
Robin and David Young*
Founding Corporate Luminaries
BMO Financial Group
Dancap Productions Inc.
Falls Management Company
Ivey Foundation
MacLaren McCann
Manulife Financial
RBC
St. Joseph Communications
TELUS
Tourism Toronto
*These visionary donors supported Luminato Festival before its inaugural season.
† Deceased
