Art Jones - Vancouver’s Great Cultural Leader Dies at 80.
Vancouver, BC
.....
Arthur F. (Art) Jones passed away suddenly on Friday, April 7, 2006.
A native Vancouverite, Art Jones’ community background spanned over 60 years of
media, marketing, advertising, broadcasting, public relations and management experience in
Canada and abroad. A 1946 Science graduate from the University British Columbia, he began
his media career as a performer in the late 30s on such pioneer stations as CBR, CKMO
& CJOR.
In the 1940s, Jones was a leading photo-journalist and writer with the Vancouver Sun and
international publications. In the 1950s, he became a film and television producer.
Following his appearance before what was then the Board of Broadcast Governors
(precursor of the CRTC), he secured the first successful ”Second Station” TV
license. As a result, in 1960 he became the founding President, Chairman and
Managing Director of Vancouver's CHAN-TV - better known today as BCTV.
During that period, he also was Vice-President of the original "Theatre Under The
Stars" in Stanley Park. Later, during the 60s, he produced and directed films
and TV motion pictures in BC and many world wide locations.
Following his establishment and operation of West Vancouver’s Panorama and Hollyburn
Film Studios - the beginning of BC's Hollywood North - he spent a decade as an
advertising agency partner and senior vice-president, handling marketing, communications,
public and government relations for a diverse group of major clients.
The advent of “Pay-TV” in the 1980s led Jones to another broadcasting initiative
and the awarding to him and his group of the first Canadian Pay-TV license for British
Columbia and the Yukon Territories known to viewers as Superchannel.
In recent years, Jones remained in broadcasting. He produced and hosted a TV series, "Art
Jones & Company", a weekly feature on SHAW TV. He also sat as a
member of Shaw’s Community Advisory Board.
During his over 35 years of active involvement in British Columbia’s Tourism and
Hospitality industries, Art Jones developed and executed many national and international
marketing programs for the both the City and Province. He served for over 20 years as a
director and officer of the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau - Tourism
Vancouver - and was elected its President in 1983. Shortly thereafter he
became the Bureau’s first full-time President and CEO, a position he held through EXPO
86.
Jones chaired Tourism Task Forces for several Municipal Economic Development Committees to
formulate their marketing plans and strategies. In 1996, Tourism Vancouver bestowed
upon him its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 1998, Art Jones was appointed by Vancouver City Council as a Commissioner of Vancouver
Civic Theatres, which oversees the operation of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre,
Orpheum and Vancouver Playhouse. He was re-appointed for a fifth two-year term in 2006 and
has been Chair of the Board of Directors since 2002.
Jones served three terms as President, ("Chief Barker"), of the Variety
Club of British Columbia, which has raised in excess of $90 million to assist B.C.'s
children with special needs. During his tenure as President, he also acted as that group's
full-time Executive Director on a volunteer basis. Although retired as Chairman of Variety’s
Board of Governors, he continued as a life member of its Board of Directors. In 1994, he
was honoured with the Club’s highest accolade, the Heart Award, for his
dedication and service to BC’s special children. He received further
recognition as recipient of a Presidential Citation from the worldwide Variety
Clubs International and in 2001 he received the Club’s Pioneer Award. He
was Chairman of St. Vincents Hospital Foundation, which provides funding for that hospital’s
four sites in Greater Vancouver.
Jones’ involvement in the community continued right to the end through his public
relations and marketing consulting practice, Art Jones & Associates. A
life member of The Vancouver Club,
he also maintained many directorships and community service and business affiliations (see
list below).
One of the great passions of his final decades was his leadership activities in the BC
Entertainment Hall of Fame which was established to honour British Columbians who have
made an outstanding contribution to the performing arts and entertainment in B.C., Canada
and internationally. Jones served as chairman of its board on its nominating committee and
personally oversaw the development and maintenance of Starwall - the photo gallery of the
Hall of Fame members. He conducted hundreds of backstage tours of Vancouver’s
beautiful historic Orpheum Theatre. He co-produced several fundraising concerts for
the Hall of Fame as well as chairing the Orpheum 75th Anniversary celebration
and gala.
Art is survived by Mary, his wife of 57 years, and his three married children (and four
grandchildren) of whom he was very proud.
Rae Ackerman, Director of Vancouver Civic Theatres comments, “Art will be
sorely missed by his innumerable friends and business colleagues for his genuine love of
the arts and his tireless enthusiasm for every project he undertook. The
consummate professional, he was always willing to share his knowledge and vision and to
serve as a mentor for those new to the industry.” This was clearly demonstrated
and recognized in November 2005 with the establishment of the "Art and Mary Jones
Endowment Fund at Variety / The Childrens' Charity".
Art Jones directorships, appointments, community service,
business & professional affiliations:
Advertising & Sales Bureau,
Vancouver Board. of Trade - Chair
Advertising Assn. of the West -
Vice-President
American Society of Association
Executives
Association International des SKAL Clubs
BC Entertainment Hall of Fame at the
Orpheum-Vice Pres/Trustee
Selection Committee; Starwalk Vice Chair
BC Lions - Founding member &
Director
BC Winter Olympics 1988 Bid - Executive
Committee
Better Business Bureau of Vancouver
British Columbia Automobile Association
British Empire & Commonwealth Games
Society
Canada Day - Vancouver Chairman
Canada Summer Games
Canadian Public Relations Society
City of Vancouver Centennial -
Commissioner
Community Arts Councils of Vancouver
& N. Shore
Cruise Industry Association - founding
member
Downtown Vancouver Association
Downtown Vancouver Business Development
Assn.
EXPO 86 - Advisor
Grey Cup Festival Committees Executive
Committee
Gtr.Vanc.Convention & Visitors
Bureau - President
Gtr.Vancouver Open - PGA Tourney -
Advisory Bd.
Intl. Assn. of Convention & Visitors
Bureaus
Kinsmen Rehabilitation Foundation -
Advisory Bd.
Kiwanis Club of Downtown Vancouver
North Vancouver Chamber of
Commerce
North Vancouver Community Arts Council -
Pres.
Pacific National Exhibition -
Committee Chair
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
Provincial Tourism Advisory Board
Rogers Community Television Network
Advisory Bd.
SHAW Television Advisory Board
St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation.
- CHAIR
Theatre Under The Stars -
Vice-President.
The United Way Campaigns
The University Club of Vancouver
The Vancouver Club Life Member
Tourism Industry Association of BC
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Tourism Vancouver: Council &
Life Member
Vancouver Advertising Club - President
Vancouver Board of Trade Council
Vancouver Christmas Carol Ships -
Founding member.
Vancouver Civic Theatres-Commissioner/
CHAIR
Vancouver Traffic & Safety Council
- Treasurer
Variety Club of BC - President Lifetime
Director
Variety Clubs Int'l. '91 World
Convention - Co-Chair
West Vancouver 75th Anniversary
Committee
West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
West Vancouver Citizens for Good
Government
West Vancouver Municipal Legacy
Committee
West Vancouver 'Nations in Bloom'
Committee