Toronto Film Festival Dailies

Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF, was invested into the Order of Ontario at a ceremony earlier today. The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, invested new appointees to the Order of Ontario — the province's highest official honour.

The following citation was read at the ceremony by Chisanga Puta-Chekwe, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration:

“Long-time Director and CEO of TIFF, Piers Handling’s contribution to the positioning of the Canadian film industry as a significant international player is undeniable.

Through challenging transformative years, the far-reaching and steady rise of TIFF’s profile on the world stage, and as one of Canada’s most successful cultural organizations, is remarkable. A visionary, Mr. Handling’s passion for film and commitment to Canadian and international filmmakers has resulted in enormous influence on the country’s cultural legacy.

With a successful $196 million fundraising campaign in support of this project, Piers further expanded TIFF’s reach with the development of TIFF Bell Lightbox, a new state-of-the-art home for year-round festival programming, screenings, learning programs and more. Employing more than 150 full-time staff, TIFF has been named one of Greater Toronto’s top employers for seven consecutive years. The Festival has enhanced the status of Toronto as a world-class city.”

“I'm deeply honoured and touched,” said Handling. “My career has been full of excitement, challenges, passion, and unexpected turns. I have worked with many extraordinary people and I humbly share this award with all of them. Thank you Ontario.”  

The Order of Ontario recognizes any current or former long-time resident of Ontario who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field benefiting the people of Ontario or anywhere else in the world.

About TIFF

TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L'Oréal Paris, and Visa,

and Major Supporters the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.