Peter Herrndorf, lawyer, journalist, publisher, media executive

On my walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto—on an unusually snowy day in early November—I came across the grave of Peter Herrndorf, the “godfather of Canadian arts” and one of the country’s great cultural leaders.

You’ve probably heard the expression “moving up the corporate ladder,” and Peter embodied it. He began his career as a journalist at the CBC, eventually rising to become vice-president and general manager of English radio and television. From there, he went on to serve as publisher of Toronto Life magazine, then chairman and CEO of TVOntario, and ultimately president and CEO of the National Arts Centre.

After his death in 2023, a friend and colleague remarked that although most Canadians had never heard of Herrndorf, “he shaped our lives through what we saw on television in its greatest years and through his tireless support of singers, writers, poets, orchestras, and theatre. He was the greatest defender and champion of Canadian culture of his generation.”

He helped develop landmark programs such as The Fifth Estate, and he reshaped The National by pairing it with the influential public-affairs program The Journal. One of his proudest achievements was the establishment of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre—a watershed moment for Indigenous arts and for the country. He also co-founded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, among many other contributions that continue to shape Canada’s cultural landscape.

Peter A. Herrndorf died in Toronto on February 18, 2023. He was 82.

1940-2023