Quick Facts
Biography
Shirley Lavinia Thomson, CC OOnt (née Cull; February 19, 1930 – August 10, 2010) was a Canadian civil servant.
Born in Walkerville, Ontario, she received a B.A. degree in history in 1952 from the University of Western Ontario. In 1974 she received a M.A. degree in art history from the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1981 she received a Ph.D. degree in art history from McGill University.
From 1982 until 1985 she was Director of the McCord Museum in Montreal. From 1985 until 1987 she was Secretary-General of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. From 1987 until 1997 she was Director of the National Gallery of Canada. From 1998 until 2002 she was Director of the Canada Council for the Arts. In 2003 she was appointed Chair of the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board.
Death
On August 10, 2010, Shirley Thomson died of a heart attack. She was 80 years old.
Honours
- In 1993 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 2001.
- In 2002 she was made an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. She had previously been a chevalier of the order.
- In 2003 she was awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa from Carleton University.
- In 2005 she was awarded an Honorary Degree from University of British Columbia.
- In 2010 she was made a Member of the Order of Ontario.
Following her death her medals were donated to the St. Mary's Museum in St. Mary's, Ontario.