Gail Asper

Who is Gail Asper?

Gail Sheryl Asper, OC, OM is President and a Trustee of The Asper Foundation, the private charitable foundation spearheading the establishment of the $351 million Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. The CMHR is the first national museum established outside of Ottawa, Canada. On August 26, 2008, Asper was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights by the Stephen Harper government.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the daughter of entrepreneur and philanthropist Izzy Asper, OC, OM, LL.D she attended Kelvin High School before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1984 from the University of Manitoba. She was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1985 and is a member of the Law Society of Manitoba. She articled with Halifax, Nova Scotia law firm of Cox Downie & Goodfellow in 1984 and was an Associate Lawyer in Halifax with Goldberg McDonald from 1985 to 1989. In 1989, she joined her father's firm, CanWest Global Communications Corp., as a corporate secretary and director. She has long been associated with arts and culture as a volunteer, performer, and fund-raiser.

She is associated with the Liberal Party of Canada. She serves and has served on the Boards of numerous not-for-profit groups and co-Chaired the $11 million Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Endowment Campaign, which followed a $6 million capital campaign also co-Chaired by Ms. Asper. She also served on the Board and as President of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. She is the past Campaign Chair for the Winnipeg 2002 United Way Campaign and is Past President of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Winnipeg.