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A LEGACY IN
EDMONTON ARTS
Remembering Grace Rumbold
By Caitlin Hart
PHILANTHROPIST AND ARTS BOOSTER Grace Rumbold
leaves behind a legacy felt across the country.
A long-time supporter of the Edmonton Opera and
the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, among many other
causes, Grace made a significant impact on the city’s art
scene. She passed away Oct. 8, 2024 at the age of 89.
Raised on a farm near Rosebud, Alta., she settled in
Edmonton in 1958 with her husband, Arnold. Together,
the couple took on many philanthropic projects, such
as donating to the Trans Canada Trail, giving to the
Winspear Expansion campaign and making significant
donations to Edmonton’s post-secondary institutions.
The pair also shared a passion for supporting women
who are underrepresented in their chosen fields,
establishing grants for women studying the trades at
NAIT. Over their 67-year marriage, the pair fell in love
with Edmonton’s music and theatre scenes, where they
were known and loved by many.
Their son, Dave Rumbold, describes Grace as a
naturally generous and genuine person. An active
member of the Edmonton and District Quilting
Guild and avid traveller, Grace lived a life full of social
engagements and activity. Most of her career was spent
with the City of Edmonton’s City Clerk’s office, from
which she retired in 1999.
“She loved the vibrancy and the buzz of it,” Dave says.
The couple donated, not for the cachet, but because
it was just what fortunate people do.
“They weren’t trying to impress anybody. They would
have done it even if there was no published recognition.
They just really believed in supporting the arts and the
Edmonton community as a whole,” Dave adds.
Through the fund the Rumbolds established, over
$600,000 was distributed to different causes. The
donor-advised fund allowed the Rumbolds to work
with Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) to
select deserving organizations. Edmonton’s art scene
benefited from their giving, as did Camp He Ho Ha, a
place for children and adults with disabilities.
Some of their most significant giving was to the
Edmonton Opera, which the couple attended together
for decades.
Inspired by the Shean Piano and String Competition,
the Rumbolds launched their own music competition to
boost opera in Edmonton.
In establishing the Rumbold Vocal Prize Fund
through ECF in 2022, emerging vocalists from across
the country found their doorways into the Canadian
30 Together we thrive
opera world. The Rumbold Vocal Prize gives early
career artists a chance to foster connections with opera
professionals and improve their craft.
The vocal prize program provides four classical
vocalists with flights and accommodations in Edmonton.
Selected from a pool of 100 or more applicants, the
competition draws some of the best in Canada. Two
internationally renowned opera singers are brought in
to teach a week-long run of workshops, master classes,
coaching and rehearsals, capped off with judged recitals
at the end of the week. All participants are awarded
cash prizes to help their opera careers. The program
also provides the opportunity for University of Alberta
vocal students to learn from these professionals and
one student is selected by the University faculty to
participate in the Vocal Prize Week.
Many previous Rumbold Vocal Prize winners have
been hired by the Edmonton Opera, and gone on to
perform in France and Germany.
The competition is “like a beacon of light on the art
scene,” says Joel Ivany, Edmonton Opera’s artistic director.
“The wonderful gift of this is because it’s an
endowed gift, it’s something we can ensure can happen
every year and for us to be able to do this is just a great
way to stay connected with the singing community
across Canada,” he says.
Grace’s generous giving ensures the Edmonton
Opera can keep bringing young artists to the city
and elevate Edmonton’s position in Canada’s arts and
culture communities.
Her legacy lives on, not only in the funds she created
and money she gave, but as an example of unassuming
generosity.
“She never thought she was anybody special even
though, really she was,” says Dave.
L-R, Danielle MacMillan, Sydney Baedke, Grace Rumbold, Jamal Al-Titi, Arnold Rumbold,
Nicholas Burns and Isabel Bayrakdarian at the 2023/24 Rumbold Vocal Prize Concert.