Salah Bachir

Bachir was born in Lebanon and in 1965 his family immigrated to Canada when he was just 10 years old at the midst of the Lebanese Civil War and they resided in Rexdale, a district of Toronto. He was one of five siblings in the family. His mother ran a successful dress boutique out of the basement of their house. Salah played numerous sports when he was growing up, including hockey (he was a goalie), football (quarterback) and lacrosse. When he was 15-years-old, he picketed outside a Dominion store to support Caesar Chavez and the farm workers during the grape boycott. As people passed him during the day they offered up small donations to support the cause – Bachir's first foray into the world of fundraising. He remembers that even though his father didn't agree with his actions, he topped up the fund, giving $50 to bring the total for the day to $150. Bachir was excited and nervous to have the opportunity to hand the funds to Chavez himself, who was visiting Toronto, and somewhat reluctantly said they had only raised $150. He's never forgotten what Chavez said to him: "It's $150 more than we had this morning." [6]

Bachir began his career in publishing in 1979 with the launch of his elder brother's company, Videomania, Canada's first publication targeted to consumers of a new home entertainment format: the video cassette. In 1984, Bachir started a trade publication, Premiere, to serve the needs of the burgeoning video distribution and retail sectors. He also produced an annual trade show, Focus on Video, celebrating the Canadian film industry.

In 1999, Bachir launched Famous magazine — soon joined by Famous Québec — a movie/entertainment magazine distributed through the Famous Players movie theatre chain (since purchased by Cineplex Entertainment LP). In 2010 Famous changed its name to Cineplex Magazine and Famous Québec became Le magazine Cineplex. Under Bachir's leadership, Cineplex Magazine’s circulation has grown to be among the highest of any Canadian magazine, with 750,000 copies per month. Cineplex Magazine also had the strongest digital readership of 70 consumer magazines as measured by a 2016 Vividata study, attracting 1.5 million digital-only readers for a typical issue; Cineplex Magazine is also the second most read title in Canada with 4.4 million readers.[7]

In 1999, Bachir also became President of Famous Players Media, a company he co-owned with Viacom to sell in-theatre advertising and which revolutionized the movie experience. Famous Players Media was bought by Cineplex Entertainment LP as part of its purchase of Famous Players in 2005. Bachir continues to be president of this new division, Cineplex Media,[8] and in this role was instrumental in establishing Scotiabank's theatre naming rights agreement with Cineplex and in initiating the partnership between Cineplex and Scotiabank that led to the launch of the Scene loyalty card program - one of the most successful loyalty programs in Canada.

On June 1, 2017 Bachir became Chancellor of OCAD University, only the fourth Chancellor in the history of the esteemed Canadian art and design institution. He succeeds Catherine Delaney, the Honourable James K. Bartleman and Rosalie Sharp in that role.[9]

Bachir is an avid art collector and enthusiastic patron of mostly Canadian art. His diverse collection of more than 3,000 pieces features many works by Canadian artists such as Betty Goodwin, Stephen Andrews and Attila Richard Lukacs.

In 2014, an extensive show of Bachir's pieces titled "Over the Rainbow" was mounted at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) in Toronto. The exhibition featured such well-known artists as Stephen Andrews, Atilla Richard Lukacs, Betty Goodwin, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Herb Ritts, and examined themes of seduction and identity.[10]

In a 2013 Toronto Star article, writer Rita Zekas lists many of the artists, Canadian and international, whose works hang in Bachir's Toronto home. "There are more Warhols here than you can shake a tin of Campbell’s soup at. Walls and walls of Warhol Polaroids and lithographs, purchased at auctions and from galleries," she writes. "There’s Ingrid Bergman by Warhol; Mick Jagger by Warhol. Plus Mandela by Herb Ritts; Einstein by Yousuf Karsh; and assorted photography by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Helmut Newton, Bruce Weber, Robert Mapplethorpe and Man Ray." [11]

Compared to Cosimo de' Medici by 'The Globe and Mail' for his role in forging now-famous talent,[12] Bachir has sponsored four shows of Lukacs’ work, “Attila Richard Lukacs: Works From the Collection of Salah Bachir,” “Attila Richard Lukacs: Detention,” “Attila Richard Lukacs from the Collection of Salah J. Bachir” [13] and a joint exhibition of works by Lukacs and Andrews at the University of Toronto's Hart House.

In 2006, 60 pieces from his Andy Warhol collection were displayed at the Oakville Galleries in the “Wall to Wall Warhol” exhibit;[14] the same gallery hosted an acclaimed show of Bachir's Betty Goodwin collection in the spring of 2010.[15]

Bachir has been a Presenting Sponsor of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for many years and has been a leading patron of the “We’re Funny That Way” comedy festival since 2005. In his honour, the festival created “The Salah Bachir Award for Community Service,” a cash award presented every year to a person or group who has dedicated themselves to helping the LGBTQ community.

Bachir has provided both financial support and work from his collections to the Art Gallery of Ontario, where a room is named for him in recognition of his contributions to contemporary art, the Oakville Galleries, which has also named a gallery in his honour, the Morris & Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC in Vancouver, the Ryerson University Image Centre, which named its New Media Wall in his honour, the University of Toronto's Hart House and The Art Gallery of York University. He has donated works of art to the National Gallery, the London Regional Gallery, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Rideau Hall and the Canadiana Fund.

He also served as an executive producer of Malcolm Ingram's documentary film Continental.

The artists' entrance at Crow's Theatre is named in honour of Salah Bachir and his partner Jacob Yerex.

In 1996, the Variety Club of Ontario recognized Bachir's leadership in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through various events by awarding him the Club's highest individual honour, the Heart Award.[16] The Club also established an award in Bachir's honour at Variety Village, a sports facility for children with special needs. The Salah Bachir Leadership Award was given to a team member voted by his or her teammates as having made the greatest contribution to the team.

In 2005 Bachir was selected to be Grand Marshal of the 25th Annual Pride Parade in Toronto and was given an award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.

He was honoured by Toronto's renowned theatre company Famous People Players as its Man of the Year in 2008.[17]

He was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Ontario Premiere Dalton McGuinty at the Toronto Pride Gala in 2009. Also in 2009 he was named Honorary Patron For Life by The 519 Community Centre.[18]

In 2014, Bachir was given the Corporate Leadership Award by Best Buddies, an organization that aims to make schools and communities more inclusive of people with intellectual disabilities. That same year he was the recipient of Out On Bay Street's Leaders to Be Proud Of - Lifetime Achievement Award.[19] In 2013 he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement INSPIRE Award for his contributions to the LGBTQ community.[20] In 2012 he was the recipient of the Canadian Centre for Diversity’s Human Relations Award.[21] And in 2011, Bachir was given an Excellence in Business Award by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.[22]

In April 2014, MOCCA (the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art) honoured Bachir with the MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art 2015 for his work in the field.[23]

On June 30, 2016, Bachir was named a Member of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston for "his leadership as an entrepreneur and for his commitment to the arts and social justice, notably through Toronto's the 519 community centre." [24]

In 2016 Salah was again named Grand Marshall of the Toronto Pride Parade, and declared that the parade would be dedicated to the victims of the Orlando night club mass shooting, as well as gay rights around the world.[25]

In 2017, Bachir was named the International Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The award, which "recognizes an individual or family from around the world that demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating groups of donors and volunteers for fundraising projects for the benefit of charities and nonprofit organizations" was given to Bachir during a ceremony in San Francisco on April 30, 2017.[26] 2017 also saw Bachir and his partner Jacob Yerex recognized by Yorktown Family Services as recipients their Humanitarian Award for Community Service.[27]

Salah was also named to Playback Magazine's Hall of Fame in 2017 for his fundraising success as well as his success “advocating for LGBTQ2 rights and the film industry for nearly three decades”.[28]

In April 2018, Human Right Watch honoured Bachir for his generosity towards HRW's LGBT Global Circle – a group of dedicated supporters who support the work of defending those who face violence & inequality because of who they love, how they look or who they are – and for his support of the Toronto HRW Film Festival. Barry Avrich directed the tribute video that was presented at this event.[29]

Salah was named one of Toronto's Most Stylish by Toronto Life in October 2018.[30]

He was invested into the Order of Ontario on Wed. Mar. 11, 2020.[31]

Bachir is one of Canada's most influential philanthropists and his impact is felt around the world. He is a champion of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community, having helped raise millions for such causes, including AIDS research and equal rights and support for LGBTQ individuals in Canada. He has personally give more than $1 million and helped raise millions more for The 519 Community Centre in Toronto, which works to advance LGBTQ equality and inclusion in the city and beyond.

Salah Bachir has chaired or participated the capital campaigns of numerous organizations including the 519 Community Centre, the Canadian Film Centre, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Art Gallery of Ontario among others. He was instrumental in driving the capital campaign in support of The Commons @ 401 Richmond, where The Bachir-Yerex Presentation Space stands as a tribute to his work. He is known by many in the fundraising community as “Gala Salah” due to the number of galas he chairs. These include the annual 519 gala in support of the 519 community centre, where he holds the position of honorary patron in recognition of his contributions to the facility; the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Gala; the annual Salah Bachir Show gala in support of St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation; the Wild Bird Ball in conjunction with Margaret Atwood in support of the Pelee Island Bird Observatory; Camp Ooch's Imagine the Magic gala; and others. Bachir is a founding member of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR). He is also a board member of the capital campaign for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Bachir also served on the capital campaign board for Camp Oochiegeas, a privately funded, volunteer-based organization that provides kids with and affected by childhood cancer with unique opportunities for growth through challenging, fun, enriching and magical experiences;[32] in recognition of his work, and his personal financial contributions,[33] Bachir and his partner Jacob Yerex have a room dedicated to them at the camp. In 2017, Bachir was named the International Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Bachir has helped raise hundreds of millions for arts and film causes and organizations, including donating art from his collection to galleries across Canada. Several of these galleries have also created shows featuring selected works from his vast art collection. He supports campaigns financially and through volunteering, having served as co-chair of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards since 2013, leading to a record amount of funds being raised. His support for the Art Gallery of Ontario has meant better public programs and world-class exhibitions for thousands of visitors, and he also gives his time to support emerging artists.

Healthcare, including research, is another of Bachir's signature issues. Not only has he supported tens of millions of dollars in research projects, but he is a critical voice for patients in the Toronto community. He has helped raise millions for hospitals in Toronto, including giving $2.5 million to build a new dialysis centre at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto, his own community hospital. He cares deeply about patient comfort and has also donated funds to purchase many patient care comfort items including new televisions for the chemotherapy and dialysis clinics.

Bachir has been a member of numerous boards and committees in support of the arts, the gay community and underprivileged children, including the Canadian Film Centre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Inside Out Film and Video Festival, the Variety Club of Ontario, The Waladi Foundation and The Lebanon Project. He was also a founding member of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.

Bachir became the honorary patron of The 519 Church Street Community Centre after chairing its successful capital campaign. Under his direction, the campaign raised more than $6-million to expand the facilities at the community centre in Toronto's Church and Wellesley neighbourhood. His fundraising efforts exceeded projections by $2-million. In May 2010 the 519's new wing was named in Bachir's honour to recognize him as the driving force behind the effort, as well as his own pledge of $1 million.

In 2013, Bachir, himself a kidney dialysis patient, recognized the need to upgrade the televisions used by hundreds of dialysis and chemotherapy patients in the renal and oncology units of St. Joseph's Health Centre and organized his “Non-Gala Gala,” which raised more than $250,000 for the cause. With the entertainment system upgraded, Bachir turned his attention to improving the centre's aging facilities. In February 2015, Bachir hosted "The Salah Bachir Show," which raised $650,000 to help build a new dialysis centre at St. Joseph's, and pay for new equipment. St. Joseph's will soon start work on the Bachir Yerex Family Dialysis Unit, named to honour Bachir for his efforts to contribute, and raise, more than $3-million of the $10-million needed for the new state-of-the-art facility.

Salah is also the honorary chair of St. Joseph's annual Share your Light Festival, for which he donated an installation of lights that cover the side of the hospital and can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season by those travelling Toronto's Gardiner Expressway.

Salah Bachir is openly gay. He lives with his husband, the artist Jacob Yerex.