Dr. Ellen Remai (LLD’23) named first Saskatchewan recipient of France’s Order of Arts and Letters
Remai, a Saskatoon philanthropist and entrepreneur, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at USask’s Spring Convocation in June 2023
On June 18, 2025, Saskatoon philanthropist, entrepreneur, and University of Saskatchewan (USask) honorary degree recipient Dr. Ellen Remai (LLD’23) received the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres) in recognition of her extraordinary support of the arts.
The honour was bestowed on Remai by the French Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Michel Miraillet, at a ceremony in Remai Modern’s Collection Galleries. Remai Modern is a museum of modern and contemporary art in Saskatoon.
“Mrs. Remai’s contribution as a supporter of art and culture is unique across Canada and has been essential in enabling great collaborations between Remai Modern and French artists. That’s why we wanted to recognize her generosity,” said Miraillet, in a Remai Modern news release.
Remai is the first person to receive this award in Saskatchewan. The prestigious award acknowledges Remai’s commitment to the arts, her support of French artists—which has recently included exhibitions by Céline Condorelli and Laure Prouvost— and her contributions to artistic collaborations with France. It also recognizes her landmark donation of the world’s most comprehensive collection of linocuts by Pablo Picasso, the renowned artist whose life and creations are closely linked to France.
France’s Ministerial Order of Arts and Letters was created in 1957. It is one of four ministerial orders issued by the country and is “intended to reward people who have distinguished themselves through their creations in the artistic or literary field or through the contribution they have made to the influence of Arts and Letters in France and throughout the world.”
“This recognition reaffirms what we at Remai Modern—and organizations throughout Saskatoon—have long attested to: Ellen Remai is one-of-a-kind,” said Aileen Burns and Johan Lundh, co-executive director & CEO of Remai Modern, in the news release.
“Her generosity in support of the arts and education has made a profound difference in our community, allowing citizens and visitors extraordinary opportunities to experience culture in the city she calls home.
“Her legacy is firmly established not only in Saskatoon but as one of the most important patrons of the arts in Canada’s history. Her impact is felt deeply, and her vision will continue to benefit our community for many decades to come.”
Previous Canadian recipients of the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters include filmmaker and actor Xavier Dolan, actress Anne Dorval, director David Cronenberg, author Margaret Atwood, and singer Céline Dion.
Ellen Remai is Remai Modern’s lead patron and co-founder of the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation alongside her late husband. Ellen Remai’s first gift to Remai Modern came before any sod was turned at its River Landing site, and before the space was named in her honour after a unanimous vote by Saskatoon City Council. Her pledge of $31 million provided $16 million toward construction and $15 million—$500,000 a year for 30 years—to support international exhibitions programs.
In 2012, the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation also donated 405 linocuts by Pablo Picasso to Remai Modern. Just prior to Remai Modern’s grand opening in October 2017, Ellen Remai announced two significant new gifts to ensure the museum’s successful future. The funds from the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation include $1 million a year for the next 25 years to support art purchases. The foundation also committed to matching eligible donations up to $1 million a year for 25 years. Her most recent gift to Remai Modern—in 2022—was a $10-million commitment in support of moving to a by-donation admission structure for the next 20 years. As a result, visitation to the museum more than doubled over the previous year. The number of visitors also exceeded the museum’s benchmark year in 2019. Visitation continued to break records in 2023 and 2024.
In recognition of the extraordinary support and dedication to building thriving, vibrant communities shown throughout her storied career, Remai was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at USask’s Spring Convocation on June 7, 2023. Earlier this year, she was honoured as one of the newest recipients of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit—the province’s highest honour. Over the past few years, Remai has been presented with the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross, the YWCA Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award, the Saskatchewan Arts Honorary Award, the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, and a Saskatchewan Polytechnic Honorary Diploma, and she has earned induction into the SABEX (Saskatoon Achievement in Business Excellence Awards) Hall of Fame.
A recent generous donation of $1 million from Remai, through the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation, will support the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), a world-class research facility at USask, with an aim to stop emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics. The gift to the Friends of VIDO fund will help address VIDO’s greatest needs, including facility enhancements, new equipment, scientific training, or the establishment of research chairs and fellowship opportunities.