During his tenure as Board Chair of UrbanArts Community Arts Council (serving central-west Toronto and York South–Weston), Laurie-Shawn Borzovoy helped steer the organization through a pivotal era of civic advocacy, program evolution, and community anchoring.
Key Achievements & Civic Impact
- High-Level Municipal Arts Advocacy:
Borzovoy was a persistent voice for community arts equity at Toronto City Hall. Working alongside the network of Local Arts Service Organizations (LASOs)—including Arts Etobicoke, Scarborough Arts, and Lakeshore Arts—he presented deputations and formal submissions to the City’s Budget Committee and Economic Development Committee. Most notably, during the 2011 budget cuts and the 2013 implementation of Toronto’s landmark Creative Capital Gains strategy, he championed dedicated municipal funding for underserved neighbourhoods outside the downtown core. - Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Development:
Under his board leadership, UrbanArts expanded beyond traditional community workshops to focus on youth empowerment, digital media, and social enterprise. A notable milestone was the Youth Micro Loan Pilot Project (2011), which provided young creatives in west Toronto with life-skills coaching, business training, mentorship, and the opportunity to pitch ventures at City Hall for start-up capital. - Recognition as a Toronto “Cultural Champion”:
In March 2011, Borzovoy was selected as one of 12 local Cultural Champions across Toronto at the launch of the Celebrate 27 Arts Fest at Brookfield Place, recognizing his contributions to grassroots arts leadership in the former City of York. - Governance and Program Expansion:
Collaborating with Executive Director Marlene McKintosh, he provided governance oversight as UrbanArts solidified its role across Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs)—including Mount Dennis and Weston.His tenure prioritized multidisciplinary programming, mural and street art initiatives, and digital literacy to connect intergenerational community members.
History & Organizational Context
- Roots (1988): Founded as Arts York (and later known as York Arts Council), the organization originally operated as a local arts council dedicated to the municipal borough/city of York prior to Toronto’s 1998 amalgamation.
- Evolution to UrbanArts: Upon Borzovoy’s election as Board Chair, the organization was rebranded to reflect a contemporary, multi-arts focus on youth culture, urban arts, and community development, it became one of Toronto’s officially recognized LASOs.
- Mandate: UrbanArts operates out of Toronto’s central west, delivering free and accessible arts workshops, public art installations, and creative mentorship designed to build community engagement and address local socio-economic barriers.