Ruby Mercer

Ruby Mercer, born on July twenty-sixth, nineteen oh six, in Athens, Ohio, was a multifaceted talent who made significant contributions to the arts in Canada. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University in nineteen twenty-seven, she pursued her passion for music, graduating with a Bachelor of Music from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in nineteen thirty.

Mercer's illustrious career in opera began in nineteen thirty-six when she made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera, captivating audiences as Nedda in Pagliacci. Her journey took a new turn in nineteen fifty-eight when she married Hungarian-Canadian businessman Geza Por and relocated to Toronto, where she would leave an indelible mark on the Canadian arts scene.

In nineteen sixty, she founded Opera Canada, a periodical dedicated to the world of opera, and served as its editor until nineteen ninety. Her passion for nurturing young talent led her to establish the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus, where she served as the first president. Mercer's influence extended to radio, where she hosted CBC Radio's weekly show Opera Time from nineteen sixty-two to nineteen seventy-nine, followed by its successor, Opera in Stereo, from nineteen seventy-nine to nineteen eighty-four.

In recognition of her contributions to the arts, Ruby Mercer was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in nineteen ninety-five, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer in the Canadian cultural landscape.