Canadian TV producer and philanthropist Sandra Faire has died. The SFA Productions founder passed away on Feb. 27.

Faire began her career as a producer at CBC before launching SFA Producers in 1997, producing a number of variety specials from artists such as k.d. lang, Rita MacNeil, Bryan Adams and Anne Murray. Her other production credits include Comedy Inc., Comedy Now and award-winning series So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for culture and the arts in 2012 and received an honorary degree from York University in 2018 alongside her husband, former CTV CEO and Thunderbird executive chair Ivan Fecan.

Beyond her producing work, Faire was known for her philanthropy in the arts. She served on the board of directors at the National Ballet of Canada and donated to organizations such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and Soulpepper Theatre Company. She also donated to Toronto General Hospital, the University of Guelph’s veterinary college and York University. York opened the Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre in 2006.

“Passionate, creative, and generous, Sandra Faire was fiercely supportive of Canadian talent in arts and entertainment,” Bell Media president Randy Lennox said in a statement. “She was a trailblazer for women in film and television whose commitment to excellence helped set the standard for production in this country. She was a true partner to Ivan and will be greatly missed.”

Image courtesy the National Ballet of Canada