Richard has recently retired (Dec 31, 2010) from the position of Manager of Programming and Promotion for the Arts and Culture Centres in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, a position he held since 1975. He began his career in the performing arts as a lighting technician. He spent three years as the National President of CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association); he was Vice Chair of the Debut Atlantic Society and is a founding member of the Atlantic Presenters Association, and Dance Events Inc. In 2002 he became the Founding Chairman of CDA (Canadian Dance Assembly). He sits on the Board of the recently founded provincial dance organization, DanceNL. He also sits on the Board of Kittiwake Dance Theatre, and has been volunteer Technical Director since its creation in 1987.
He has been honoured for his contribution to the performing arts, by receiving the Contact East Professional Presenter Award in 1998; as the 2002 recipient of The National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring, in 2003 as SOCAN Patron of Music, in 2004 the CITT (Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology) Professional Achievement Award, in 2010 the Contact East Award of Excellence, and in 2011 he was inducted into the Dance Teachers’ Association of Newfoundland Hall of Fame.
