Annemarie Leenhouts-Petrov, President & CEO Francis Winspear Centre for Music, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and the Tommy Banks Centre for Musical Creativity, is excited to become the 2025 Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Chair.
The intersection of leadership, art, commerce, and community has never been more apparent in the creative sector. Now, in a post-pandemic world where people still explore ways to reconnect, Leenhouts-Petrov stands at the point where connections are made – connections that ripple from the boardroom to the stage.
“I definitely always knew I wanted to have a career in the arts and had to decide whether it would be theatre or music,” shares Leenhouts-Petrov. “Ultimately, I’m in music because of my high school music teacher, followed by the most inspiring teacher and mentor I had throughout university. They were both in my life at the right time to launch my career path. They, and my parents, were significant influences.”
Leenhouts-Petrov grew up on a farm, enjoying rural life with a large family.
“My mom was an educator with a passion for getting children off on the right foot in early childhood, especially if they had challenges with learning. She incorporated art in all facets of teaching the core curriculum. She would use visual arts, music and theatre, and invented games to teach concepts in the language arts, maths and sciences. She was an amazing person and devoted teacher.”
Her mother not only provided the foundation for Leenhouts-Petrov’s love of arts. She also laid an important foundation based on strong principles. This, combined with the business leanings of her entrepreneurial father, set the trajectory of her life in motion.
With her passion for arts, community and business, a leadership role with the Winspear was a natural fit.
“The Winspear was built by this community. It is one of the outstanding examples of what the people of our city can accomplish when we put our minds together,” says Leenhouts-Petrov. “It is, without exaggeration, one of the best concert venues in the world. It was a dream held and shared by people like Dr Francis Winspear, Senator Tommy Banks, key musicians of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and many members of the greater Edmonton community. It is a living testament to the saying, ‘take a risk,’ which is the most Edmonton thing you can do.”
The opening of the Winspear was complicated by timing. It opened in 1997 when the economy was stalling. While some viewed an arts-focused project as superfluous for the times, it was the catalyst that drew jobs for locals, the interest of tourists and the heart of the community – important things the Winspear continues to draw today.
Leenhouts-Petrov points out, “We are now in the midst of a major expansion to the original building with a $115 million construction project. We remain a vital source of income across tourism, hospitality, full-time, part-time, entry-level and C-suite. The Winspear fills a critical role in all aspects of the city from employment and the arts to downtown activation.”
The backbone of the Winspear is the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
“A building without people is an empty artifact,” says Leenhouts-Petrov. “People bring spaces to life. Our orchestra is the heart of so many milestone events in the community. In addition to the wide variety of concerts that they provide each year, the individual musicians also form the backbone of so many moments that change our lives – such as special events and weddings – plus teaching music and introducing the next generation to potential careers in the arts.”
As she takes on the role of the Edmonton Chamber Chair, Leenhouts-Petrov notes that the Chamber and the Winspear share a lot of common ground.
“Both are not-for-profit organizations – this means that their missions provide an important service to the community. Both the Winspear and the Chamber elevate our city, bring people together and share a passion for a common goal that is aspirational for the region.”
Leenhouts-Petrov was drawn to the Chamber due to her interest in commerce.
“I enjoy anything to do with business,” she shares. “I love that the Chamber represents the broadest spectrum of our business community, for both company size and industry – from owner-operated to major corporations. I also deeply appreciate that the Chamber is located in the iconic World Trade Centre building right in the heart of downtown.”
When she joined the Chamber, Leenhouts-Petrov participated in the finance and audit committee and the policy forum.
“The finance and audit committee gave me a quick understanding of what makes the Chamber tick, and the policy forum is where I learned the most,” she shares. “I didn’t have as much cause to think about it before, but I now understand the profound impact that good policy, at all levels of governance, has on our society. I find that this knowledge has opened another world that I continue to learn more about. It’s profoundly important and can change lives and the economy for the better. It’s complex, but fascinating. I had the opportunity to head to Ottawa to talk to policy leaders about tourism in our province and they appeared happy to hear we were not asking for money, but for policy changes to make it easier for people to visit our growing city, the tourism sector to stabilize and grow and to encourage entrepreneurs and investment.”
Through her work with the policy forum, she also developed a deeper appreciation for advocacy.
“Advocacy is the cornerstone of the Chamber’s mission, amplifying the collective voice of Edmonton’s business community to drive meaningful change.”
As the Chair, she sees potential challenges as opportunities.
“The Chamber has been a foundational pillar of business in Edmonton and the region for over 136 years. With President & CEO Doug Griffiths now in the role for just over a year, and him having built a great team, the board’s role is to ensure that the Chamber has the best governance practices to represent our membership and accomplish the Chamber’s strategic objectives. The challenge is to ensure that the Chamber is the right Chamber for this time in history.”
She continues, “For many years the Chamber has been a steadfast ally for businesses, supporting and navigating changes. From our constant advocacy, we ensure Edmonton’s business voice is heard, influencing government policies to foster a competitive, growth-oriented environment. Now, more than ever, we’re future-focused, leveraging the needs of our diverse membership, ensuring they remain competitive in the Edmonton market and Alberta markets, the Canadian economy and global stage.”
Leenhouts-Petrov takes on the role with a very clear point of view and a very progressive agenda.
“As Chair, my focus is to amplify the transformative energy the Chamber has built over the past year. With a revitalized team, rebranding and strengthened advocacy efforts under Griffiths’ leadership, we are poised to grow Edmonton as Canada’s best city to achieve wealth for businesses and their families.
“As Chair, together with my colleagues and the board and the leadership team, we are steering the Chamber to prioritize initiatives that attract investment, foster innovation and unlock the city’s full potential as a business hub.
“Policy and advocacy remain at the core of the Chamber’s mission, and I will ensure we continue to champion the priorities that matter most to our members, from economic growth to stronger fiscal policy. We will remain Edmonton’s most influential voice in advocating for a thriving business environment with all stakeholders.
“Lastly, I know that collaboration is key to driving meaningful change. I work to enhance partnerships across industries, non-profits and government, ensuring that Edmonton becomes not just a profitable city, but one that is socially and culturally vibrant. This is made possible when we are all working together.”
For those not yet involved with the Chamber as a member, Leenhouts-Petrov has an important message.
“The Edmonton Chamber is more than an organization—it’s one of our most valuable business investments. For over 136 years, we’ve informed, mobilized and championed Edmonton’s business community. We are membership-driven, which means everything we do is focused on helping our members succeed. From shaping policy to creating unparalleled networking opportunities, the Chamber delivers tangible value. Today, the Chamber is where a new generation of business leaders connect, learn and lead. We’re a dynamic hub where ideas flourish, partnerships are formed and Edmonton’s future is built.”
Just as an orchestra must work together to create a cohesive, harmonious sound, so too must businesses work together for the city to succeed.
“Success is a team endeavor and policy without commerce doesn’t work,” Leenhouts-Petrov points out. “Strong businesses are essential for building a thriving community, and the Chamber ensures that commerce has a voice at the table where decisions are made. The Chamber bridges the gap between policymakers and businesses, advocating for policies that promote growth, innovation and economic resilience. By investing in the Chamber, professionals contribute to shaping policies that directly impact their businesses and the community.”
On the personal side, like so many other professionals, Leenhouts-Petrov finds that the concept of work/life balance is more of a delicate dance than anything else.
“For better or for worse, work is a large part of my life,” she freely admits. “I don’t think you can work in this field and be successful without that compulsion. As someone once said, ‘there’s work life, there’s personal life, or there’s just life!’ I do enjoy outdoor sports a lot – I like running, cross country skiing and skating. I enjoy spending time with my family as much as possible, although my daughter now lives in Sydney, Australia and my son has joined the Air Force, so I think that more travel is in the future!”
Leenhouts-Petrov’s contributions to her field and community have been widely recognized, including an Honorary Doctorate Degree from MacEwan University, a provincial Rosza Innovation Award and the national Betty Webster Award for contributions to the orchestral music scene in Canada.
For Leenhouts-Petrov, her personal and professional future holds a lot of excitement, as does her time as the Chamber Chair.
“The Chamber’s next chapter is about cementing our role as the essential economic driver and convener in Edmonton. We are already at the forefront of policy advocacy, business connection and economic growth, but we’re striving to elevate our influence even further. For the Chamber, this means continuing to be the go-to organization for businesses seeking meaningful impact—whether it’s through our advocacy efforts, our ability to bring decision-makers together, or the tools we provide to help businesses succeed.
“For me as our Chair, it’s about championing the Chamber’s vision and continuing to revitalize Edmonton’s downtown. Collectively, we need to drive forward initiatives that make Edmonton the best place to do business, innovate and build lasting connections – and much of this happens through the stuff on the side, after business hours, through arts and culture and music!”
She concludes, noting, “Being Chair is the culmination of my work in Edmonton’s arts community, the business community and leadership thus far, and it’s an honour to bring those experiences together in this role. It’s exciting to witness a new wave of entrepreneurs and leaders joining the Chamber, bringing fresh energy and ideas that will shape the future of Edmonton’s business community. Being part of this momentum and helping the Chamber evolve for the next generation of business leaders is both inspiring and deeply fulfilling.”
Learn more about the Winspear at www.winspearcentre.com and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce at edmontonchamber.com.