Remembering Donald Ross

The National Ballet of Canada lost a dear friend and visionary supporter with the passing of Donald Ross on January 5, 2026. For four decades, Donald gave unreservedly of his time and resources in service of the company, leaving an inspirational legacy of commitment and generosity.  

The National Ballet of Canada benefitted greatly from Donald’s expansive philanthropy, which encompassed all areas of the organization. He played a central role in the Bold Steps campaign, leading to the purchase of The Walter Carsen Centre in 1996. Donald also supported major new productions and tours, including James Kudelka’s An Italian Straw Hat and The Contract (The Pied Piper), Wayne McGregor’s MADDADDAM and the acclaimed 2018 tour to Hamburg. Much of Donald’s early giving was anonymous, as he wished to highlight the significant contributions of his wife, Gretchen Ross, in founding Dancers First and Co-Chairing The Music Circle. 

One of Donald’s most impactful projects was initiating the purchase and retrofitting of a new facility to build and store the company’s productions, undertaken with Board member Jerry Lozinski. The Gretchen Ross Production Centre opened in 2011 and remains a creative home for the company’s world-class production team.  

The National Ballet of Canada is forever grateful to Donald Ross. We join others throughout Canada in mourning his loss and honouring a life that embraced community, the arts and the transformative power of giving.