Kain, who was appointed chair of the Canada Council for the Arts last fall, became a well-regarded arts administrator and advocate after she stopped performing.

Kain joined the company after graduating from the National Ballet School of Canada in 1969, and was promoted to principal dancer two years later. In 1973, she won the silver medal at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow, and later danced with companies such as the Bolshoi Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, and with such partners as Rudolf Nureyev.

After her retirement from performing in 1997, Kudelka named her artist in resident to the company, and then artistic associate.

One of Kain's major responsibilities will be overseeing next year's move from the Hummingbird Centre to the new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and the company's concomitant growth in both size and budget.