The Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award (LMJH Award), in association with the Victor C. Polley Protégé Award is an annual award that recognizes the important work of theatre, dance and opera administrators. Recipients of the LMJH Award have at least 10 years of demonstrated commitment to the performing arts, in addition to having made an impact on the industry in Toronto. The award winner receives a plaque and a cheque for $1,000 through the generous sponsorship of the Elizabeth and Tony Comper Foundation. Through the partnership with the Victor C. Polley Protégé Award, the LMJH Award laureate will choose an emerging arts administrator with a minimum of 2 years of arts work experience who will receive a $500 protégé prize.

As of 2020, the LMJH Award is presented in association with the Victor C. Polley Protégé Award, which was inaugurated in 1981 to honour the leadership of the much-respected arts administrator who joined the Stratford Festival in 1954 as a bookkeeper. 17 years later he was the Administrative Director and in 1972, he took over the position of Theatre Manager at The St. Lawrence Centre.

The LMJH Award was inaugurated in 2008 and is named after Leonard McHardy and John Harvey, the celebrated owners of Toronto’s Theatrebooks which they co-founded over 35 years ago in 1975. In naming the award after Leonard McHardy and John Harvey, Ms Comper noted, “Leonard and John are role models in their support of the arts and in particular the theatre community. I wanted them to be recognized for everything they do and for everything they stand for.”

The LMJH Award winner will be chosen by the Selection Committee from nominations received from the TAPA membership.