Jeff Melanson was the Canadian arts & culture institution's golden boy, dubbed a "rock star arts administrator," feted by the press, and offered prestigious positions at Canada's top art institutions. Until he made a royal mess during his truncated presidency at the Banff Centre. How was he allowed to get away with it for so long, and why was he rewarded for failing so hard?

David Silcox was the Globe & Mail's art critic, president of Sotheby's Canada, Arts Officer of the Canada Council, and author of several books about Canadian art.