Governor General's Performing Arts Award Explained

The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards are an annual Canadian award, presented to honour distinguished achievements in Canadian performing arts and culture. Administered by the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation in association with the National Arts Centre, they present lifetime achievement awards for work in all performing arts domains, including theatre, dance, film, television and radio broadcasting and both popular and classical music; the awards are, however, not necessarily presented exclusively to performers, and may also honour people who have had distinguished careers in the business side of cultural industries, such as film, television and theatre directors and producers.

The awards were created in 1992 under the patronage of then Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn and his wife Gerda Hnatyshyn.[1]

From 1992 to 2014, they typically honoured six figures per year;[2] since 2015 they have honoured five. In addition to the lifetime awards, they also present the National Arts Centre Award to honour a figure who has had significant career achievements within the past year but is not yet considered to be at the "lifetime achievement" stage of their career, and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts to honour people who have been active in voluntary service to the arts.

Recipients

1990s

YearRecipientDisciplineRef
1992William HuttTheatre[3]
Gweneth LloydDance
Dominique MichelBroadcasting
Mercedes PalominoTheatre
Oscar PetersonPopular music
Léopold SimoneauClassical music
Norman JewisonHnatyshyn Award
Gilles Maheu, Carbone 14National Arts Centre Award
1993Ludmilla ChiriaeffDance[4]
Leonard CohenPopular music
Don HaigFilm
Lois MarshallClassical music
Monique MercureTheatre
Gilles VigneaultPopular music
Joan ChalmersHnatyshyn Award
Michel Marc Bouchard and Les Deux MondesNational Arts Centre Award
1994Frédéric BackFilm[5]
Robert CharleboisPopular music
Celia FrancaDance
Frances HylandTheatre
Jean Papineau-CoutureClassical music
Neil YoungPopular music
Sandra KolberHnatyshyn Award
Robert LepageNational Arts Centre Award
1995Denys ArcandFilm[6]
Maureen ForresterClassical music
Peter GzowskiBroadcasting
Paul HébertTheatre
Anne MurrayPopular music
Jeanne RenaudDance
Arthur GelberHnatyshyn Award
Ben HeppnerNational Arts Centre Award
1996François BarbeauTheatre[7]
Michel BraultFilm
Martha HenryTheatre
Joni MitchellPopular music
Luc PlamondonPopular music
Grant StrateDance
Martha Lou HenleyHnatyshyn Award
Jon Kimura ParkerNational Arts Centre Award
1997Gilles CarleFilm[8]
Nicholas GoldschmidtClassical music
Monique LeyracPopular music
Gordon LightfootPopular music
Betty OliphantDance
Jean-Pierre RonfardTheatre
Maryvonne KendergiHnatyshyn Award
Karen KainNational Arts Centre Award
1998Paul BuissonneauTheatre[9]
Bruce CockburnPopular music
Rock DemersFilm
Royal Canadian Air FarceBroadcasting
Arnold SpohrDance
Jon VickersClassical music
Joseph H. ShoctorHnatyshyn Award
Denis MarleauNational Arts Centre Award
1999David CronenbergFilm[10]
Denise FiliatraultBroadcasting
Mavor MooreTheatre
Louis QuilicoClassical music
Ginette RenoPopular music
Michel TremblayTheatre
Sam SnidermanHnatyshyn Award
Mario BernardiNational Arts Centre Award

2000s

Due to a change in the award's scheduling from fall to spring, the awards were not presented in 2007.[11]

YearRecipientDisciplineRef
2000Janette BertrandBroadcasting[12]
Stompin' Tom ConnorsPopular music
Fernand NaultDance
Christopher NewtonTheatre
Teresa StratasDance
Donald SutherlandFilm
Walter CarsenHnatyshyn Award
Cirque du SoleilNational Arts Centre Award
2001Mario BernardiClassical music[13]
Diane DufresnePopular music
Max FergusonBroadcasting
Evelyn HartDance
Christopher PlummerTheatre
Anne Claire PoirierFilm
Thea BorlaseHnatyshyn Award
Édouard Lock and La La La Human StepsNational Arts Centre Award
2002André BrassardTheatre[14]
Joy CoghillTheatre
The Guess WhoPopular music
Karen KainDance
Phil NimmonsPopular music
Jean-Pierre PerreaultDance
Fernand LindsayHnatyshyn Award
Angela HewittNational Arts Centre Award
2003Pierrette AlarieClassical music[15]
Dave BroadfootBroadcasting
Douglas CampbellTheatre
Norman JewisonFilm
Micheline LanctôtFilm
Ian TysonPopular music
Sandra Pitblado, Jim PitbladoHnatyshyn Award
Marie ChouinardNational Arts Centre Award
2004Kate & Anna McGarriglePopular music[16]
Gordon PinsentFilm
Jean-Louis RouxTheatre
Joseph RouleauClassical music
Veronica TennantDance
Eric TillFilm
Constance PathyHnatyshyn Award
Rick MercerNational Arts Centre Award
2005Peter BonehamDance[17]
Jackie BurroughsFilm
Marcel DubéTheatre
Oliver JonesPopular music
Moses ZnaimerBroadcasting
Gail AsperHnatyshyn Award
k.d. langNational Arts Centre Award
2006Jacques LanguirandBroadcasting[18]
Lorne MichaelsBroadcasting
Albert MillaireTheatre
Robbie RobertsonPopular music
Joysanne SidimusDance
Mark StarowiczBroadcasting
Georges Laoun, Sherif LaounHnatyshyn Award
Richard BradshawNational Arts Centre Award
2007Not presented
2008Anton KuertiClassical music[19]
Eugene LevyBroadcasting
Brian MacdonaldDance
John MurrellTheatre
Alanis ObomsawinFilm
Michel PagliaroPopular music
Eric CharmanHnatyshyn Award
The Tragically HipNational Arts Centre Award
2009Peggy BakerDance[20]
Édith ButlerPopular music
Clémence DesRochersBroadcasting
Robert LepageTheatre
R. Murray SchaferClassical music
George F. WalkerTheatre
James D. FleckHnatyshyn Award
Paul GrossNational Arts Centre Award

2010s

Jazz singer Michael Bublé was named as the recipient of the National Arts Centre award in 2016;[21] however, as he was unable to attend the gala due to vocal cord surgery, he received the award at the 2017 gala instead.[22]

YearRecipientDisciplineRef
2010Bryan AdamsPopular music[23]
Françoise FaucherTheatre
Walter HomburgerClassical music
Édouard LockDance
Robin PhillipsTheatre
Buffy Sainte-MariePopular music
Mohammad Faris, Yulanda FarisHnatyshyn Award
Yannick Nézet-SéguinNational Arts Centre Award
2011Yvon DeschampsTheatre[24]
Margie GillisDance
William ShatnerBroadcasting
Howard ShoreFilm
Leslee SilvermanTheatre
Paul ThompsonTheatre
Jean-André ÉlieHnatyshyn Award
Denis VilleneuveNational Arts Centre Award
2012Janina FialkowskaClassical music[25]
Paul-André FortierDance
Denis MarleauTheatre
Deepa MehtaFilm
RushPopular music
Mary WalshBroadcasting
Earlaine CollinsHnatyshyn Award
Des McAnuffNational Arts Centre Award
2013Andrew DawesClassical music[26]
Daniel LanoisPopular music
Jean Pierre LefebvreFilm
Viola LégerTheatre
Eric PetersonTheatre
Menaka ThakkarDance
Jean-Pierre DesrosiersHnatyshyn Award
Sarah PolleyNational Arts Centre Award
2014Anik BissonnetteDance[27]
Blue RodeoPopular music
Brent CarverTheatre
Tom JacksonBroadcasting
Louise LecavalierDance
Janine SuttoTheatre
Jean GiguèreHnatyshyn Award
Albert SchultzNational Arts Centre Award
2015Walter BoudreauClassical music[28]
Atom EgoyanFilm
Diana LeblancTheatre
Sarah McLachlanPopular music
R. H. ThomsonTheatre
Michael M. KoernerHnatyshyn Award
Jean-Marc ValléeNational Arts Centre Award
2016Susan AglukarkPopular music
Marie ChouinardDance
Ben HeppnerClassical music
Robert LantosFilm
Suzanne LebeauTheatre
John D. McKellarHnatyshyn Award
Michael Bublé (presentation delayed to 2017)National Arts Centre Award
2017Jean BeaudinFilm[29]
Michael J. FoxBroadcasting
Brigitte HaentjensTheatre
Martin ShortBroadcasting
Yves Sioui DurandTheatre
William H. LoewenHnatyshyn Award
Michael Bublé (award from 2016)National Arts Centre Award
2018Andrew AlexanderBroadcasting[30]
Geneviève BujoldFilm
Angela HewittClassical music
Ginette LaurinDance
Murray McLauchlanPopular music
Peter HerrndorfSpecial Award
Florence Junca AdenotHnatyshyn Award
Tegan and SaraNational Arts Centre Award
2019Louise BessetteClassical music[31]
Colm FeoreFilm
Rick MercerBroadcasting
Lorraine PintalTheatre
Mavis StainesDance
E. Noël SpinelliHnatyshyn Award
Sandra OhNational Arts Centre Award

2020s

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 gala was cancelled; however, as that year's recipients had already been announced in February before COVID-related lockdowns came into effect, they were honoured at a 2021 gala, with no new honorees named for 2021 itself.[32]

YearRecipientDisciplineRef
2020-21Tantoo CardinalBroadcasting and film[33]
Alexina LouieClassical music
Zab MaboungouDance
Catherine O'HaraBroadcasting and film
Florent VollantPopular music
Lynda HamiltonHnatyshyn Award
Ryan ReynoldsNational Arts Centre Award
2022Fernand DansereauBroadcasting and film[34]
David FosterPopular music
Rita DeverellBroadcasting and film
Tomson HighwayTheatre
Linda RabinDance
Michelle SmithHnatyshyn Award
Crystal PiteNational Arts Centre Award
2023Michel Marc BouchardTheatre[35]
Molly JohnsonPopular music
James KudelkaDance
Rosemarie LandryClassical music
k.d. langPopular music
John Kim BellHnatyshyn Award
Paul Sun-Hyung LeeNational Arts Centre Award
2024Measha Brueggergosman-LeeClassical music[36]
Ronnie BurkettStage
Diane JusterPopular music
Andrea MartinScreens and voices
Wes Williams (Maestro Fresh Wes)Popular music
Jenny BelzbergHnatyshyn Award
Mélanie DemersNational Arts Centre Award

External links

Notes and References

  1. Rod Currie, "Governor-general unveils new lifetime awards for performing arts". Montreal Gazette, September 23, 1992.
  2. Dianne Rinehart, "Canada honors its own with newly crafted prize". Vancouver Sun, November 9, 1992.
  3. "Awards honor elite in arts". Windsor Star, September 9, 1992.
  4. "Vigneault, Chiriaeff, Mercure, Cohen among Performing Arts honorees". Halifax Daily News, October 6, 1993.
  5. "Charlebois, Neil Young receive arts awards from Hnatyshyn". Montreal Gazette, November 7, 1994.
  6. Susan Riley, "Forrester, Murray head list of winners". Vancouver Sun, September 20, 1995.
  7. "Governor General arts awards for six". Hamilton Spectator, September 18, 1996.
  8. Bonnie Malleck, "Governor General's Awards celebrate six outstanding artists". Waterloo Region Record, December 27, 1997.
  9. Andrew Flynn, "It's no farce: Comedy troupe, Bruce Cockburn among recipients of Governor General's Performing Arts awards". St. Catharines Standard, September 22, 1998.
  10. "Six get Governor General Performing Arts awards". Timmins Daily Press, September 29, 1999.
  11. "Performing arts awards pushed back to May". Waterloo Region Record, September 22, 2007.
  12. Bruce Deachman, "Stompin' Tom comes close to tears at Governor-General's Performing Arts Awards". National Post, November 6, 2000.
  13. "Plummer, Max Ferguson among those receiving Gov-Gen. awards". Nanaimo Daily News, September 29, 2001.
  14. "Kain heads list of GG winners". Peterborough Examiner, November 2, 2002.
  15. John McKay, "Governor General's Awards announced". Welland Tribune, October 1, 2003.
  16. "Governor General winners honoured for life achievement". Guelph Mercury, September 22, 2004.
  17. Kelly Roesler, "Seven award winners revel in song and dance". Ottawa Citizen, November 6, 2005.
  18. Paul Gessell, "Robbie Robertson, Lorne Michaels among those to win Governor General's Performing Arts Awards". Victoria Times-Colonist, September 20, 2006.
  19. "Eugene Levy, Tragically Hip to receive performing arts awards". Whitehorse Star, May 2, 2008.
  20. Maria Cook, "Gross, Lepage receive performing arts awards". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, March 3, 2009.
  21. Morgan Lowrie, "Buble and Lantos among winners of Governor General's Performing Arts Awards". Canadian Press, April 14, 2016.
  22. "Surgery delays Buble's NAC prize; Pending vocal cord repair sidelines singer". Ottawa Citizen, May 19, 2016.
  23. "Bryan Adams and Buffy Sainte-Marie among governor general's recipients". Prince George Citizen, February 24, 2010.
  24. "William Shatner, Howard Shore win GG Awards". Times & Transcript, March 4, 2011.
  25. Stephen Hunt, "Rush saluted for four decades of work". Calgary Herald, March 7, 2012.
  26. "Eric Peterson among laureates for lifetime award". Kamloops Daily News, April 11, 2013.
  27. Peter Robb, "Six national art laureates to be feted in Ottawa". Edmonton Journal, March 27, 2014.
  28. Ian McGillis, "Three Montrealers win Governor General's performance awards". Montreal Gazette, April 10, 2015.
  29. Lynn Saxberg, "And The Awards Go To...; Michael J. Fox headlines list of Governor General winners". Ottawa Sun, March 10, 2017.
  30. "And your Governor General Performing Arts Awards honourees are ..." Ottawa Citizen, May 31, 2018.
  31. [J. Kelly Nestruck]
  32. Ted Raymond, "Canadian star Ryan Reynolds awarded 2021 Governor General's Performing Arts Award". CTV News Ottawa, November 27, 2021.
  33. Victoria Ahearn, "Ryan Reynolds among 2020 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards winners". Toronto Star, February 27, 2020.
  34. Brad Wheeler, "David Foster and playwright Tomson Highway among winners of the 2022 Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards". The Globe and Mail, February 23, 2022.
  35. [J. Kelly Nestruck]
  36. https://www.cbc.ca/arts/2024-governor-general-s-performing-arts-awards-andrea-martin-maestro-fresh-wes-1.7122837 "Andrea Martin, Maestro Fresh Wes to receive Canada's top honour in the performing arts"