The Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Awards Basis has declares the recipients of the 2025 Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) for Lifetime Creative Achievement. The Awards acknowledge artists who’ve made vital contributions to Canada’s cultural panorama, and whose efforts lengthen internationally.
“On behalf of the Canada Council for the Arts, my warmest congratulations to every of the laureates being acknowledged this 12 months with a Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Award,” mentioned Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. “With their brilliance, creativity and dedication, these artists have formed our cultural panorama and enriched our shared expertise of the humanities. Their work resonates deeply inside Canada; it transcends boundaries and is an inspiration to present and future generations across the globe.”
The Laureates
“The performing arts assist us make sense of the world round us. They transfer us to laughter and convey us to tears. They assist us perceive experiences which might be totally different from our personal, and join us to others,” mentioned Douglas Knight, Chair and CEO of the Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Awards Basis (GGPAAF), and Anik Bissonnette, Co-Chair of the Basis. “As we acknowledge the unimaginable, distinctive 2025 Awards laureates, we also needs to pause and be grateful to all Canadian artists, and their supporters, for creating the shared experiences that mild up our lives and strengthen our sense of group.”
Bob Ezrin, O.C.
Music and leisure producer, music schooling advocate and serial activist
Bob Ezrin is a legend within the music trade as a producer and entrepreneur. He’s labored on seminal recordings and with artists reminiscent of Pink Floyd, U2, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Taylor Swift, Alice Cooper, Edward Burtynsky, Kiss, Lou Reed, The Canadian Tenors, Aerosmith, Hollywood Vampires, Berlin, and 9 Inch Nails, amongst many others in a storied profession.
Denis Gougeon
Composer
Composer and music educator Denis Gougeon has a list of greater than 100 works in quite a lot of genres and kinds, and his affect has been felt each throughout the nation and past. His items embody music for solo devices, voice, chamber teams, orchestra, theatre, ballet and opera. He has acquired quite a few awards, and a number of commissions, together with works for the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Graham Greene, C.M.
Actor
Graham Greene’s 5 decade lengthy performing profession has taken him on stage and in movie and TV tasks throughout North America, the UK, and Argentina. His different roles have seen him play every thing from cops to medical doctors, and Shakespearean characters. He has change into a task mannequin for a lot of younger artists.
Patrick Huard
Comic, movie and tv actor, host, screenwriter and producer
A recognizable star of movie and TV throughout Canada, Huard has appeared in Les Boys, the bilingual comedy Bon Cop, Unhealthy Cop sequence, and different excessive profile tasks. Additionally a star on radio, Patrick has hosted a number of radio packages and occasions. He’s acquired a number of awards for performing and screenwriting.
Sandra Laronde
Multidisciplinary artist, creative director, choreographer, producer and creator
Founding creative director of Purple Sky Efficiency, Sandra Laronde has been acknowledged nationally and internationally for her work as a dancer and choreographer, and proponent of Indigenous arts. With Purple Sky Efficiency, based mostly in Toronto, she has created an modern type that mixes dance, theatre, music and multimedia. She has represented Canada on levels and at occasions around the globe.
Different Awards
Awards given in particular classes spherical out the listing of honourees.
The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism within the Performing Arts
This Award goes to an excellent contribution by a person or group in voluntary service to the performing arts in Canada
April Hubbard
Halifax-based efficiency artist, arts administrator, and Mad Incapacity advocate April Hubbard is an arts supporter and advocate for inclusive and accessible areas for disabled and underrepresented artists.
The Nationwide Arts Centre Award
This award acknowledges work of a rare nature by a person artist or firm prior to now efficiency 12 months.
Jeremy Dutcher
Composer, performer, language provider, ethnomusicologist and activist Jeremy Dutcher can also be a classically skilled tenor. As a Wolastoqiyik member of the Tobique First NaZonn in northwest New Brunswick. His music incorporates his classical coaching, amongst different genres, and Wolastoqiyik tradition and language. He appears to be like to protect his tradition, and encourage youthful generations of Indigenous individuals.
Mentorship Program
The distinctive Mentorship Program offers previous GGPAA recipients the chance to assist the following technology by the use of offering steering to mid-career Canadian artists.
Atom Egoyan, C.C.: Mentor
Atom Egoyan (GGPAA 2015) is a extensively revered filmmaker whose resume additionally contains vital tasks within the fields of theatre, visible arts, and opera. Born in Egypt to Armenian dad and mom, and raised in Western Canada, he first caught the general public’s consideration again within the Eighties as a part of a wave of Toronto filmmakers. He’s since change into some of the acknowledged names within the Canadian filmmaking panorama, and has produced, directed and/or written greater than 40 movies and TV tasks. His 1997 movie The Candy Hereafter garnered the Cannes Grand Prix award, amongst many different awards and recognition he’s acquired over his profession.
Joshua Odjick: Protégé
Joshua Odjick is a member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, and of the Deer clan, with robust roots in custom. After six years of performing, he’s turning to filmmaking, and can work with famous filmmaker Atom Eyogan to put in writing, produce, and direct his first quick movie.
Celebrating 2025 Laureates
The 2025 laureates will likely be celebrated at two occasions in Ottawa. The ultimate occasion, the Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Awards Present, takes place on the Nationwide Arts Centre on June 14.
“The Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Awards enable us, as a rustic, to pay tribute to a few of our best artists and humanities volunteers, and to thank them for sharing their extraordinary presents with us,” mentioned Christopher Deacon, NAC President and CEO. “The Nationwide Arts Centre congratulates the 2025 laureates, and appears ahead to celebrating their unimaginable achievements on the Governor Normal’s Performing Arts Awards Present on June 14 in Southam Corridor.”
- Tickets for the GGPAA Present are on sale now [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.
