The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement are Canada’s highest honour for the performing arts. This year's recipients are singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, filmmakers Atom Egoyan and Jean-Marc Vallée, actor-directors Diana Leblanc and R.H. Thomson, composer Walter Boudreau and arts philanthropist Michael Koerner.
During the gala red carpet celebrations in the NAC lobby, recipients shared their thoughts about the importance of the performing arts, and about what receiving the award meant to them.
"It's an amazing feeling,” Atom Egoyan said. “This is where culture is celebrated, this is where artists are celebrated. It just feels too good to be true to be here."
"There are lot of threads that pull a nation together," R.H. Thomson said. "The arts threads can hold a nation, can give a nation a story."
Sarah McLachlan spoke about the importance of fostering the next generation of artists. "We have a plethora of amazing talent in this country and I think that kind of talent needs to be recognized. It needs to be nurtured and encouraged."
Nominations for the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards are made by members of the general public. If you know of someone who deserves recognition for their lifetime contribution to Canada's performing arts, please submit a nomination.
