The 2014 GGPAA Gala weekend has come and gone, and what a whirlwind it was! In the first of a two-part series, find out how our recipients are celebrated prior to the gala at the National Arts Centre.
First, congratulations again to all our laureates! This year, the following artists received the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award:
Dancer, teacher and artistic director
Anik Bissonnette, rock band
Blue Rodeo, actor and singer
Brent Carver, actor, singer-songwriter, producer and humanitarian
Tom Jackson, dancer and choreographer
Louise Lecavalier and actress and teacher
Janine Sutto.
Jean Giguère received the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, and actor, director and artistic director
Albert Schultz received the National Arts Centre Award for exceptional achievement in the past performance year.
Events for the recipients of the 2014 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards began on Thursday, May 8. That morning, the recipients were briefed about what the weekend would hold and then they were off to Parliament Hill to have lunch with the Honourable Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons. After lunch, they attended Question Period, where they were introduced in the House and their names read into Hansard. The day on the Hill concluded with a reception hosted by the Speaker.
On Friday, the recipients dressed in their most formal attire and gathered at Rideau Hall to receive their Award medallions from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. Each recipient received his or her medallion then gave a speech. Our laureates had the audience in fits of laughter, but also shedding tears thanks to their touching words. Videos of the recipients’ speeches are
now available on our website.
Besides speaking to the audience, the recipients were interviewed by GGPAAF board members Denise Donlon and Paul André Fortier about what the Award means to them. You can now
watch the legacy interviews on our website.
After the speeches, it was dinnertime at Rideau Hall. Prepared by Rideau Hall executive chef Louis Charest and his talented team, the buffet was quite the sight to behold and was greatly enjoyed by all the guests. The night ended with a few surprise performances by Jim Cuddy, Brent Carver and Albert Schultz, each taking a turn at the piano that was once owned by Glenn Gould. Needless to say, it was a memorable evening.
The 2014 GGPAA laureates and the 2014 Mentorship Program pair with Their Excellencies at Rideau Hall. Photo by Sophimage Photography
Be sure to read our next blog post, all about the glitz and glam that is the gala at the National Arts Centre.
Until next time,
Jami