2021 Recipients

Tantoo Cardinal

Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award

In a career spanning 50 years and more than 120 film, television and theatre roles, Métis actor Tantoo Cardinal has helped transform the face of film and television when it comes to portraying Indigenous people and stories.

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Alexina Louie

Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award

Alexina Louie is one of Canadaʼs most celebrated and sought-after composers. A versatile, imaginative and prolific creator, she has written for all musical genres, from piano, voice and orchestra to opera and film.

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Zab Maboungou

Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award

Zab Maboungou is the founding artistic director of Zab Maboungou / Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata, a Montréal-based contemporary dance company.

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Catherine O'Hara

Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award

Catherine O’Hara is an acting legend whose on-screen creations have imprinted themselves on our cultural consciousness.

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Florent Vollant

Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award

Innu singer–songwriter and guitarist Florent Vollant has been active on Quebec’s music scene for four decades, first as part of the award-winning duo Kashtin and more recently as a solo artist.

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Lynda Hamilton

Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts

Lynda Hamilton has made it her mission to provide performing artists with the support they need to thrive in an industry that is exciting and fulfilling, yet often fraught with financial hardship.

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Ryan Reynolds

National Arts Centre Award

Ryan Reynolds is one of Canada’s most beloved and widely recognized actors with a repertoire ranging from TV sitcoms to animated and feature films.

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RECIPIENT DIRECTORY

Canadian artists and volunteers have received Governor General's Performing Arts Awards since 1992. Canadians are recognized from a variety of disciplines for lifetime achievements; having had an extraordinary performance year or for voluntarism in the performing arts. Get to know more about the outstanding laureates of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

Disclaimer: All biographical details correct at the time of the honour.

Our laureates announced in 2020 accepted their awards in 2021. The laureate biographies were updated prior to the GGPAA televised special which aired in November 2021.

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By Name:
By Year: All Years 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992	By Discipline: All disciplines Broadcasting Broadcasting and Film Classical Music Dance Film Popular Music Special Award Theatre	By Award: All awards Lifetime Artistic Achievement Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award NAC Award RJH Award
NFB Film	Rideau Hall Speeches	Legacy Interview

	Mitchell, Joni (1996) Biography »	Popular Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Plamondon, Luc (1996) Biography »	Popular Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Strate, Grant (1927-2015) (1996) Biography »	Dance	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Henley, Martha Lou (1996) Biography »		RJH Award
	Parker, Jon Kimura (1996) Biography »		NAC Award
	Arcand, Denys (1995) Biography »	Film	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Forrester, Maureen (1930-2010) (1995) Biography »	Classical Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Gzowski, Peter (1934-2002) (1995) Biography »	Broadcasting	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Hébert, Paul (1924-2017) (1995) Biography »	Theatre	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Murray, Anne (1995) Biography »	Popular Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Renaud, Jeanne (1995) Biography » Legacy Interview »	Dance	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Gelber, Arthur (1915-1998) (1995) Biography »		RJH Award
	Heppner, Ben (1995) Biography » Legacy Interview »		NAC Award
	Back, Frédéric (1924-2013) (1994) Biography »	Film	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Charlebois, Robert (1994) Biography »	Popular Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Franca, Celia (1921-2007) (1994) Biography »	Dance	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Hyland, Frances (1927-2004) (1994) Biography »	Theatre	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Papineau-Couture, Jean (1916-2000) (1994) Biography »	Classical Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Young, Neil (1994) Biography »	Popular Music	Lifetime Artistic Achievement
	Kolber, Sandra (1934-2001) (1994) Biography »		RJH Award

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The Awards

Lifetime Artistic Achievement

Recognizes artists for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada. These national awards are presented in the categories of theatre, dance, classical music, popular music and broadcasting & film. Nominations for this category are open to the public.

Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for
Voluntarism in the Performing Arts

The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing arts recognizes outstanding contribution by an individual or group in voluntary service to the performing arts in Canada made without direct or indirect financial or other compensation. The award is also nominated by the general public.

National Arts Centre Award

Recognizes work of an extraordinary nature and significance in the performing arts by an individual artist and/or company in the past performance year. Recipients are selected by the National Arts Centre.