The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) are proud to feature a unique Mentorship Program that provides a way for past GGPAA recipients to inspire the next generation by offering guidance to talented Canadian artists in mid-career. The program serves as a creative catalyst and an investment in future Canadian artistic achievement.
Each year, a past laureate of the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award is invited to act as the program’s mentor. In consultation with the National Arts Centre’s artistic leadership, the mentor selects an artist from the same performing arts discipline whom he or she would like to have as a protégé. Each year’s Mentorship Program is as unique as the artists themselves, but the aim is the same: both mentor and protégé enjoy a unique opportunity to share, learn and grow from each other’s experience and insights. In addition to receiving artistic guidance and an honorarium, each protégé is invited to participate in the GGPAA celebrations.
The GGPAA Mentorship Program was inaugurated in 2008 as a partnership between the GGPAA Foundation and Canada’s National Arts Centre, and is generously supported by founding partner The Keg Spirit Foundation. The foundation recognizes organizations that mirror the mentorship that The Keg Steakhouse + Bar has provided to tens of thousands of young people for over 40 years. Established in 2001, The Keg Spirit Foundation has raised over $8 million for more than 300 charities across North America.
The GGPAA Mentorship Program gratefully acknowledges the support of its past creative partners:
-
2013 and 2014: The Banff Centre, Canada’s leading institution for advanced training in the performing, visual and literary arts, film, television, and digital media.
-
2012: The Canadian Film Centre, a charitable organization that accelerates the careers of Canada’s brightest talent in film, television, screen acting, music, and digital media.
Read more about our 2017 Mentorship Program partnership between mentor Karen Kain and protégé Robert Binet. Mr. Binet wrote about his experience learning from mentor Karen Kain.
Tom Jackson, 2014 GGPAA laureate, will mentor multidisciplinary artist Sarah Robertson in 2018. Watch Ms. Robertson's interview with Denise Donlon about the Mentorship Program and working with Mr. Jackson.
2018
Tom Jackson, O.C., 2018 Mentor Sarah Robertson, 2018 Protégée
2017
Karen Kain, C.C., 2017 Mentor Robert Binet, 2017 Protégé
2016
Albert Millaire, C.C., C.Q., 2016 Mentor Benjamin Pradet, 2016 Protégé
2015
Howard Shore, O.C., 2015 Mentor Nicole Lizée, 2015 Protégée
Photo: Benjamin Ealovega Photo: Murray Lightburn
2014
Joseph Rouleau, O.C., 2014 Mentor
Photo: Cavouk
Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure, 2014 Protégé
Photo: Katherine Lapalme
2013
John Murrell, O.C., 2013 Mentor
Photo: Don Lee, The Banff Centre
Anita Majumdar, 2013 Protégée
Photo: Scarlet O'Neill
2012
Eugene Levy, C.M., 2012 Mentor
Credit: Andrew Kolb
Daniel Perlmutter, 2012 Protégé
Credit: Ronit Novak
2011
Evelyn Hart, O.C., 2011 Mentor
Credit: Alexander Antonijevic
Heather Ogden, 2011 Protégée
Credit: Sian Richards
2010
Gordon Pinsent, C.C., 2010 Mentor
Kevin Loring, 2010 Protégé
2009
Oliver Jones, O.C., C.Q.,2009 Mentor
Credit:James St-Laurent
Dione Taylor, 2009 Protégée
2008
Veronica Tennant, C.C., 2008 Mentor
Credit: Cylla von Tiedemann
Crystal Pite, 2008 Protégée
Credit: Joris-Jan Bos