Media Advisory - Performing Arts Celebration at Rideau Hall

Media Advisory - Performing Arts Celebration at Rideau Hall

OTTAWA, June 8, 2016 /CNW/ - The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Deputy Governor General and Chief Justice of Canada, will present the 2016 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on Friday, June 10, 2016, at 6 p.m.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and
Mrs. Sharon Johnston will be participating in Her Majesty The Queen's 90(th) anniversary celebrations in London, England, from May 9 to 11. They will be back in time to attend the GGPAA gala at the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Lifetime Artistic Achievement Laureates

Presented in six categories: classical music, dance, film, popular music, radio and television broadcasting, and theatre. Recipients of these awards are nominated by the general public.

Susan Aglukark, O.C., Singer-songwriter and humanitarian
Marie Chouinard, O.C., Artist, choreographer, writer and teacher
Ben Heppner, C.C., Dramatic tenor and radio host
Robert Lantos, C.M., Film and television producer
Suzanne Lebeau, Children's playwright and artistic director

Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts Laureate

Recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual or group in voluntary service to the performing arts in Canada. Recipients of this award are also nominated by the general public.

John D McKellar, C.M.

National Arts Centre Award Laureate

Recognizes the work of an extraordinary nature by an individual artist or company in the past performance year. Recipients are selected by the NAC board of trustees from a list of candidates proposed by a nominating committee of NAC artistic programmers.

Michael Bublé*, singer and entertainer

*Mr. Bublé is unable to attend this year's ceremony; he will receive his award at the 2017 ceremony.

GGPAA Mentorship Program

Each year, a past laureate of the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award is invited to select a professional artist (or artists) to share, learn and grow from the experience and insight of their mentor. This year's mentor is 2006 GGPAA recipient Albert Milaire, C.C., an actor, director and arts advocate . The protégée is Quebec playwright Benjamin Pradet. They will attend the award ceremony at Rideau Hall.

About the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards

Created in 1992 by the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, then-Governor General, and his wife Gerda, the GGPAA are presented each year to Canadian performers whose extraordinary lifetime achievements have contributed significantly to the enrichment of Canada's cultural life. For more information on the GGPAA, visit www.ggpaa.ca.

Media interested in covering the award presentation at Rideau Hall are asked
to confirm their attendance with the Rideau Hall Press Office in advance, and to arrive at the Princess Anne Entrance
no later than 5:45 p.m. on the day of the ceremony.

Follow GGDavidJohnston and RideauHall on Facebook and Twitter.



SOURCE Governor General of Canada

Governor General of Canada

CONTACT: To cover the award presentation at Rideau Hall, please contact Julie Rocheleau, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-7280, julie.rocheleau@gg.ca; For more information on the awards or to arrange interviews with the laureates, please contact Melissa Wood, NATIONAL Public Relations, 613-233-1699, ext. 6229, mwood@national.ca;


-------
Profile: intent