Ruth Matthews, Burin, Newfoundland and Labrador
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award
Ruth Matthews has worked diligently as a guide, teacher and mentor to preserve the cultural traditions of her province, particularly those of the Burin Peninsula. She has been a member of the Burin Peninsula Arts Council since 1974, and is a founding member and past president of the Burin Folk Arts Council, established in 1976. On its behalf, she founded the Penney Folk Dancers in 1981, a troupe of young people performing traditional Newfoundland dances. In 1984, she started the Burin Peninsula Festival of Folk Song and Dance, of which she is the heart and soul. Her commitment and generosity have earned her the gratitude of her community and of her province.
