Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Presentation Ceremony

May 26, 2023

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Hello,

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people who have lived on and cared for this land for thousands of years.

For millennia, Indigenous peoples have told stories of history and creation, of brave actions, of sorrow and joy, of resilience and inspiration. These stories are passed down so that their descendants—and all Canadians—can learn from them.

That spirit of storytelling is what brings us together at Rideau Hall. Today, we congratulate the recipients of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.

As we come together to celebrate these awards, I would like to acknowledge and remember two men without whom these awards would not exist. The late Ramon John Hnatyshyn, the 24th governor general of Canada, and Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre from 1999 to 2018, were both instrumental in creating these awards. Peter sadly passed away earlier this year. Although this is the first ceremony we hold without him, his presence is felt in everything we do here today.

Both Peter and Mr. Hnatyshyn’s commitment and support of the arts in this country sparked the idea of these awards, a legacy of artistic achievement, not just for them, but for all Canadians.

It is a pleasure to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall. Tonight, we celebrate creativity. We celebrate the arts community. And we celebrate your stories.

Today, we also celebrate hope.

Because art is about hope. It’s revealing truths about our society and ourselves. The best art makes us think about who we are, the good and the bad. And it makes us consider the lived realities and feelings of other people.

No matter what is going on in the world or in our lives, art can lift us up, and can show us that there is no limit to what we can accomplish when we combine imagination, determination and talent.

Throughout their careers, the recipients we honour this evening have entertained and enlightened us. And they have supported others in their artistic endeavours, inspiring others to follow their passions.

Michel Marc Bouchard

Molly Johnson

James Kudelka

Rosemarie Landry

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John Kim Bell

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee

All of you have made a difference, not only with your art and your support for the arts, but also with your generosity, kindness, patience and commitment to your values and beliefs.

And I would like to acknowledge mentor Margie Gillis, who is sharing her wisdom of and experience in dance with Anne Plamondon.

We are privileged to have all of you here and to count you as global ambassadors for Canada. You inspire us and surprise us. You continue to push boundaries and push us to reimagine what is possible. You show us that no matter who we are, where we’re from, what we do and who we love, we have a place in this world. We belong.

Canadians are proud of what you have accomplished.

And we are excited to see what comes next!

The future is full of possibilities, particularly for sharing our diverse stories.

We are fortunate in Canada to be able to share stories, in all their forms, from many communities, from Indigenous peoples and from Canadians newly arrived.

Stories in music or dance, theatre, television and cinema. In many different languages and from different points of view. Some are familiar, some are new, all are worth listening to or watching on stage or on the screen.

I would like to end by congratulating each recipient. On behalf of all Canadians, let’s celebrate your work and well-deserved awards.

 Thank you.