Eight people and organizations on Vancouver Island have won Lieutenant Governor’s Arts and Music Awards.
Timothy Vernon from Victoria and Joelle Rabu from Nanaimo won for music.
Vernon is a founding artistic director with Pacific Opera whose artistic vision has included multiple Canadian stage premières, including Strauss’ Daphne and Capriccio, Blitzstein’s Regina, Weber’s Der Freischütz, Montemezzi’s L’Amore dei tre re, Giannini’s The Taming of the Shrew, and Lee Hoiby’s The Tempest.
Rabu is a singer of several musical styles including European cabaret-style tunes and jazz melodies. She is a two-time Jessie Award winner and Juno nominee.
The Belfry Theatre and Canadian College of Performing Arts both in Victoria, and Gate House Theatre in Port McNeill were awarded in the performing arts category.
The Belfry has been operating since 1976, and in that time it has produced 330 plays, including 238 Canadian plays, and more than 50 premieres.
The CCPA is a school that aims to teach a spectrum of skills for students to succeed in the performing arts world.
Gate House Theatre was established in 2011, and aims to be a place for live theatre and other performing arts to thrive.
The Victoria Conservatory of Music was awarded for the music category. It is a local hub for music education, performance, and wellness.
Victoria Arts Council and Ptarmigan Arts Society were awarded in the visual arts category.
VAC is an arts space that aims to support artists at various levels in their careers.
Ptarmigan Arts Society is an organization that delivers arts programs, workshops and events to the Southern Gulf Islands and Greater Victoria.
There were 28 total awards given out this year.
“I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of these special awards,” said Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia in a news release.
“It is a great privilege to support such talented creators in our province, particularly those who make a big impact at so many levels. In honour of the 70 years of service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it’s very important to recognize the service of these artists to their communities through the Lieutenant Governor’s Arts and Music Awards.”
CHEK News
