The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts.
The laureates of the 2024 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, which recognize artists who have made an indelible contribution to cultural life in Canada and around the world, are:
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – Soprano and faith advocate
Soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee’s engaging personality, exceptional musicianship and powerful voice have taken her to the major orchestras and concert halls of every continent, as well as the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, and a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II.
Ronnie Burkett, O.C. – Puppeteer, playwright, designer and performer
Recognized as one of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with reinventing the art of puppetry. Provocative, topical, compassionate and entertaining, his work has revitalized puppet theatre, consistently attracting adult audiences who are enthralled by the colourful characters populating his miniature world of big ideas. His productions have been commissioned and presented by major theatres and festivals, and have earned critical and public acclaim across Canada and around the world. He has also shared his knowledge and experience with hundreds of aspiring artists through masterclasses, workshops and lectures.
Watch Ronnie Burkett’s announcement video.
Diane Juster, C.M. – Songwriter, composer, performer, pianist and arts advocate
One of Canada’s most successful music artists, Diane Juster has been captivating audiences with her talent as a singer and pianist for nearly 50 years. She has written hit songs for such leading Canadian and international performers as Céline Dion, Ginette Reno (GGPAA 1999) and Dalida, and has a rich discography of her own. A tireless advocate for the promotion and protection of the work of Canadian artists, she is the co- founder of the Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec (SPACQ).
Andrea Martin – Actor
Andrea Martin’s hilarious characterizations and heart-warming performances have been delighting audiences for over 40 years. A beloved icon of stage and screen, she gained prominence in the 1980s as a regular on the award-winning sketch comedy series SCTV (Second City Television). Her Broadway career has earned her Tony Awards for featured actor in the musicals My Favorite Year (1993) and Pippin (2013), and she has an equally impressive list of film and television appearances.
Wes “Maestro” Williams – Recording artist, actor, author and motivational speaker
Often regarded as the “godfather of Canadian hip hop,” Wesley (Wes) “Maestro” Williams is the first Canadian rapper to achieve mainstream success. His debut album, Symphony in Effect, was the first album by a Canadian hip hop artist to reach platinum status, and his landmark single “Let Your Backbone Slide” was the first rap recording to go gold and the first rap song inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Alongside his musical career, Mr. Williams is also a successful film and television actor, author, and motivational speaker.
The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, which recognizes outstanding contribution by an individual or group in voluntary service to the performing arts in Canada:
Jenny Belzberg, C.M.
Jenny Belzberg is known across Canada as a passionate community activist and philanthropist. An enthusiastic advocate for the arts and education, and an outstanding volunteer, she has shown exemplary leadership in her involvement in a range of cultural and social action organizations, particularly Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. With her late husband, Hyman (Hy) Belzberg, she helped promote and develop the arts in her home town of Calgary, and has been a prominent force in her community for over 50 years.
Watch Jenny Belzberg’s announcement video.
The National Arts Centre Award, which recognizes work of an extraordinary nature by an individual artist or company in the past performance year:
Mélanie Demers – Multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, stage director and performer
Mélanie Demers is the founding artistic director of Montréal-based contemporary dance company MAYDAY. She is known for complex, highly imaginative works that reflect her fascination with the human condition, the role of the artist in society, the interplay between language and movement, and the powerful link between the poetical and the political. In a prolific career spanning nearly three decades, she has created over 30 works that have toured internationally and captivated audiences and critics alike.
Watch Mélanie Demers’ announcement video.
The unique Mentorship Program, generously supported by The Keg Spirit Foundation, provides a way for past GGPAA recipients to inspire the next generation by offering guidance to talented Canadian artists in mid-career. “Through The Keg Spirit Foundation, we are proud to support mentorship programs that enhance personal and professional growth, and enhance the broader community,” said David Aisenstat, Chairman and Founder of The Keg Spirit Foundation. “We are thrilled that widely acclaimed singer– songwriter Susan Aglukark will be sharing her depth of knowledge with her protégée Angela Amarualik for the next year through the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Mentorship Program.”
The participants for 2024 are:
Susan Aglukark, O.C. – Mentor
Inuk singer–songwriter Susan Aglukark (GGPAA 2016) is one of Canada’s most distinctive music artists. She blends English, Inuktitut, and other Indigenous languages with contemporary pop arrangements to tell the stories of her fellow Inuit and other Indigenous groups. The emotional depth and honesty of her lyrics, her pure, clear voice, and her themes of hope, spirit and encouragement have captivated and inspired listeners from all walks of life. She has released 10 albums and is much in demand as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.
Angela Amarualik – Protégée
Angela Amarualik was born and raised in Igloolik, Nunavut. Like many other small Indigenous communities, her town had its share of social problems. Ms. Amarualik worked hard to retain a good attitude, improve her circumstances, and be a role model for the younger generation. Starting with the ukulele, she began writing Inuktitut songs in her bedroom closet. Her musical style combines elements of traditional Inuit melodies and throat-singing with pop and folk.
Created in 1992 by the late Peter Herrndorf, C.C., and Brian Robertson, under the distinguished patronage of the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, then-Governor General of Canada, and his late wife Gerda, these prestigious awards are presented annually to Canadians whose accomplishments have inspired and enriched the cultural life of our country. Nominations for these highly acclaimed awards are submitted by members of the public to recognize artists who have made a lifetime commitment and contribution to the performing arts in Canada.
