Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards Another Success
—submitted
The sixth annual Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards was another successful event, celebrating those in our midst who uplift arts and heritage!
Eighteen people, events, and organizations were nominated in five categories in this year’s awards. Acclaimed arts champion and two-time Arts Awards winner, Streets Alive founder Leslie Fournier was the MC of this year’s event, held at Creative Nomad Studios on November 27. The awards are presented by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and North Simcoe Arts. eCapital returned as presenting sponsor for this special event.
Approximately one hundred guests mingled before the awards ceremony, enjoying canapes and charcuterie from local shop Rind and Truckle, as well as partaking of the cash bar provided by Creative Nomad Studios. Musician Alex Andrews played background music, accompanied occasionally on the keys by Laura Promm. Photographer Lynda Chan memorialized the evening with her outstanding photos.
Attendees were then treated to two-minute videos of each nominee, highlighting their work in their field, as well as delving into their inspiration and ideas. The videos were beautifully filmed and edited by Orillia Museum of Art and History intern, from Lakehead University, Shawn Streeter.
And the winners are!
The winners of the sixth annual Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards are:
Emerging Artist Award… Bella Francis.
The past year has been nothing short of explosive for local singer/songwriter Bella Frances. A remarkable breakout for this 21-year-old included the release of her debut EP and multiple performances across the province.
Event in Arts, Culture, and Heritage Award... Lake Country Pride and Mariposa Arts Theatre.
On June 22 – 23, 2024, two local organizations collaborated to celebrate Pride Week with two very special events: Queer Cabaret and the Orillia Pride March. These events received tremendous support from not only the LGBTQ+ community, but the regional community in general as residents flocked to both events in unprecedented numbers. The outpouring of support demonstrated the previously unrecognized contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to the evolving Arts, Heritage and Culture of Orillia.
Heritage: Restoration, Renovation and Publication Award... Mary Aileen Reed.
Mary is the seventh generation in her family to live in Ramara and is a descendant of Orillia’s first registered citizen, Antoine Gaudaur. She began The Ramara Voice Facebook group in 2022, which has nearly 4,000 members. The group includes an online digital archive/library of historical photographs, articles, and research on Ramara Township as well as information on the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.
Education in the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Award... Christina Bosco.
Christina Bosco has been a music educator at Twin Lakes Secondary School (TLSS) for many years. She inspires students at all levels to get involved and discover their passion for performing and helps them achieve these goals both on and offstage. Christina truly has gone above and beyond as an educator in that her efforts have been officially recognized by the non-profit Music Care by Room 217, with TLSS the first school to earn this certification.
Finally, the Quennefer Browne Achievement Award. This award recognizes an individual or group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of their community. It was named in honour of Qennefer Browne, who gave much of herself to support both arts and heritage organizations within the region.
The Qennefer Browne Achievement Award... the Orillia Silver Band, conducted by Neil Barlow.
The Orillia Silver Band has provided a rich history of brass-band music in Orillia and the surrounding area for more than 60 years. It was formed 75 years ago, in 1949 as the I.O.O.F. Orillia Brass Band and, as the Orillia Silver Band, continues to grow as a skilled and vibrant community music organization. Over the years, the OSB has also partnered with local nonprofits, such as Green Haven Shelter for Women and Hillcrest Lodge, raising thousands of much needed dollars for these organizations.
Congratulations to all the nominees and all the awards recipients and thank you so much for your contributions to our community!
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