How’s that for an invitation list? A comedy icon, a soprano who performed for the Queen, and the first rapper inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Expect all three to be honored at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards in Ottawa this June. The annual award is considered Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts, and since 1992, the GGPAA has recognized artists “whose achievements have inspired and enriched the cultural life of our country.”
So who are the Lifetime Achievement winners for 2024? The GGPAA Foundation announced the honorees Thursday morning. They are: SCTV legend Andrea Martin; classical singer Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, songwriter and musician from Quebec Diane Juster, puppeteer and playwright Ronnie Burkett; and a musician often referred to as the “godfather of Canadian hip-hop,” Wes (Maestro) Williams.
“OK, this is so extraordinary,” Martin said in a statement. The American-Canadian artist, who happens to be halfway to becoming an EGOT, expressed her gratitude in one Video shared by the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation. “Every single job I’ve ever had I’ve loved and I feel blessed that people still want to hire me. And now to be rewarded like this is the icing on the cake.”
Video messages from each of this year’s award winners were shared by the GGPAA Foundation following the awards announcement. In addition to lifetime achievement honors, the 2024 GGPAA will honor Mélanie Demers with the National Arts Center Award. A multidisciplinary artist, Demers founded the Montreal-based contemporary dance company Mayday. Jenny Belzberg of Calgary, a community activist and philanthropist who has been an influential supporter of the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, will receive the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Volunteerism in the Performing Arts.
A gala honoring the 2024 honorees will be held on June 8 at the National Arts Center in Ottawa.
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