Sudbury's arts and culture community was on full display on June 6 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre for the Mayor's Celebration of the Arts.
Picking this year's winners started months ago with 45 nominees entered across three categories. Those 45 were then narrowed down to nine, three in each category, and finally on Wednesday night, the winners were announced.
The evening was kicked off by honouring Iona Reed Pukara, who was the recipient of this year's Sudbury Arts Council President's Award.
The Mayor's Celebration of the Arts was started by former Greater Sudbury mayor Marianne Matichuk, and is a tradition the current mayor Brian Bigger says he's proud to be a part of.
"I'm very proud to continue this, it's something that celebrates the arts in many forms and has evolved over time and celebrates the past, present, and future," said Bigger.
"I look back at the careers of many of our wonderful local artists and experience a lifetime of work. Tonight we're fortunate to recognize these people, such as our young and emerging artists who are changing the local arts and culture landscape in Sudbury."
In the Emerging Artist category, it was YES Theatre Artistic Director Alessandro Costantini who took the honours in the trio of nominees that included award-winning author/illustrator Danielle Daniel, and Northern Lights Festival Boréal artistic director Max Merrifield.
Costantini congratulated his fellow nominees, and spoke highly of the evolution he's seen in the artistic community in Sudbury and the opportunities it has afforded him.
"Sudbury is, for me, the most inspiring place to make art," said Costantini. "I feel very fortunate to live in a community that supports the arts and where I've been given the chance to provide opportunities for others. I love acting, I love singing, but the moments that really move me most are when I get to see all these wonderful artists that I get to create with."
A sombre moment of reflection was taken at the midway point of the evening to honour the memories of two key figures in the arts community who passed away in the last year.
Paulette Gagnon was the founder of the awards program and was a leader in the community. Gagnon passed away in October 2017.
Carole Lesar devoted countless hours to the Mayor's Celebration of the Arts and gave time to support the Sudbury Arts Council whenever possible. She died in February of this year.
"Carole took great pleasure in working to make sure that this particular event was always a success," said Vicki Gilhula, chair of the Mayor's Celebration of the Arts. "Her passion for life reminds each of us to live every day to the fullest."
In the Mid-Career Artist category it was director, actor, playwright, and designer Miriam Cusson who was given the nod, in a category with past poet laureate Kim Fahner and musician Edouard Landry.
Cusson isn't a stranger to awards, grabbing the prestigious John Hirsch Award for directing in 2017. She teaches at Laurentian University in its Francophone theatre program.
Finally, in the Outstanding Achievement category for artists with more than 20 years in the arts community, musician Daniel Bédard was the winner, up against downtown staple and former NLFB artistic director Paul Loewenberg, and co-executive director and publisher of Editions Prise de parole, denise traux.
