Sudbury Arts Council has announced a new president, Andrew Boyd, who is picking up the reins from Linda Cartier as she ends her seven-year tenure.
After Cartier announced her departure at the arts council's annual general meeting Nov. 22, held at the Sudbury Indie Cinema.
According to a release from the arts council, she stated, "I am confident at how well prepared our current board is to continue to work in building a culturally stronger, vibrant artistic environment.”
Boyd was then acclaimed as president by board members.
Born and raised in North Bay, Boyd has lived and worked in New York, Washington, Chicago and Toronto. He has served on the boards of numerous registered charities and has an interest in art, literature, and music. He has a doctorate in computing from Pace University, and degrees in history from the University of Toronto.
Also at the annual meeting, two art council executives were honoured for their volunteer work. Outgoing president Linda Cartier was presented with the Oryst Sawchuk Award, which honours someone who has made a significant contribution to the arts and the city.
The award is presented by the arts council board in memory of artist/architect Oryst Sawchuk, a longtime advocate for the arts.
Cartier, owner of Financial Decisions, has been involved with the arts council for more than a decade.
Vicki Gilhula, who presented the award named for her late partner, stated in a press release, "Linda supports the arts in many ways, as a volunteer and a sponsor. She attends as many arts events as she can while working tirelessly to promote Sudbury's arts. She has spent endless hours working on committees and attending meetings."
Judi Straughan was also presented with a Sawchuk Award. She is the vice-president of the arts council.
She helped develop the performing arts program at Sudbury Secondary School and introduced hundreds of young people to live theatre. After she retired, she became the education co-ordinator at the Sudbury Theatre Centre for 17 years.
Straughan recently co-authored a book, “Theatre in Five Acts: Fifty Years of the Sudbury Theatre Centre.”
"Judi and Linda are both uncomfortable in the spotlight and prefer to work in the background so others can get the attention and applause they deserve," said Gilhula.
Both women received a framed original pen and ink drawing by Sawchuk.
The 2020 winner of the Oryst Sawchuk Award was Stèphane Gauthier, executive and cultural director of Carrefour Francophone Sudbury and president of the Place des Arts board.
