The opening riffs of The Beatles “Come Together” kicked off the 2011 Owen Sound Cultural Awards.
It was about a half capacity crowd at the Roxy Theatre in the Scenic City for the 3rd annual awards ceremony on Thursday night.
Master of Ceremonies Rob McLean kept the laughs coming all night long, and the audience enjoyed some great music from the band “1969”.
In the winners category…the Cultural Heritage award went to Basil Johnston.
Johnston is an Anishinaabe writer, storyteller and language teacher and is the author of 20 books, with a new one in the works.
The Media Arts Award went to filmmaker Jesse Gibbons for his short documentary “Gentle Men” — which tells the story of two elderly bathroom attendants in Cuba.
The documentary has been screened at 11 national and international film festivals and Gibbons says it was an incredible experience.
The Lifetime Achievement award went to George McLean — an artist with 30 years of experience painting animals and landscapes around Grey Bruce.
McLean says all he’s ever wanted to do is paint and he’s been fortunate enough to live his dream.
Owen Sound Event Facilitator Doug Cleverley says it was a great show, and he’s impressed with the wide range of talented artists who were recognized.
Other winners:
Dance Award – DanceMakers Owen Sound
Music Award – The Bearcats
Literary Award – Bob Guiliano (Letters of Hope)
Visual Arts Award – Joan Hawksbridge
Theatre Award: Youth Theatre Coalition
Emerging Artist Award: Elly MacKay
Patron Award: Donna Steinacher (Georgian Bay Symphony)
