Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, Ronnie Burkett, Marilyn Denis, Andrea Martin, George Stroumboulopoulos, Tonya Williams, Wes “Maestro” Williams and Braden Wright are recognized for their outstanding achievements in and contribution to the performing arts.
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee: 2024 GGPAA Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award
Soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee’s engaging personality, exceptional musicianship and powerful voice have taken her to the major orchestras and concert halls of every continent, as well as the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, and a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II.
The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award recognizes artists for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada. These national awards are presented in the categories of Stages (formerly Theatre), Dance, Classical Music, Popular Music and Screens and Voices (formerly Broadcasting and Film). Nominations for this category are open to the public.
Ronnie Burkett, O.C: 2024 GGPAA Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award
Puppeteer, playwright, designer and performer Ronnie Burkett, O.C., is recognized as one of Canada’s foremost theatre artists and has been credited with reinventing the art of puppetry. Provocative, topical, compassionate and entertaining, his work has revitalized puppet theatre, consistently attracting adult audiences who are enthralled by the colourful characters populating his miniature world of big ideas. His productions have been commissioned and presented by major theatres and festivals and have earned critical and public acclaim across Canada and around the world. He has also shared his knowledge and experience with hundreds of aspiring artists through masterclasses, workshops and lectures.
Marilyn Denis: 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television will honour Marilyn Denis with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards in recognition of her impressive 40-year career in television, which she began reporting on weather, sports and entertainment. This led her to hosting Cityline for two decades and 13 successful seasons hosting CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show. The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a Canadian individual for an exceptional lifetime of work that has had a profound impact on the media industry at home or abroad.
Andrea Martin: 2024 GGPAA Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award
Actor Andrea Martin’s hilarious characterizations and heart-warming performances have been delighting audiences for over 40 years. A beloved icon of stage and screen, she gained prominence in the 1980s as a regular on the award-winning sketch comedy series SCTV (Second City Television). Her Broadway career has earned her Tony Awards for featured actor in the musicals My Favorite Year (1993) and Pippin (2013), and she has an equally impressive list of film and television appearances.
George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos, C.M: Appointment to the Order of Canada (Member)
ACTRA Toronto member George Stroumboulopoulos, C.M., was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in December 2023 for his leading contributions to Canadian media and journalism as a renowned broadcaster and producer in television and radio. Appointments are made for sustained achievement at three levels: Companion, Officer, and Member. A Member (C.M.) recognizes distinguished service in or to a particular community, group, or field of activity.
Tonya Williams: 2024 Changemaker Award
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television will honour Tonya Williams with the Changemaker Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards in recognition of the instrumental work she has done to creating systemic change in the Canadian screen industry, specifically through her founding of Reelworld in 2000, to advance opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour. The Changemaker Award recognizes and honours those in the media community in Canada who are using their voice or platform to call out systemic racism and discrimination, supporting and amplifying the voices of those who are actively engaged in anti-racist work, and seeking structural transformations in media, film, and television in Canada that promote values of equity and inclusion.
Wes “Maestro” Williams: 2024 GGPAA Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award
Recording artist, actor, author and motivational speaker Wes “Maestro” Williams is often regarded as the “godfather of Canadian hip hop.” He is the first Canadian rapper to achieve mainstream success. His debut album, Symphony in Effect, was the first album by a Canadian hip hop artist to reach platinum status, and his landmark single “Let Your Backbone Slide” was the first rap recording to go gold and the first rap song inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Alongside his musical career, Mr. Williams is also a successful film and television actor, author, and motivational speaker.
Braden Wright: Audie Award
Braden Wright took home an Audie Award from the Audio Publishers Association in the Multi-Voiced Performance category for the audiobook No Two Persons.
The Audie Awards® is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. The 2024 Audies Gala took place at The Avalon in Los Angeles on March 4, 2024.
Applause Spotlight
Have you been recognized with a special industry award for your work or special honour for your contribution to Canada’s screen-based industries? Let us know and you could be featured in one of our quarterly applause articles! Find out more.
