2008 Chronicle Journal Awards for Arts & Heritage
Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 Chronicle-Journal Awards!
Visual Art - Linda Dell is a true believer in the value of arts and culture in the community. Linda has not only mentored young artists while attending Lakehead University, but continues to do so through her work with incarcerated youth and sharing her love of painting through teaching various classes and workshops. Linda has also donated many of her works to Magnus Theatre, the Cancer Society, AIDS Thunder Bay and many more. Linda now owns and operates her Fine Art Studio in Thunder Bay.
Performance & Media Art - Kim Erickson has been a singer, songwriter, pianist, director, choreographer and teacher for more than 25 years. She has brought singing to a broad range of people and has introduced them to a variety of musical genres. Kim lives the belief that a vibrant art community is an essential element in the quality of life in the community and she supports many worthy causes with her artistic talents.
Heritage - Alan Wade has been writing for more than 30 years and over the last decade has been focusing on the local history in Thunder Bay. Alan’s love of writing is clearly seen through his passion of preserving and promoting Thunder Bay’s rich history. Alan’s work is more than just names and dates, he tells stories from First Nations; to the early Europeans; to 20th century business and criminals.
Organization - Ka:nen Our Children Our Future has been at the heart of Aboriginal cultural development in Thunder Bay since its conception in 1995. It is committed to the development of healthy children by strengthening families and communities based on a cultural perspective. Ka:nen Our Children Our Future promotes a vision of a holistic, integrated community-owned approach resulting in a positive change in these families and strives to ensure that services are universally accessible and locally-relevant.
Emerging Youth Artist - Gregory Lewis is a tremendous young musician with a great love of the arts. Gregory never turns down an opportunity to perform and has put his talent to commendable efforts such as: benefits, charitable fundraisers and for promoting the well-being of the sick and elderly in Thunder Bay. Gregory is now pursuing a career in music performance.
The Nominees:
HERITAGE
Alan Wade – has been writing for more than 30 years and over the last decade has been focusing on the local history in Thunder Bay. Alan’s love of writing is clearly seen through his passion of preserving and promoting Thunder Bay’s rich history. Alan’s work is more than just names and dates, he tells stories from First Nations; to the early Europeans; to 20th century business and criminals.
Ahsanul Habib – has been providing architectural services in Thunder Bay since 1987. Ahsanul has helped to shape the look and feel of Thunder Bay with his efforts of promoting the adaptive re-use of existing buildings in the city and his dedication to preserving historical structures in the community. He has not only contributed much of his time to historical preservation but has taken the financial burden in many cases as well.
Little Bear Singers Drum Group – share their culture and heritage of the Anishnawbe to all age groups and cultural backgrounds (through their singing and drumming). They continually promote healthy living and positive changes for the environment, and preserve the stories and song of the aboriginal people of North America. The Little Bear Singers Drum Group members are great role models for First Nations youth and have recently appeared in the groundbreaking film Seeking Bimaadiziiwin.
PERFORMING & MEDIA ARTS
Karina Long – a self taught musician and a born storyteller. Karina has spent over 25 years developing her skills as an artist. A lot of her time has been spent giving back to the community through her volunteer efforts and with her continual desire to reach out to people through her music. Karina has also dedicated her time and musical talent to working with the Canadian Cancer Society in many fundraising efforts.
Kim Erickson – has been a singer, songwriter, pianist, director, choreographer and teacher for more than 25 years. She has brought singing to a broad range of people and has introduced them to a variety of musical genres. Kim lives the belief that a vibrant art community is an essential element in the quality of life in the community and she supports many worthy causes with her artistic talents.
Lee Chambers - local producer and director has been credited with furthering the film industry in our region. His vision and dedication to the “Make it Short Movie Project” garnered media exposure from eTalk Daily to Chill Magazine. The production offered a real film set experience and provided local film enthusiasts with the opportunity to work alongside a professional film crew. Presently, Lee owns 2Knine Creative Lab and teaches in the film program at Confederation College.
Mark Potvin – has been providing rich musical experiences in the area of Jazz and Blues for students of St. Ann School for over 10 years. Mark puts in hours upon hours of volunteer work in the community – offering free concerts and music appreciation activities. Mark’s love of music is truly infectious and he offers continual support and encouragement to his students to expand their horizons and become involved with music.
Stephanie DePiero – has been helping children and teens express their creative sides though dance, drama and song for over 9 years. Stephanie developed a production company called “BOUNCE” in the summer of 2000. She uses this to reach children in the community who enjoy performing. She is an accomplished teacher, performer and entrepreneur and is a performing arts role model in the community.
VISUAL ARTS
Brian Holden – is a very skillful artist who is modest in his talents. Brian’s dedication to the art of nature in Northern Ontario is evident through not only his visual work, but his artist’s statement and lifestyle. Brian works with a variety of different art forms such as: photography, printmaking, digital art, multiple modes of painting and many others.
Dennis Niittynen – a gifted painter and welder, Dennis has spent endless hours detailing work on older vehicles in recognition of those who fought and died for us in the past and present. Dennis dedicates a lot of his time to the war veterans and has received recognition for his volunteer and fundraising efforts.
Guy Dufresne – an accomplished artist with a strong commitment to the community. His inspiration is drawn from his surroundings, and his use of styles and techniques has stimulated the mastery of his craft that he displays today. For over 20 years, Guy has used his talents to carve out a prominent place for himself in the arts community. Countless organizations have benefited from his generosity with donations of his art.
Kelly Greer – has won numerous local, provincial and international awards for his excellence in visual art. Kelly works harmoniously with people and produces works of art that are a remarkable combination of inventiveness and craftsmanship. Kelly has supported local restaurants and the artist culture of Thunder Bay through numerous one-person art exhibitions. He has also donated much of his work to local schools such as: Bishop E.Q. Jennings School and St. Patrick High School.
Leslie Bailey – is recognized as a creative force in Thunder Bay. Leslie has won several prizes from the Canadian Doll Artist Association and has also been featured in numerous magazines such as Art Doll Quarterly and Soft Dolls. Besides Leslie’s personal success she has also given back to the community as the founder and operator of the “Celebration Exposition of the Arts” held annually from 1995 – 2006.
Linda Dell – is a true believer in the value of arts and culture in the community. Linda has not only mentored young artists while attending Lakehead University, but continues to do so through her work with incarcerated youth and sharing her love of painting through teaching various classes and workshops. Linda has also donated many of her works to Magnus Theatre, the Cancer Society, AIDS Thunder Bay and many more. Linda now owns and operates her Fine Art Studio in Thunder Bay.
Meghan Niittynen – found love for art at a very young age and has followed it her entire life. Meghan is a gifted artist with works displayed at the Thunder Bay Museum, Definitely Superior Art Gallery, Magnus Theatre, and the Lakehead University Study. Meghan has spent a lot of time working with children and youth in helping them to develop their creative skills. Meghan is now a talented, professional artist and photographer.
Monica Belluz – took an interest in art at an early age and has since then received many awards for her artwork, photography and designs. For the past 10 years, she has been teaching art to children and adults who have gone on to exhibit their work and win numerous contests. Her artistic talents have been utilized at Magnus Theatre, the Stratford Festival, and the Thunder Bay Museum where she is currently employed.
ORGANIZATION
Ka:nen Our Children Our Future – has been at the heart of Aboriginal cultural development in Thunder Bay since its conception in 1995. It is committed to the development of healthy children by strengthening families and communities based on a cultural perspective. Ka:nen Our Children Our Future promotes a vision of a holistic, integrated community-owned approach resulting in a positive change in these families and strives to ensure that services are universally accessible and locally-relevant.
Lakehead Choral Group – is one of the longest running choral groups in Northwestern Ontario, originating in 1956. The group reaches out to the community by singing in homes for the aged, at various community functions and has been continual recognized over the years. The members of the Lakehead Choral Group, past and present, young and young-at-heart have been providing musical entertainment to the community for over 50 years now and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.
Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop – has grown into the largest literary organization in Northwestern Ontario over the last 10 years. NOWW encourages and promotes the development of the writers and literature of Northwestern Ontario. It has supported writers through a plethora of programs and activities including workshops, readings, annual writing contests, literary newsletters and social events.
Sounds of Superior Inc. – is a chapter of the world wide organization known as the “Sweet Adelines International” and has been a visible member of the Thunder Bay community since 1974. Sounds of Superior Inc. mandates itself to perpetuate and enhance the barbershop music art form through education, which benefits the community by furthering the artistic enrichment. Over the last 34 years, the group has immensely improved their musical and performance skills, and currently has over 50 members.
Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society – is celebrating their 100th anniversary! The Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, started by just a few enthusiastic volunteers, can lay claim to a century of accomplishment and contribution to the community. Over the years, this society has been at the forefront of cultural change in Thunder Bay and has managed to build a first-class museum and art gallery, and has established an enviable reputation for quality and excellence.
EMERGING YOUTH ARTIST
Andy Appelle – is a St. Ignatius High School student and has been keenly focused on a career in film. Andy has been very active in the arts community achieving roles in school, local theatre and student films at Confederation College. Andy was recently given the opportunity to make a promotional video for St. Ignatius High School from concept development to a finished DVD – the school currently uses this in their promotional efforts.
Eric Morel – is a gifted young artist, who, at age 7, started his path to the world of photography. In a short period of time, Eric became actively involved with the Definitely Superior Art Gallery, and thanks to their guidance, some of Eric’s works were chosen to be displayed at two shows promoting urban in-fill. Eric has made a profound effect on his classmates and teachers at St. Martin’s School by inspiring others to become involved in the creative community.
Gregory Lewis – is a tremendous young musician with a great love of the arts. Gregory never turns down an opportunity to perform and has put his talent to commendable efforts such as: benefits, charitable fundraisers and for promoting the well-being of the sick and elderly in Thunder Bay. Gregory is now pursuing a career in music performance.
Hannah Grant – has ambitiously been pursuing her dream of becoming a professional actress and has appeared in a number of BOUNCE productions, such as: “Mamma Mia”, “Hairspray” and “Wicked.” Hannah is well known in the arts community as she has spent time working with the Make it Short movie project and attending Magnus Theatre’s youth theatre course in 2005. Hannah is currently expanding her talents by directing the St. Ignatius Drama Club’s production of “Til Death Do Us Part.”
Jon Reid – has been a key performer in the Hammarskjöld High School Music Department for the past four years. His musical leadership has inspired countless others, and he continues to be an active performer and learner as he now prepares to continue his music education at the Rocky Mountain College in Calgary this September. Jon is a multi-faceted musician as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. He has recently recorded his own music and is regularly performing with the Thunder Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra.
