Lifetime Achievement

Jan Narveson
Jan Narveson, O.C., is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo, and the author of seven books. In 1974 he founded and serves as the President of the Kitchener‐Waterloo Chamber Music Society. Jan arranges over 70 chamber music concerts annually presenting musicians from around the world at the Narvesons’ Music Room in Waterloo.

Corporate Arts Supporter

Josslin Insurance
Josslin Insurance is a family‐owned insurance brokerage that has been providing clients with simple, genuine and real insurance since 1880. Located in New Hamburg, Tavistock, Kitchener, Wellesley and Elmira, they are committed to supporting their surrounding communities by nurturing strong arts cultures.

Leading Edge

Aimee Berends
Laurier Graduate Aimee Berends is principal oboe in the Guelph Symphony Orchestra and practices music therapy at Grand River Hospital.

Conor Bergauer
A KW singer with KW Glee since 2012, Conor Bergauer has performed in Tommy at the Stratford Festival and in the KW Music Production’s, The Full Monty.

Anne Marie Hayman
Chalmers Family Arts and Culture Experience Award recipient Anne Marie Hayman has served as stage manager, director, producer, or artistic director in over 30 productions since 2011.

Torin Langen
Filmmaker Torin Langen is a jack of all trades: he’s a director, cinematographer, editor, writer, graphic designer, composer, and screening coordinator and presenter.

Victoria Melik
Laurier HonBMus student Victoria Melik has traveled the world as a freelance violinist. She’s active in the region with the Nota Bene Baroque Players and Spiritus Ensemble.

The Reklaws
Brother and sister entertaining in Waterloo Region for years, The Reklaws were one of the top artists in the Canadian Country Music Association’s Discovery Program.

Literary

Rose Murray
CTV Kitchener’s resident cook for over 25 years, Rose Murray is an award winning cookbook author, food writer, broadcaster, and teacher.

Mentor

Deanne Bingleman
Deanne Bingleman’s mission is to bring positive dance and drama – and lifelong learning, sharing, and training – to as many people as she can.

Lisa Collins
Lisa Collins is a choreographer, performer, teacher, agent, and proud owner of IN.MOTION School of the Arts, LMC Productions, GET EXPOSED, and the IN.MOTION Cares Program.

Julia Drake
Julie Drake, Drama and Dance teacher at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School, produces, directs, and choreographs school musicals and plays.

Rick Haldenby
Director of Waterloo Architecture for 26 years, Rick Haldenby founded the Rome Program and created the Cambridge campus. He has mentored thousands of students.

Carlos Siri
Carlos Siri has developed a tango community in KW since 2005, hosting a monthly dance and teaching tango to excited KW residents.

Rebecca Smith
A dedicated teacher, Rebecca Smith has taught Visual Arts to Waterloo Region District School Board elementary students for 12 years. She guided students with the Journey of Hope Mural Project.

Music

Jason Barry
Four time and current Canadian Country Music Awards Guitar Player of the Year Jason Barry has won multiple production awards and credits. Jason owns Waterloo’s Barrytone Recording Studio.

Sean Croley
Keyboardist Sean Croley’s band “the Weak Need” was nominated for Gospel Music Awards Modern Rock Alternative Album of the Year in 2009. He’s performed on over 65 albums.

Tessa Jennison
Classically and jazz‐trained multi‐instrumentalist Tessa Jennison has music in her blood. She is a community arts activist, music educator, and acclaimed songwriter.

Jeff Poolton
For the past eight years Jeff Poolton has performed charity concerts for Kidsability and Anselma House, among others, and since 1999 entertained in area nursing and retirement homes.

Ed Ringwald
An international concert performer with extensive studio recordings, jingles, and movie scores, Ed Ringwald is the winning CCMA Steel Guitar Player 2011‐2013 and has performed with Gordon Lightfoot among others.

Randy Stewart Rollo
Creator, host, and songwriter for CTV Network series “Backstage at the Centre” (in the Square), Randy Stewart Rollo founded Lulu’s Roadhouse Band.

Meghan Weber
Combining visual and musical art, Meghan Weber is a charity‐minded musician who recently released her ep, “Afterthoughts,” and is currently recording with her band Falcon Abbey.

Mark Willms
A singer/songwriter seen in Lost in Translation, local musician Mark Willms has performed for millions in 20 countries over a 26 year career with Lulu’s Roadhouse Band.

Festival or Event

Latitudes Storytelling Festival
Latitudes Storytelling Festival is an arts‐based charity celebrating story for adults, children, and youth told through digital, poetry, music, spoken word, image, puppets, and theatre.

Winterloo Festival
Winterloo, Waterloo’s Winter Family Festival, takes place each family day weekend and features dog sled rides, ice carving competitions, and a popular chili cook‐off.

New Festival or Event

A Day & A Night Art Meets Music Festival
A Day & A Night Art Meets Music Festival is a free, family event that showcases local artists, actors, bands, buskers, and the revitalized Village of Hespeler.

Dunfield Theatre Festival Season
The Dunfield Theatre Festival Season saw 88,000 theatre‐goers enjoy 6 productions over 27 weeks, thanks to over 10,000 volunteer hours by youth and seniors.

LatinFest
LatinFest is an all‐ages festival that has been growing since 2011, with international, national, and regional acts performing for thousands of attendees.

Nerd Night Kitchener-Waterloo
Nerd Night is a monthly social event, with presentations, trivia, art, and games focused on learning, laughing, and connecting in a community‐building, inclusive atmosphere.

Night/Shift
Night\Shift, a nocturnal, community‐building festival of art, culture, and adventures, the 2013 inaugural event brought performances, installations, and participatory creativity to 20 downtown Kitchener locations after dark.

Festival or Event Volunteer

Fauzia Mazhar
A community‐builder who showcases the voices and faces of the marginalized, with a particular focus on Muslim women, Fauzia Mazhar has worked in arts, social services, and local democracy for 14 years.

Narine Dat Sookram
Narine Dat Sookram is an author who initiated the Caribbean Dreams concert, the Caribbean Spice radio program, and founded the award winning Active Vision Charity.

Donna Stewart
A volunteer in the visual arts since 2006, Donna Stewart worked tirelessly to deliver the BIG Print Community Quilt Project, celebrating Cambridge’s 40th Anniversary.

Open Category

byDesign Creative Arts Academy
For seven years, byDesign Arts Education have trained students from various backgrounds to excel with integrity, create positive environments, and grow their skills, attitude, and confidence.

Susan Cook-Scheerer
Host of Rogers TV daytime and producer of Studio 20 which focuses on the local arts and entertainment scene, Susan Cook‐Scheerer frequently attends local events, both as MC and as guest.

Kathie Jordan
Passionate about creating beautiful things, Kathie Jordan has worked with stained glass for over 20 years. She breathes new life into old pieces, saving them from the landfill.

Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
The Kitchener‐Waterloo Art Gallery is a public art gallery with a permanent collection of over 4,000 works cared for and exhibited freely on behalf of the community.

Kwartzlab
A space where art and technology meet with a mission to get people excited about making things, Kwartzlab is a meeting space, art gallery, and community workshop.

Christian Bernard Singer
Former director of CAFKA and the Rouge Contemporary Art Projects, Christian Bernard Singer has curated the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery since 2009.

Performing Arts

Majdi Bou-Matar
Founder of MT Space, a theatre company committed to cultural diversity, Majdi Bou‐Matar’s work tours nationally and internationally. His recent credits include: Body 13 and The Last 15 Seconds.

Amanda Brunk
Founder, producer, music director, and cross‐over voice teacher of The Singer’s Theatre, Amanda Brunk also conducts the Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir.

Wilber Cortez
Performing magic for 14 years in three languages, Wilber Cortez volunteers for local music festivals and has won Ontario Magician’s Closeup Competition.

Anne-Marie Donovan
Professor, performer, director, creator, producer, and artistic director Anne‐Marie Donovan is founder of InterArts Matrix, former artistic director of NUMUS, and Board Chair of Open Ears Festival.

Nada Humsi
Theatre artist, actor, writer, and theatre and mime instructor, local performer Nada Humsi has performed in over 15 countries and has won four international awards.

KW Glee
Partnering with the KW Symphony for its tenth season, KW Glee has served as a pipeline of talent to colleges and theatre companies in the Waterloo Region.

Textile, Fibre and Quilting Arts

Janelle Martin
With three decades of experience, Janelle Martin is an award‐winning knitter who has inspired her peers, spinning designs infused with Japanese

Elena Savinovski
A passionate felter and online Etsy retailer of her work, Elena Savinovski has studied with Canadian and international feltmakers since 2009.

Visual Arts

Hilary Gauld Camilleri
Committed volunteer and owner of “One for the Wall Photography” and “Another Doors Opens”, Hilary Gauld Camilleri is an award‐winning family and children’s photographer.

Ryan Consell
Since 2006 Ryan Consell has supported community theatre with props, costume design, and construction. He has lectured on Fine Arts for Engineers at the University of Waterloo.

Kate Cox
Partnering with local bands and filmmakers to find new outlets for her creativity, Kate Cox is the recent recipient of two Regional Arts Fund Grants.

Melissa Doherty
An accomplished artist, Melissa Doherty’s work has been exhibited internationally, as well as locally, and is included in collections owned by Sir Elton John, the KW/AG, and BMO.

Ryan Leandres
A founding member of local filmmaking group The 12 Angry Filmmakers, Ryan Leandres has worked on numerous short films and collaborations in the Waterloo Region.

Meg Leslie
Meg Leslie is an artist who launched a year‐long mission in 2013 to teach before‐hand mosaic‐tile workshops, which will adorn a wall outside the House of Friendship.

Amanda Marie Luis
Amanda Marie Luis’ voice speaks in every aspect of her artwork; shape, line, size, texture, colour – there is meaning in every detail.

Sonya Lyon
A graphic designer with 15 years of experience in Waterloo Region, Sonya Lyon donates her time and talent to charitable organizations between working with 60+ clients.

Amy Roger
A prolific painter dabbling in clay, glass, and custom framing, Amy Roger is an art educator, event organizer, curator, and exhibition installation specialist.

Pamela Rojas
Using art as a tool for community integration, Pamela Rojas creates a local visual impact with the assistance of volunteer youth, women, and newcomers to Waterloo Region.

Lloyd Walker
Lloyd Walker is a musician, producer, sculptor, and painter with a strong online presence through social media. His work is reflective of the community of Kitchener‐Waterloo.

Ruth Winger
An artist, illustrator, and designer with 12 years experience at the Record, Ruth Winger, painter and teacher, has worked in South Africa, the US, and Canada.

Woody Woodfield
Woody Woodfield, owner of Spun Turtle Productions custom screen printing, sold canvas work with Art Allies. He started the annual “Street Dreams Graffiti” art show in 2009.