HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-04-19, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012.
Metal pile raises $1,500
Locals nominated for Huron cultural awards
Born to be wild
The members of the Almost Famous Players theatre troupe took to the stage at Blyth
Memorial Hall as part of the Women’s Day Out event on April 14. The group, shown here
performing Steppenwolf’s Born to be Wild, is based out of Wingham. (Denny Scott photo)
The vitality of Huron County’s
arts and heritage community is
celebrated throughout the year with
a repertoire of performances,
programs, exhibitions and events.
On Saturday, April 14, a packed
house at the Bayfield Town Hall
celebrated 27 nominees including
individuals, organizations and events
whose names were put forward by
colleagues in the county as
contenders for the 2011 Cultural
Awards. All of the nominees do
excellent work and contribute
enormously to enhancing the quality
of life in Huron.
The Huron Arts and Heritage
Network (HAHN), a not-for-profit
organization that represents
individuals, organizations and
businesses and works to engage our
residents, enhance our visitors’
experience, build awareness for
locations, sites and celebrations and
enrich our community spirit hosted
the celebration. Five awards were
presented.
Nominees for the cultural
event/organization award were:
Bach Music Festival of Canada,
Blyth Festival Singers, Celtic Folk
Society/Celtic Roots Festival, Out of
the Storm, and Riverview House
Concerts. Jenna Ujiye, a member of
the Board of Directors, presented the
award to Celtic Folk Society/ Celtic
Roots Festival. This annual festival
celebrates folk music, dance and
craft art traditions of Canada’s
immigrant and founding cultures.
This year they celebrate their 20th
anniversary with five music stages,
dance performances, artisans
market, the Celtic College, a kids’
day camp, and a Rural Roots concert
series. Inspired leadership of Warren
and Eleanor Robinson, supported by
many volunteers, billets and
sponsors, and assisted by a summer
staff, the Celtic Folk Society/Celtic
Roots Festival attracts thousands of
Celtic culture lovers to Goderich
each August. Festival Founders
Warren and Eleanor Robinson
accepted the award.
Nominees in the individual artist
category were: Paul Ciufo, Karen
Melady and Linda Wiebe (Worth
their Salt), Frank Moore, Greg
Sherwood, George Zoethout.
Director of Cultural Services, and
HAHN Board member, Meighan
Wark presented the award to Greg
Sherwood.
Sherwood began teaching in
Huron County in 1988 at Seaforth
District High School where he
supplemented the arts program by
bringing in renowned local artists.
When he moved to F.E. Madill
Secondary School as head of the art
department he continued to bring
artists in to inspire students. He led
student field trips to Toronto,
Montreal, Chicago, Ottawa, New
York and Paris to visit galleries and
study architecture. Through his
volunteer work with the Blyth
Festival Art Gallery, Sherwood has
curated many professional
exhibitions and has chaired the
annual student show for 11 years.
He has also been instrumental in
ensuring the success of the annual
community show. Outside the
classroom and his volunteer
interests, Sherwood is a recognized
painter in his own right. His large
sprawling canvases featuring local
landscapes and clouds blowing
across broad skies have been
exhibited in Blyth, Bayfield,
Goderich and London galleries.
The community contributor award
recognizes a volunteer, sponsor or
donor that has made an impact on
Huron’s cultural community. The
nominees were Elizabeth Battye
(Blyth), Margaret Day (Wingham),
Gail Grant (Bayfield), Friedhelm
Hoffman (Exeter), Jim Lee
(Brussels), Peter Meades (Bayfield)
and Duncan McGregor (Blyth).
David Armstrong, Chair of the
Huron County Historical Society
presented the award to Friedhelm
Hoffman. Hoffman had a vision of a
major festival in South Huron being
a catalyst for community pride while
showcasing the enthusiasm of a rural
community for the development of
cultural life. This dream became a
reality in 2011 as the entire
community embraced the inaugural
Bach Music Festival of Canada. As
chair of the board, Hoffman’s role
was critical as he led with
enthusiasm, dynamic energy,
organizational ability, and
unflagging belief resulting in
outstanding achievement. Hoffman,
as a Warden at Trivitt Memorial
Church, is committed to community
outreach through development of
harvest weekends, Octoberfest
events, children’s theatre and
entertainment, dinners and Sunday
community church services. A gifted
leader, Hoffman encourages others
and believes in their success.
Nominated in the youth category
were Mathieu Burdan and Curtis
teBrinke. Eric Coates, Artistic
Director of the Blyth Festival,
presented the award to Lisa and
The Blyth Public School Grade 8
class, thanks to the efforts of several
community members, are a lot
closer to paying for their school trip
this year.
A scrap metal drive collected
enough to raise $1,500 for the
students and, with the upcoming
annual community supper and
auction at Blyth Memorial Hall on
April 26, the class hopes to be over
the top according to student Phaedra
Scott.
Phaedra’s father Mike helped to
set up the scrap collection drive and
said that he couldn’t have done it
without the help of local community
members like Lieven Verschaeve
who brought in his loader from the
Walton-area to help load up the bins
as well as finding other sources of
scrap.
The fundraiser came about as a
result of a family member cleaning
out a garage and making $600. After
learning about that, Mike gathered
up metal from his own property and
ended up raising $400 on his own
for the class’s upcoming trip in the
fall.
The metal was taken to Secondary
Resources in Goderich, a company
that specializes in recycling
materials.
Forthcoming Wedding
Connie and Tom Black
and
Chris and the
late John Garrick
are pleased to announce
the engagement
of their children
Jennifer and Joe.
A September wedding
is planned.
Tickets at The Centennial Hall Box
Office. Call: 519-672-1967
or online: www.centennialhall.london.ca
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 – 7:30PM
CENTENNIAL HALL - LONDON Makes
A Great
Christmas
Gift
Makes
A Great
Christmas
Gift
Makes a
Great
Mother's
Day Gift!
Happy 50th
Anniversary
Lyle & Yvonne
Youngblut
Love your family
Join us to celebrate at
254 Hamilton St.
(Home of Darryl & Karen)
2 pm - 4 pm
April 21, 2012
Best Wishes Only
F.E. Madill
Drama
Guild
presentsAdmissions
by Colleen Neuman
Thursday, April 19th
at 7 pm
F.E. Madill SS Drama Room
Cost is $5/person at the door
Please come out and
support the Drama Guild!
A play about life...and death.
Entertainment Leisure&
Continued on page 32
By Denny Scott
The Citizen