Celebrating the Best of Huron County’s Arts & Culture

April 30, 2018
Warden, Jim Ginn with the 2018 Wardens Award Winner Jacquie Bishop and Huron Arts and Heritage Network Chair Aaron Neeb.

Warden, Jim Ginn with the 2018 Wardens Award Winner Jacquie Bishop and Huron Arts and Heritage Network Chair Aaron Neeb.

The ninth annual Huron County Cultural Awards were given out on Friday, April 27 at the Blyth Memorial Community Hall. This year’s Cultural Award recipients were chosen from a pool of fifteen outstanding nominees, nominated by members of the public, for their contribution they made to the arts, culture, and heritage sector of Huron County in 2017.

Heritage Individual or Organization: Colleen Maguire for her volunteer work with the Huron Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the annual Mariners’ Service at Knox Presbyterian Church and her role as a historical interpreter at the Huron Historic Gaol’s Behind the Bars program.

Individual Artist: Gil Garratt for the work he has been doing as Artistic Director and performer at the Blyth Festival. Garrattt is also an accomplished musician and is known for his collaborative approach to the arts and his commitment to telling the stories of Huron County.

Community Contribution: Bryan Morton and the Four Winds Wedding & Events Barn. Bryan Morton gave back to his community by moving his 156 year old barn to Turnberry Street in Brussels. The old barn has been adapted into an event space that will host weddings, local Farmers’ Market and special events.

Cultural Event or Organization: St. Joseph Kingsbridge Community for the work they have done over the past few years readapting the former St. Joseph Church into a community and cultural hub.   St. Joseph Kingsbridge Community had an outstanding 2017 season that included Kingsbridge The Musical by Warren Robinson that saw a total audience of 1,048 for its four performances.

Jacquie Bishop was presented with the Warden’s Award, selected from one of the fifteen nominees deserving of extra recognition. Bishop was recognized for her commitment and many years of volunteer service steering the 2017 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, held in Walton September 19 – 23, 2017.

Along with the award presentations the audience was treated to performances by The Blyth Festival Singers, St. Anne’s Jazz Combo Jazz Cubed and John and Melina Powers. Award winners were presented with an original watercolur painting by Port Albert artist, Michele Miller.

The Huron County Cultural Awards are produced jointly by Huron Arts & Heritage Network and the Cultural Services Department of the County of Huron.

Cultural Event or Organization: St. Joseph Kingsbridge Community

Cultural Event or Organization: St. Joseph Kingsbridge Community for the work they have done over the past few years readapting the former St. Joseph Church into a community and cultural hub. St. Joseph Kingsbridge Community had an outstanding 2017 season that included Kingsbridge The Musical by Warren Robinson that saw a total audience of 1,048 for its four performances

Community Contribution: Bryan Morton and the Four Winds Wedding & Events Barn. Bryan Morton gave back to his community by moving his 156 year old barn to Turnberry Street in Brussels. The old barn has been adapted into an event space that will host weddings, local Farmers’ Market and special events.

Community Contribution: Bryan Morton and the Four Winds Wedding & Events Barn. Bryan Morton gave back to his community by moving his 156 year old barn to Turnberry Street in Brussels. The old barn has been adapted into an event space that will host weddings, local Farmers’ Market and special events.

Individual Artist: Gil Garratt for the work he has been doing as Artistic Director and performer at the Blyth Festival. Garrattt is also an accomplished musician and is known for his collaborative approach to the arts and his commitment to telling the stories of Huron County.

Individual Artist: Gil Garratt for the work he has been doing as Artistic Director and performer at the Blyth Festival. Garrattt is also an accomplished musician and is known for his collaborative approach to the arts and his commitment to telling the stories of Huron County.

Heritage Individual or Organization: Colleen Maguire for her volunteer work with the Huron Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the annual Mariners’ Service at Knox Presbyterian Church and her role as a historical interpreter at the Huron Historic Gaol’s Behind the Bars program.

Heritage Individual or Organization: Colleen Maguire for her volunteer work with the Huron Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the annual Mariners’ Service at Knox Presbyterian Church and her role as a historical interpreter at the Huron Historic Gaol’s Behind the Bars program.

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For more information contact:

Rick Sickinger, Cultural Development Officer
519.482.5457 (ext 3257)
rsickinger@huroncounty.ca