Songwriter David Foster, author Tomson Highway win performing arts awards

Advertisement

Advertise with us

OTTAWA - Songwriter and composer David Foster and author Tomson Highway are among the recipients of Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/02/2022 (1677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – Songwriter and composer David Foster and author Tomson Highway are among the recipients of Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts.

Foster and Highway are among the laureates listed for the 2022 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for lifetime achievement, which recognize those who have made an indelible contribution to cultural life in Canada and around the world.

The roster also includes film and television screenwriter, director and producer Fernand Dansereau; broadcaster, theatre artist, scholar and activist Rita Shelton Deverell; and dancer, teacher and choreographer Linda Rabin.

David Foster arrives for the Gala Premiere of the film
David Foster arrives for the Gala Premiere of the film "David Foster: Off The Record" at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. Foster and author Tomson Highway are among the artists in line for Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj

Foster helped launch the careers of music superstars including Celine Dion, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban.

Highway is one of Canada’s most acclaimed writers and performers, whose work spotlights Indigenous people and culture.

His award-winning plays include “The Rez Sisters” and “Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing.”

The 2022 laureates will be honoured at two events in Ottawa, culminating in a gala at the National Arts Centre on May 28.

The National Arts Centre Award for extraordinary work by an individual artist or company goes to choreographer Crystal Pite, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation added in a release late Wednesday.

Pite is founding artistic director of the Vancouver-based company Kidd Pivot and is known for works that address challenging and complex themes such as trauma, addiction and conflict.

Meanwhile, the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for voluntarism, which recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual or group to the performing arts, goes to Michelle Smith for her support of many francophone community and arts organizations in Manitoba.

Nominations for the annual awards are submitted by members of the public to recognize artists who have made a lifetime commitment and contribution to the performing arts in Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Blue Bombers whiff on their opportunities to put game away

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Preview

Blue Bombers whiff on their opportunities to put game away

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Friday, Sep. 25, 2026

In theory, Bryce Perkins has a simple job.

When it’s third and short, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers trot out the short-yardage quarterback, and all he has to do is plunge forward for a yard or two to make everyone on his sideline happy.

But on Friday night against the visiting Toronto Argonauts, he went above and beyond his job description.

The Bombers, down 24-21 with six minutes left, faced a third-and-one from their own end when Perkins found a hole and burst through it for a 76-yard touchdown to put the home team in front 28-24 late.

Read
Friday, Sep. 25, 2026

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Aries.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

This is a wonderful, energetic day. The moon in your sign is dancing with lucky Jupiter promoting domestic peace and happiness. It’s a great day for business. But your top choice will be to socialize, enjoy fun activities with kids, check out sporting events or slip away on a vacation. .

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Puzzles Palace

1 minute read Monday, Jul. 27, 2026

To solve our puzzles, please subscribe with this special offer: |

Winnipeg a character all its own onscreen

Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Preview

Winnipeg a character all its own onscreen

Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Watch something shot in Winnipeg with a Winnipegger, and you will be treated to a live running commentary. We can’t help playing “spot the location.”

When we recognize that field/statue/mall/intersection/theatre, we have to say it. It’s practically civically mandated.

A friend told me she was at a film screening at which people literally applauded footage of the Mint. (That likely would have been 2005’s The Constant Gardener.)

Being excited about seeing Portage Place Mall at Christmastime in the trailer for Violent Night 2 — and then exclaiming, to your husband, “Oh, look, it’s Portage Place Mall at Christmastime!” — is not, I will admit, particularly cosmopolitan behaviour. In fact, I could be accused of suffering from a mild case of Podunkitis.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

The wheels on the bus burned down, down, down…

Russell Wangersky 7 minute read Preview

The wheels on the bus burned down, down, down…

Russell Wangersky 7 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Up on the high ground, a year after the big forest fire in Newfoundland’s Conception Bay North, and the bare rock is startling.

It’s ghostly. The little birds flit and chirp from the naked silver bare-wood branches, and a solitary northern flicker makes its call from — somewhere. But mostly, it’s still, and silent. With the underbrush gone, you can see how little animal life is here right now.

But the most astounding thing is underfoot. On the high rock behind Adam’s Cove and away from the sea, not only are the trees and low brush gone, but much of the soil has burned away as well.

It burned very, very hot.

Read
Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Nuit Blanche ready to wow in city’s core

Conrad Sweatman 5 minute read Preview

Nuit Blanche ready to wow in city’s core

Conrad Sweatman 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 25, 2026

For one night each September, downtown Winnipeg becomes an art gallery — an amusement park, even.

During Nuit Blanche, which takes place tonight, 3D projections spill across the Exchange District, The Forks and St. Boniface, and thousands flood the city core to take in live music, DJs and installations.

“There really isn’t anything like it. I know every promoter probably tells you that, but we are the only event that works at this scale in the fall,” says Nuit Blanche general manager Kurt Tittlemier.

“Culture Days Manitoba is run with the mission statement to make free, accessible artistic programming to all,” he adds, referring to the multi-week national festival, “and Nuit Blanche is our flagship event.”

Read
Friday, Sep. 25, 2026