Arts Hall of Fame Gala recognizes local talent

Shawna O'Neill, TC Media
Arts Hall of Fame Gala recognizes local talent
From left

CORNWALL, Ontario – Masked art supporters glided through the doors of the Ramada Inn on Saturday, Oct. 13 around 6 p.m. to celebrate the induction of 12 local artists into the Arts Hall of Fame.

Tickets to the masquerade evening were $65. Half of the value of each ticket will be contributed to the Cornwall Arts Centre.

“The idea of a Hall of Fame reminds us that we are building on the shoulders of others who have come before us,” said Rose Desnoyers, Co-Chair of the Centre for the Arts Collective.

John McMartin, who is also Co-Chair of the Centre for the Arts Collective, believes that the evening of celebration had been in the making for the last three years.

“We wanted to recognize as many people as possible over the next number of years who have contributed to the arts; (people) who have past and who are currently active artists,” he said.

“The opportunity arose in the last while for the artists to get the due recognition that has been longstanding coming. All of the arts, the various disciplines, are here and represented,” added McMartin.

According to Desnoyers, the five disciplines include music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts and dance. Desnoyers said that three years ago, five artists from the theatre were the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

After years of attempts to bring an Arts Centre to Cornwall, art supporters are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the new hub downtown.

“The City, in purchasing the Bank of Montreal (BMO) building, was a major step and a vote of confidence in the arts community,” said McMartin. “It will be renovated dramatically.”

“The Centre for the Arts is going to need support from the arts community and the general public to be refurbished…tonight is just to show that the artists are there, they’re full of life and united,” said Desnoyers.

Artists inducted into the Hall of Fame during the gala include the following:

Carm Aubé

Yolande Charbonneau

Teen Dancause

Lynne Francis

Pierre Giroux

Katalin Kennedy

Rosamonde Laberge

Michel Lamarche

Peter Leclair

Brian Morin

Thérèse Motard

Vivienne Panizzon 

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