Arts Awards

Alice Burke (she/her) is a dance educator with a career spanning more than 40 years. Her warm personality and enthusiasm make her an unwavering presence in the arts, cherished as both a mentor and liaison. With titles including Dance Animator for the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, senior and guest faculty roles in professional dance institutions, and expertise as a choreographer and adjudicator, Alice is a cornerstone of the dance world. Alice is frequently called upon her for dance-related activities in St. Catharines including the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, Let It Glow, Celebration of Nations, Ballet Jörgen local participants, and more. Alice’s impact extends beyond the stage, as she pioneers dance and yoga programs for women’s and teens’ shelters.

Alice’s true passion lies in mentoring emerging dance talents and bridging local dance schools. For example, she brought 80 youth together from several local dance studios to perform at the Let It Glow last year. Her impactful blog is a resource for dance parents, students, and peers. Fueled by her global travel experiences, Alice is dedicated to fostering diversity and change in the industry. She inspires her students to embrace community spirit, pay it forward, and uplift their own communities.

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Ren Foster (he/him) is a mixed-race transgender male who finds inspiration from movies, games, TV, and even the world around him. He predominantly works in the digital field to save money on the cost of supplies and to leverage the advantages of technology to bring his work to life.

Jennifer Lynn (she/her) was born and raised in St. Catharines. She has always had a love for stories and music from an early age. She taught herself how to write songs and play the acoustic guitar her father gave her many years ago. Over the years, she worked on her songwriting until she felt ready to begin sharing it with others. What started out as something she kept close to her chest eventually developed into local open mic nights, booking regular gigs, and most recently, playing her first music festival.

In the past year, Jennifer released her debut single, ‘Why You Runnin'?,’ and this year, she felt ready to share her message on a grander scale. On July 21, her dream materialized with the release of ‘Bluebird,’ her debut album produced by Derek Elliotson. Comprising nine self-penned songs, Jennifer uses a mix of her musical influences, spanning country, folk, americana, and rock. Her lyrics are deep, soulful, and introspective, often based on personal experiences and her observations of the world around her, while also offering a message of hope to anyone who hears it.

Vik Mudge (he/him) is a trans non-binary dance artist, choreographer, and dance instructor from Niagara. Vik grew up surrounded by art and performance, having danced since the age of seven and pursued theatrical performance as a teenager. With experience in a multitude of dance styles, musical theatre performance, clowning, mime, mask work, as well as stage management, Vik draws from all of these skills in his artistic practice and finds inspiration in sometimes unexpected ways. His practice is all about healing from years of trauma they’ve faced as a trans person and finding confidence in their voice and body once again. From all these experiences, Vik wants to create a landscape of performance and art that is safe for queer people, telling their stories in authentic and moving ways.

Vik works at several dance studios across Southern Ontario in addition to pursuing more creative endeavors. They had a residency with the contemporary dance company Aeris Körper in 2022 and are currently engaged in a co-mentorship with dance artist Sid Ryan Eilers in 2023. Their most recent project, ‘The Body and The Brain,’ was an anthology dance show featured in the 2023 In The Soil Arts Festival. Vik is also currently working on a dance film funded in part by the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program, which they hope to premiere later in 2023.

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Sandy Middleton (she/her) is a mixed media photographic artist residing in St. Catharines. Her education and background are in still photography, with a degree from Ryerson University. She went on to study graphic and interior design post-graduation. For nearly two decades, she worked as a commercial photographer in Toronto. However, her passion led her towards a more creative path upon moving to St. Catharines, where she began crafting fine art and conceptual works.

Sandy has exhibited extensively throughout Ontario, including the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, The Artist Project, the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, and various gallery exhibitions. In 2021, she was nominated as one of the 52 finalists for the Salt Spring National Arts Award. She is the recipient of several Ontario Arts Council grants and was nominated as an Established Artist for the St. Catharines Arts Awards. Sandy is very involved in the arts community, serving on various boards, and having previously chaired the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee for the City of St. Catharines for 12 years. and as the past Chair of the Arts and Culture Committee for the City of St. Catharines for 12 years. In 2022, Sandy was pleased to assume the role of Vice Chair on the board of The Willow Arts Community.

Eva Tihanyi (she/her) has published nine poetry collections, most recently ‘Circle Tour’ (Inanna, 2023), and a collection of short stories, ‘Truth and Other Fictions’ (Inanna, 2009). Her last book, ‘The Largeness of Rescue’ (Inanna, 2016), earned her a Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry. She taught English at Niagara College from 1989 until her retirement in 2020. Tihanyi has been a fixture in the Niagara arts landscape, particularly in the literary community, for over thirty years, with the last twelve years spent in St. Catharines.

Tihanyi holds a Communication Arts diploma (journalism), an Honours B.A. in English Language and Literature, a Masters degree in creative writing, and a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing. Between 1978 and 2008, she wrote numerous freelance book reviews for publications including The Windsor Star, The Toronto Star, and The National Post. From 1995 to 1999, she served as the First Novels columnist for Books in Canada, responsible for choosing the annual Amazon/Books in Canada First Novel Award shortlist. She also conducted more than a dozen feature Q-and-A interviews with well-known Canadian novelists, including Anne Michaels, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and Diane Schoemperlen.

Eva's most recent project is "When Lightning Strikes the River" a narrative suite of 14 songs for which she wrote the lyrics. The music and its theatrical setting are both a result and a reflection of the creative collaboration between Eva and musician Carlie Howell. The album launch concert will be held at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on November 12, 2023.

Currently, Tihanyi writes full time and is working on her first novel.

With over 30 years of experience in the theatre industry, Jamie Williams (he/him) has performed in theatres across Canada. His credits include four seasons at The Stratford Festival, four seasons at The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, three seasons at The Neptune in Halifax, as well as appearances at The National Arts Centre in Ottawa and Canadian Stage in Toronto. Notably, he originated the roles of Blake Wellner in ‘The Writer’ and Byron Hobbs in ‘Skin Flick,’ both by Norm Foster, and portrayed Dr. Harry Price in ‘A Sleight of Mind’ by Daniela Vlaskalic at Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops. Among many productions, Jamie had the privilege of touring in Theatre Passe Muraille’s Governor General award-winning ‘Possible Worlds’ by John Mighton.

In addition to his acting career, Jamie is also a playwright. He has written three plays, including ‘It’s Your Funeral,’ which was produced at Upper Canada Playhouse and Port Stanley Festival Theatre (2018-2019); ‘Pinkerton Comes to Prospect,’ upcoming at Lighthouse Festival Theatre (2025) and shortlisted for the Playwrights Guild Comedy Award (2020); and ‘The View From Here,’ performed at Port Stanley Festival Theatre (2022) and Theatre Orangeville (fall of 2023).

Over the past decade, Jamie has ventured into directing, including the world premiere of his play ‘It’s Your Funeral’ (2018) and most recently, the world premiere of Norm Foster’s ‘A Pack of Thieves’ (2023) at Lighthouse Port Dover/Port Colborne. With a resume that includes 29 productions of 19 Norm Foster plays, Jamie has joined The Foster Festival team to help produce and direct under the Artistic Directorship of Emily Oriold in his home of St. Catharines. He will direct two more world premieres for The Foster Festival in their upcoming 2024 season.

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The Avanti Chamber Singers are a mixed voice choir with over 30 members, who have been performing in St. Catharines since their inception. Founded by Dr. Harris Loewen in September 2006, the ensemble has experienced changes in its membership but has consistently expanded both its membership and commitment, all while steadily growing its audience. In 2017, when Dr. Loewen retired, Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff took over as conductor. Under her leadership, Avanti earned the title of ‘Promising New Adult Ensemble’ in the 2019 Choral Canada National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs. The choir is dedicated to presenting intimate choral performances of exemplary quality in diverse musical genres with an emphasis on the works of living composers. Avanti strives for excellence and is committed to generating a supportive and enthusiastic audience through innovative and inspired thematic programming. Concerts typically feature an eclectic range of old and new musical styles, from small scale compositions to extended choral works.

Todd Green (he/him) is the executive director and founder of Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation, which launched in St. Catharines in the fall of 2017. The weekly choir program aims to eliminate as many barriers to participation as possible and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for kids aged 8 to 18.

Todd is a huge supporter of music and loves seeing the growth in confidence and sense of community that the choir program provides the kids. In just six years, Todd has overseen the expansion of the program into four cities: St. Catharines, Hamilton, Toronto, and Saskatoon, with Surrey and Vancouver opening chapters in the fall of 2023. Prior founding Tomorrow’s Voices, Todd served as a board member and volunteered as a marketing consultant for Momentum Choir, a choir that provides adults living with disabilities an opportunity to shine.

Todd is an Associate Professor in Marketing at the Goodman School of Business and focuses his research on social responsibility and ethical decision making in marketing. He has published research in areas such as piracy, ethical music consumption, and the impact of the digital shift on the Canadian music industry. He received his PhD from Simon Fraser University in 2012.

The Holi Festival of Colour, launched in 2022, was born from a desire to enrich the city’s core with multicultural events. This vibrant celebration is a tribute to diversity, promoting unity, and building bridges among communities. Dr. Dimple Sharma (she/her), owner of Downtown Dental, collaborated with the Downtown Association to create this festival, drawing inspiration from her Indian heritage.

The Holi Colour Festival symbolizes fresh beginnings, infusing life with a kaleidoscope of colours. It’s a time for jubilation, dancing, and reveling in music, accompanied by vibrant hues, shedding grudges, and embracing positivity. Participants joyfully toss food-grade colored paint packets, enveloping themselves in a cloud of vibrant hues. Afterward, firefighters join the festivities, showering the crowd. The event has consistently attracted upwards of 500 attendees and garnered resounding praise, especially from the East Indian communities who felt a sense of belonging.

Jenn Judson (she/her) is loveable character—a serious artist and a big-time collaborator! Her approach to both art and life is humour underlined with a touch of the subversive. You can often find Jenn hosting art events, leading collage nights, or making work at the studio. Her artistic practice is dynamic and includes a range of media such as textile and painting, while focusing primarily on collage.

Being part of multiple art collectives, such as the Pepsi Girls, Jenn loves to collaborate any chance that she gets! While she continues to nurture her art practice, she has shifted gears in recent years into more of a facilitation role. Under the name Paper Bananas, Jenn is a facilitator of all things collage within the arts community here in Niagara. She regularly hosts drop-in collage nights at various venues across the region and offers courses and workshops. In her extra time, she lends a helping hand to the NAC as a board member. All of this to say that the medium of collage is her passion, and she can’t—and won't—stop cutting and pasting!

Matter of Black is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2020 by Erika Smith (she/her), Jaida Steenhuis (she/her), and Natasha Bell (she/her), all of whom are descendants of freedom seekers who settled in the Niagara Region. Matter of Black’s mission is to uplift Black voices and businesses within our community, promote Black excellence, and celebrate our rich history in the Niagara Region. Matter of Black has proudly presented #EmancipationDaySTC, a celebration to reawaken old traditions and foster greater solidarity and pride among members of the Black Canadian community in memory of its remarkable achievements and in face of persistent racism. In partnership with community groups and allies, Matter of Black has revitalized Emancipation Day celebrations in St. Catharines since 2020. They are committed to ensuring that programming remains accessible to all and pledge that their events will always remain free of charge to their community.

PK Hummingbird Steel Orchestra, formed in 1998 by Patrick Nunes and Kay Charles, initiated free steel drum music lessons for youth aged 9 to 14. Today, their members span from 8 to 80 years old. The goal is to share a vibrant part of Trinidad and Tobago culture, the birthplace of steel drum music—the only acoustic musical instrument created in the 20th century.

PK Hummingbird actively visits schools throughout the Niagara region, offering hands-on workshops. Despite the steel pan’s nearly 100-year history, it remains unfamiliar to some. Audiences not only enjoy its melodious tones but also receive a brief history of its development. Some performances even offer impromptu interactive experiences, and some event organizers incorporate these workshops into their programs.

Festival organizers are invaluable allies in showcasing their cultural contribution to the mosaic of Niagara’s diversity. In 2000, PK Hummingbird received an invitation to perform at the Niagara Folk Arts Festival, which led to numerous opportunities, including performances at venues like the Dalhousie Princess, Detroit Princess, Windsor Carousel of Villages, Chatham Market Days, local retirement homes, participation in St. Catharines and Thorold Olympic torch relays, TD Niagara Jazz Festival World Music Day, and local summer and Christmas parades. You can find them at the panyard, hosting weekday lessons.

ROUTINE EXPLOITS is an art/music label at the forefront of Niagara’s alternative scene—a collective of artists and organizers driven by experimentation and innovative forms of sensory stimulation. Since its inception in 2020, ROUTINE EXPLOITS has evolved in alignment with an ever-developing understanding of what will inspire community growth among Niagara's young creatives. Known for their interactive events and experimental music, ROUTINE EXPLOITS sets out to bring attention to the work of local artists, lay the groundwork for creative collaborations in and around the Niagara Region, and be attentive to opportunities for experimental arts to thrive within the existing infrastructure of Niagara.

ROUTINE EXPLOITS events incorporate diverse mediums of art, including elements of live music, sound design, and visual experimentation. The immersive experience often involves meticulous room design, lighting, and social games.

ROUTINE EXPLOITS also creates video media, including interviews, event highlights, and visual accompaniments for experimental music releases. Expect irregular and boundary-pushing creative projects from this innovative collective.

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Arts in Education Award

The Arts in Education Award recognizes an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines residents through arts education activities. Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.

Emerging Artist Award

The Emerging Artist Award is presented to an emerging St. Catharines artist working in any discipline to recognize accomplishments and future potential. Emerging Artists are establishing careers in their field and are working to become recognized professional artists. Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.  

Established Artist Award

The Established Artist Award is presented to a professional St. Catharines artist in any discipline who has received recognition for excellence in their art practice in St. Catharines and beyond (regionally, provincially, nationally). Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.

Making a Difference Award

The Making A Difference Award recognizes a St. Catharines arts entrepreneur, arts administrator, arts organization, arts animator or volunteer in the arts whose leadership and innovation have significantly contributed to the growth and development of arts and culture in St. Catharines. Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture. 

Patron of the Arts Award

The Patron of the Arts Award recognizes an individual or business that has made a meaningful contribution to the arts in St. Catharines through innovative, transformative, and entrepreneurial partnerships or philanthropic investments. Award recipient receives a $500 contribution to be directed to a St. Catharines artist or arts organization of the recipient’s choice and personalized handmade glass sculpture.

Nominators (all award categories)

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Can be an individual, organization or business residing in any city.
• Cannot be an immediate family member of the nominee.
• Artists cannot self-nominate.
• Cannot be a member of the Jury or City of St. Catharines staff.

• Nominee must have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines residents through arts education activities.
• Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
• Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
• Open to all artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, dance, performing arts, fine craft, visual arts, media arts, film, music, theatre and writing.

• Nominee must be in the early years of launching a professional career.
• Emerging artists have created and publicly presented a modest body of independent work and are ready for the next steps in their artistic development.
• Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
• Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
• Open to all artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, dance, performing arts, fine craft, visual arts, media arts, film, music, theatre and writing.

Established Artist Award

• Nominee is recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), which could include critical recognition or excellence.
• Nominee has a history of public presentation or publication.
• Nominee must be actively producing work (within the last three years).
• Individual artist or arts professional who is 18 years of age or older.
• Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
• Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
• Open to all artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, dance, performing arts, fine craft, visual arts, media arts, music, theatre and writing.

Making A Difference Award

• Nominee has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of arts and culture in St. Catharines, e.g., their leadership has led to a new or significant event, organization or initiative.
• Organizations are eligible for nomination.
• Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.

• Nominee has shown consistent and substantial support to the arts in St. Catharines, including, but not limited to visual arts, performing arts, literature, music, film, or any other creative discipline.

• Support can include financial contributions, sponsorship of artistic events or exhibitions, commissioning new works, providing resources or infrastructure for artists.

• Support can also include significant partnerships established between the recipient and the arts community. This could involve working closely with artists, arts organizations or cultural institutions to develop and execute joint projects, initiatives, or programs.

• Individuals, organizations, and businesses are eligible for nomination.

Members of the public are invited to submit an Arts Awards nomination in any award category. Submit a brief statement outlining why you feel the individual, collective, or organization should be nominated.

Nominee Submission Review

Nominees will have the opportunity to review the information included in their nomination so they can expand upon their contributions and experiences. Nominator details will be shared with nominees and may be shared through the Award Selection process and recognition efforts.

A Jury will adjudicate the submissions to select the Arts Awards recipients. The Jury will be comprised of arts community leaders who reflect the diversity of St. Catharines’ arts sector. The Jury will evaluate the nominations based on the artistic excellence, career, and impact of the individual, collective or organization. A member of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee will audit the Jury session to ensure that a fair and transparent selection process is followed.

• Arts in Education Award: Alice Burke 
• Emerging Artist Award: Vik Mudge
• Established Artist Award: Sandy Middleton
• Making a Difference Award: Todd Green
• Jury's Pick Award: Matter of Black

• Arts in Education Award: Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff
• Emerging Artist Award: Kathryn Sinopoli
• Established Artist Award: Amy Friend
• Making a Difference Award: Emily Oriold
• Patron of the Arts Award: Frank Goldspink
• Jury's Pick Award: Monica Dufault

• Arts in Education Award: Curtis Tye
• Emerging Artist Award: Elise Naccarato
• Established Artist Award: Peter Shea
• Making a Difference Award: OPIRG Brock
• Patron of the Arts Award: Janet Patridge
• Jury's Pick Award: Jean Bridge