The City of Nanaimo has named this year’s Culture and Heritage Award recipients.
On Feb. 9 the city announced in a press release that visual artist Brendan Lee Satish Tang will receive the Excellence in Culture Award, outgoing Port Theatre general manager Bruce Halliday will receive the Honour in Culture Award and Mid Island Métis Nation president Joy Bremner will receive the Honour in Heritage Award.
“The annual awards program is an opportunity to honour extraordinary achievement while generating awareness and pride for the calibre of arts and culture activity in Nanaimo, as well as the dynamic impact of the sector on our community’s economic, social and cultural well-being,” noted the release.
Tang is a celebrated visual artist whose work has been shown in galleries in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, the United States, Italy and France. In 2021 his solo exhibition Reluctant Offerings was displayed at the Nanaimo Art Gallery.
Halliday spent 23 years with the Port Theatre. He oversaw the opening of the venue in 1998 as its technical director and in 2006 he became its general manager. In November, Halliday announced that he would be leaving the theatre but he’ll stay on for the leadership transition.
Bremner is currently in her eighth consecutive term as president of the Mid Island Métis Nation. The release notes she has worked to “foster cultural awareness and education, often collaborating with non-profits and arts and culture organizations… As a community leader, Joy is an advocate for health and wellness, collaboration and Indigenous students.”
Mayor Leonard Krog, in the press release, offered city council’s congratulations to the award recipients.
“Through the sharing of their talents, leadership and passions, these individuals weave the threads that connect and enrich our community,” he said. “Their exemplary achievements strengthen and beautify the City of Nanaimo’s cultural tapestry.”
Typically an award ceremony is held at the Port Theatre, but the release noted that “celebrations will be adapted to align with COVID-19 safety protocols.”
RELATED: City of Nanaimo names this year’s Culture and Heritage Award recipients
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