We are delighted to receive nominations from interested Canadians each year. We welcome your nominations and take special care to make sure that all are considered. We begin the process of selecting the recipients once the deadline for submission has passed. Here's how it works:
Selection
Peer assessment juries:
All eligible nominations (i.e., nominations that meet all criteria pertaining to nominees, nominators, application requirements, and submission deadlines) will be reviewed by peer assessment juries selected by The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation each year.
The juries are composed of experienced performing arts professionals - performing artists, managers, impresarios, directors, teachers, critics, producers, and other appropriate peers - selected by the Foundation for their expertise in each discipline. Members are also chosen to ensure fair representation of gender, the two official languages, and the various regions and cultures of Canada, as well as the various disciplines and artistic practices within the performing arts.
Each jury makes recommendations for the final selection of the recipients of the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts. The Board of Directors of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation makes the final selection of the recipients. All decisions of the Board are final.
Notification
The Foundation contacts the nominees selected as recipients privately to confirm their acceptance. The names of the recipients are announced at a press conference held by the Foundation. Until then, all nominations and the names of the nominees are strictly confidential.
Conditions:
The recipients must agree to participate fully in all Award activities, including media conferences, ceremonies, receptions, and other related events.
All Award nomination documentation submitted becomes the property of the Foundation and, except for personal information protected by the Privacy Act, may be used in any publicity or promotion accompanying the Awards. Recipients must allow photographs and public information about themselves to be used in promoting the Awards and in other Foundation promotional initiatives. Portraits of the recipients may be displayed in public areas such as the National Arts Centre and Rideau Hall.
Events
Recipients are honoured during the Gala Awards weekend in Ottawa. There are three events that take place. The first is a luncheon hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons. The recipients are then introduced in the House of Commons following Question Period. The Speaker then hosts a parliamentary reception for Cabinet Ministers, MPs from all parties, Award sponsors and other VIPs from the business and arts communities. The second is an Awards presentation ceremony and celebratory dinner at Rideau Hall, hosted by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and last, but not least, the Gala Tribute Performance at the National Arts Centre. The Gala Tribute Performance is your chance to rub elbows with the stars and participate in the celebration first hand.
