The city presented the sixth annual Owen Sound cultural awards Sunday at a ceremony held at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Honorees include John Barnum, long-time musical director of the Georgian Bay Symphony, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Frank and Leigh Greaves, the first married couple to receive the Patron award, for their work at preserving and restoring heritage buildings.

The Emerging Artist Award is the only award that includes a $500 cash prize. The recipient of this award, Richard-Yves Sitoski, is a multi-talented poet, author, and visual artist, who recently published his first poetry collection "brownfields".

Other recipients included: Local history researcher Paula Niall (Cultural Heritage), the Artists' Coop Legacy Workshop Series (Outstanding Event), Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival (Outstanding Festival), Fiddlefern Country Dancers (Outstanding Group), ceramicist, writer and photographer Steve Irvine (Outstanding Individual), and Val Underwood of Grey Roots Museum and Owen Sound Little Theatre (Volunteer Service).

The Owen Sound Cultural Awards are sponsored by the City of Owen Sound through its Cultural Advisory Committee. Individual award sponsors include John A. Tamming Law, Mix 106-5, and the Owen Sound Sun Times. All award winners received a custom-made marquetry box handcrafted by artist Diane Edwards (Mythago Wood Marquetry).

The full list of award nominees and recipients may be found online at owensound.ca/cultural-awards.
Source - City of Owen Sound