# Governor General's Performing Arts Award

The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards are an annual Canadian award, presented to honour distinguished achievements in Canadian performing arts and culture. Administered by the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation in association with the National Arts Centre, they present lifetime achievement awards for work in all performing arts domains, including theatre, dance, film, television and radio broadcasting and both popular and classical music; the awards are, however, not necessarily presented exclusively to performers, and may also honour people who have had distinguished careers in the business side of cultural industries, such as film, television and theatre directors and producers.
The awards were created in 1992 under the patronage of then Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn and his wife Gerda Hnatyshyn.
From 1992 to 2014, they typically honoured six figures per year; since 2015 they have honoured five. In addition to the lifetime awards, they also present the National Arts Centre Award to honour a figure who has had significant career achievements within the past year but is not yet considered to be at the "lifetime achievement" stage of their career, and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts to honour people who have been active in voluntary service to the arts.
Recipients of the lifetime achievement and NAC awards receive $25,000 and a commemorative medallion; recipients of the RJH award receive a medallion, but are not given money. The awards are presented at a live gala at the National Arts Centre, and are typically recorded for broadcast by CBC Television at a later date.
Once inducted into one of the main "lifetime achievement" categories, a recipient is not honoured again in future years; however, a recipient of the NAC or RJH awards may be later named as a lifetime achievement recipient.
In 2025, the program also introduced a program which will see an emerging talent receive a year-long mentorship by a past award recipient.

## Controversies

In 1994, Paul Gessell of the Ottawa Citizen criticized the foundation for honouring Neil Young, on the grounds that he had lived in the United States for many years and had, according to Gessell, "turned his back" on Canada, and Gilles Vigneault due to his support of the Quebec sovereignty movement. He further predicted, correctly, that Joni Mitchell would be an honoree in the near future, but opined that she was an inappropriate choice for the same reason as Young. In 2001 he criticized the awards for paying lip service to diversity in Canadian arts despite the fact that only two people of colour, pianists Oscar Peterson and Jon Kimura Parker, had ever been named as honorees as of that time.
One named honoree in 2005, singer-songwriter and poet Raymond Lévesque, declined the honour due to his support of the Quebec sovereignty movement. The awards proceeded that year with five lifetime honorees instead of six.
In 2018, Governor General Julie Payette faced controversy when she announced that she would not be presiding over the ceremony, the first time in the history of the awards that the sitting governor general did not attend. Payette offered little clarification of her reasons for not attending, but had faced some criticism since the beginning of her term around her apparently limited workload.
One past recipient, singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, has had her honour rescinded.

## Recipients
### 1990s

| Year | Recipient | Discipline |
| 1992 | William Hutt | Theatre |
| 1992 | Gweneth Lloyd | Dance |
| 1992 | Dominique Michel | Broadcasting |
| 1992 | Mercedes Palomino | Theatre |
| 1992 | Oscar Peterson | Popular music |
| 1992 | Léopold Simoneau | Classical music |
| 1992 | Norman Jewison | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1992 | Gilles Maheu, Carbone 14 | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1993 | Ludmilla Chiriaeff | Dance |
| 1993 | Leonard Cohen | Popular music |
| 1993 | Don Haig | Film |
| 1993 | Lois Marshall | Classical music |
| 1993 | Monique Mercure | Theatre |
| 1993 | Gilles Vigneault | Popular music |
| 1993 | Joan Chalmers | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1993 | Michel Marc Bouchard and Les Deux Mondes | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1994 | Frédéric Back | Film |
| 1994 | Robert Charlebois | Popular music |
| 1994 | Celia Franca | Dance |
| 1994 | Frances Hyland | Theatre |
| 1994 | Jean Papineau-Couture | Classical music |
| 1994 | Neil Young | Popular music |
| 1994 | Sandra Kolber | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1994 | Robert Lepage | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1995 | Denys Arcand | Film |
| 1995 | Maureen Forrester | Classical music |
| 1995 | Peter Gzowski | Broadcasting |
| 1995 | Paul Hébert | Theatre |
| 1995 | Anne Murray | Popular music |
| 1995 | Jeanne Renaud | Dance |
| 1995 | Arthur Gelber | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1995 | Ben Heppner | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1996 | François Barbeau | Theatre |
| 1996 | Michel Brault | Film |
| 1996 | Martha Henry | Theatre |
| 1996 | Joni Mitchell | Popular music |
| 1996 | Luc Plamondon | Popular music |
| 1996 | Grant Strate | Dance |
| 1996 | Martha Lou Henley | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1996 | Jon Kimura Parker | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1997 | Gilles Carle | Film |
| 1997 | Nicholas Goldschmidt | Classical music |
| 1997 | Monique Leyrac | Popular music |
| 1997 | Gordon Lightfoot | Popular music |
| 1997 | Betty Oliphant | Dance |
| 1997 | Jean-Pierre Ronfard | Theatre |
| 1997 | Maryvonne Kendergi | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1997 | Karen Kain | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1998 | Paul Buissonneau | Theatre |
| 1998 | Bruce Cockburn | Popular music |
| 1998 | Rock Demers | Film |
| 1998 | Royal Canadian Air Farce | Broadcasting |
| 1998 | Arnold Spohr | Dance |
| 1998 | Jon Vickers | Classical music |
| 1998 | Joseph H. Shoctor | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1998 | Denis Marleau | National Arts Centre Award |
| 1999 | David Cronenberg | Film |
| 1999 | Denise Filiatrault | Broadcasting |
| 1999 | Mavor Moore | Theatre |
| 1999 | Louis Quilico | Classical music |
| 1999 | Ginette Reno | Popular music |
| 1999 | Michel Tremblay | Theatre |
| 1999 | Sam Sniderman | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 1999 | Mario Bernardi | National Arts Centre Award |

### 2000s

Due to a change in the award's scheduling from fall to spring, the awards were not presented in 2007.
| Year | Recipient | Discipline |
| 2000 | Janette Bertrand | Broadcasting |
| 2000 | Stompin' Tom Connors | Popular music |
| 2000 | Fernand Nault | Dance |
| 2000 | Christopher Newton | Theatre |
| 2000 | Teresa Stratas | Dance |
| 2000 | Donald Sutherland | Film |
| 2000 | Walter Carsen | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2000 | Cirque du Soleil | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2001 | Mario Bernardi | Classical music |
| 2001 | Diane Dufresne | Popular music |
| 2001 | Max Ferguson | Broadcasting |
| 2001 | Evelyn Hart | Dance |
| 2001 | Christopher Plummer | Theatre |
| 2001 | Anne Claire Poirier | Film |
| 2001 | Thea Borlase | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2001 | Édouard Lock and La La La Human Steps | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2002 | André Brassard | Theatre |
| 2002 | Joy Coghill | Theatre |
| 2002 | The Guess Who | Popular music |
| 2002 | Karen Kain | Dance |
| 2002 | Phil Nimmons | Popular music |
| 2002 | Jean-Pierre Perreault | Dance |
| 2002 | Fernand Lindsay | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2002 | Angela Hewitt | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2003 | Pierrette Alarie | Classical music |
| 2003 | Dave Broadfoot | Broadcasting |
| 2003 | Douglas Campbell | Theatre |
| 2003 | Norman Jewison | Film |
| 2003 | Micheline Lanctôt | Film |
| 2003 | Ian Tyson | Popular music |
| 2003 | Sandra Pitblado, Jim Pitblado | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2003 | Marie Chouinard | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2004 | Kate & Anna McGarrigle | Popular music |
| 2004 | Gordon Pinsent | Film |
| 2004 | Jean-Louis Roux | Theatre |
| 2004 | Joseph Rouleau | Classical music |
| 2004 | Veronica Tennant | Dance |
| 2004 | Eric Till | Film |
| 2004 | Constance Pathy | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2004 | Rick Mercer | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2005 | Peter Boneham | Dance |
| 2005 | Jackie Burroughs | Film |
| 2005 | Marcel Dubé | Theatre |
| 2005 | Oliver Jones | Popular music |
| 2005 | Moses Znaimer | Broadcasting |
| 2005 | Gail Asper | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2005 | k.d. lang | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2006 | Jacques Languirand | Broadcasting |
| 2006 | Lorne Michaels | Broadcasting |
| 2006 | Albert Millaire | Theatre |
| 2006 | Robbie Robertson | Popular music |
| 2006 | Joysanne Sidimus | Dance |
| 2006 | Mark Starowicz | Broadcasting |
| 2006 | Georges Laoun, Sherif Laoun | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2006 | Richard Bradshaw | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2007 | Not presented | Not presented |
| 2008 | Anton Kuerti | Classical music |
| 2008 | Eugene Levy | Broadcasting |
| 2008 | Brian Macdonald | Dance |
| 2008 | John Murrell | Theatre |
| 2008 | Alanis Obomsawin | Film |
| 2008 | Michel Pagliaro | Popular music |
| 2008 | Eric Charman | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2008 | The Tragically Hip | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2009 | Peggy Baker | Dance |
| 2009 | Édith Butler | Popular music |
| 2009 | Clémence DesRochers | Broadcasting |
| 2009 | Robert Lepage | Theatre |
| 2009 | R. Murray Schafer | Classical music |
| 2009 | George F. Walker | Theatre |
| 2009 | James D. Fleck | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2009 | Paul Gross | National Arts Centre Award |

### 2010s

Jazz singer Michael Bublé was named as the recipient of the National Arts Centre award in 2016; however, as he was unable to attend the gala due to vocal cord surgery, he received the award at the 2017 gala instead.
| Year | Recipient | Discipline |
| 2010 | Bryan Adams | Popular music |
| 2010 | Françoise Faucher | Theatre |
| 2010 | Walter Homburger | Classical music |
| 2010 | Édouard Lock | Dance |
| 2010 | Robin Phillips | Theatre |
| 2010 | Buffy Sainte-Marie (rescinded in 2025) | Popular music |
| 2010 | Mohammad Faris, Yulanda Faris | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2010 | Yannick Nézet-Séguin | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2011 | Yvon Deschamps | Theatre |
| 2011 | Margie Gillis | Dance |
| 2011 | William Shatner | Broadcasting |
| 2011 | Howard Shore | Film |
| 2011 | Leslee Silverman | Theatre |
| 2011 | Paul Thompson | Theatre |
| 2011 | Jean-André Élie | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2011 | Denis Villeneuve | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2012 | Janina Fialkowska | Classical music |
| 2012 | Paul-André Fortier | Dance |
| 2012 | Denis Marleau | Theatre |
| 2012 | Deepa Mehta | Film |
| 2012 | Rush | Popular music |
| 2012 | Mary Walsh | Broadcasting |
| 2012 | Earlaine Collins | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2012 | Des McAnuff | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2013 | Andrew Dawes | Classical music |
| 2013 | Daniel Lanois | Popular music |
| 2013 | Jean Pierre Lefebvre | Film |
| 2013 | Viola Léger | Theatre |
| 2013 | Eric Peterson | Theatre |
| 2013 | Menaka Thakkar | Dance |
| 2013 | Jean-Pierre Desrosiers | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2013 | Sarah Polley | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2014 | Anik Bissonnette | Dance |
| 2014 | Blue Rodeo | Popular music |
| 2014 | Brent Carver | Theatre |
| 2014 | Tom Jackson | Broadcasting |
| 2014 | Louise Lecavalier | Dance |
| 2014 | Janine Sutto | Theatre |
| 2014 | Jean Giguère | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2014 | Albert Schultz | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2015 | Walter Boudreau | Classical music |
| 2015 | Atom Egoyan | Film |
| 2015 | Diana Leblanc | Theatre |
| 2015 | Sarah McLachlan | Popular music |
| 2015 | R. H. Thomson | Theatre |
| 2015 | Michael M. Koerner | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2015 | Jean-Marc Vallée | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2016 | Susan Aglukark | Popular music |
| 2016 | Marie Chouinard | Dance |
| 2016 | Ben Heppner | Classical music |
| 2016 | Robert Lantos | Film |
| 2016 | Suzanne Lebeau | Theatre |
| 2016 | John D. McKellar | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2016 | Michael Bublé (presentation delayed to 2017) | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2017 | Jean Beaudin | Film |
| 2017 | Michael J. Fox | Broadcasting |
| 2017 | Brigitte Haentjens | Theatre |
| 2017 | Martin Short | Broadcasting |
| 2017 | Yves Sioui Durand | Theatre |
| 2017 | William H. Loewen | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2017 | Michael Bublé (award from 2016) | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2018 | Andrew Alexander | Broadcasting |
| 2018 | Geneviève Bujold | Film |
| 2018 | Angela Hewitt | Classical music |
| 2018 | Ginette Laurin | Dance |
| 2018 | Murray McLauchlan | Popular music |
| 2018 | Peter Herrndorf | Special Award |
| 2018 | Florence Junca Adenot | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2018 | Tegan and Sara | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2019 | Louise Bessette | Classical music |
| 2019 | Colm Feore | Film |
| 2019 | Rick Mercer | Broadcasting |
| 2019 | Lorraine Pintal | Theatre |
| 2019 | Mavis Staines | Dance |
| 2019 | E. Noël Spinelli | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2019 | Sandra Oh | National Arts Centre Award |

### 2020s

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 gala was cancelled; however, as that year's recipients had already been announced in February before COVID-related lockdowns came into effect, they were honoured at a 2021 gala, with no new honorees named for 2021 itself.
| Year | Recipient | Discipline |
| 2020-21 | Tantoo Cardinal | Broadcasting and film |
| 2020-21 | Alexina Louie | Classical music |
| 2020-21 | Zab Maboungou | Dance |
| 2020-21 | Catherine O'Hara | Broadcasting and film |
| 2020-21 | Florent Vollant | Popular music |
| 2020-21 | Lynda Hamilton | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2020-21 | Ryan Reynolds | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2022 | Fernand Dansereau | Broadcasting and film |
| 2022 | David Foster | Popular music |
| 2022 | Rita Deverell | Broadcasting and film |
| 2022 | Tomson Highway | Theatre |
| 2022 | Linda Rabin | Dance |
| 2022 | Michelle Smith | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2022 | Crystal Pite | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2023 | Michel Marc Bouchard | Theatre |
| 2023 | Molly Johnson | Popular music |
| 2023 | James Kudelka | Dance |
| 2023 | Rosemarie Landry | Classical music |
| 2023 | k.d. lang | Popular music |
| 2023 | John Kim Bell | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2023 | Paul Sun-Hyung Lee | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2024 | Measha Brueggergosman-Lee | Classical music |
| 2024 | Ronnie Burkett | Stage |
| 2024 | Diane Juster | Popular music |
| 2024 | Andrea Martin | Screens and voices |
| 2024 | Wes Williams (Maestro Fresh Wes) | Popular music |
| 2024 | Jenny Belzberg | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2024 | Mélanie Demers | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2025 | Bob Ezrin | Popular music |
| 2025 | Denis Gougeon | Classical music |
| 2025 | Graham Greene | Film |
| 2025 | Patrick Huard | Film |
| 2025 | Sandra Laronde | Theatre |
| 2025 | April Hubbard | Hnatyshyn Award |
| 2025 | Jeremy Dutcher | National Arts Centre Award |
| 2025 | Joshua Odjick | Mentorship |