Heritage and Culture Awards
Presented at the Mayor’s Heritage Tea in February
The City of Summerside recently presented its 2024 Heritage and Culture Awards on February 20 at the Mayor’s Heritage Tea with Mayor Dan Kutcher.
Heritage and Cultural Activities Awards were presented to: Paul Gallant for the writing and directing of the play, Port-la-Joye, presented at the Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre in July 2024; Noella Moore as the driving force behind the exhibit, The Creator’s Gift which highlighted the artistic work of Indigenous artists; Jane Whitten for her exhibit, Of Growing Concern: 40 Years of Textile Creation Amid the Havoc of Climate Change and for hosting monthly maker sessions at Eptek Art & Culture Centre; Carter Jeffery and Arnold Smith for organizing the exhibit, The Folk Art of Kerras Jeffery, which featured the art and history of the late PEI artist; David La Gallant for initiating and working with partners to have the Claude Picard painting, The Irony of History, England, First Nation to Salute the Acadian Flag, reproduced as a mural on the side of the Summerside Seafood Supreme building. The mural depicts the new Acadian flag (1884) being flown for the first time at sea on a steamship in the Summerside Harbour; Arnold Gallant for his work with MacNaught History Centre and Archives; Kiele Poirier for creating art programming for all ages and demographics through Art Buds; George K. Jomon for being the key organizer of the Canada–India Multicultural Festival held in Summerside in 2024; Constable Mallory Metallic for building awareness, positivity, and respect for Indigenous culture among her police colleagues and the broader community; The organizing committee of the St. Eleanor’s Community School for its work in organizing and delivering extensive programming; and The Harbourfront Players for their production of the play An ALL-OUT Island Christmas, written by Island playwrights Karen Slater and Wayne Murphy.
The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Donna Arsenault for serving as a volunteer and community leader for over two decades.
The Publication of the Year Award went to Carolyn McKillop, who used the archival resources of MacNaught to research the community history of Tyne Valley. The book, Tyne Valley, The People, Their History, written by Gary MacDougall and illustrated by Maurice Bernard, was released in 2024.
The Culture Award of Honour was given to Mary Dennis for nearly three decades of investment in the performing arts in Summerside, going above and beyond her employment at Harbourfront Theatre.
The Heritage Award of Honour was awarded to Paul H. Schurman for his extensive contributions to preserving and celebrating Summerside’s abundant history.