Learning sheB次元官网网址檇 been awarded CanadaB次元官网网址檚 highest honour in the performing arts elicited two extreme emotions from jazz singer and philanthropist Molly Johnson.
On one hand, she says she was B次元官网网址済obsmackedB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渟hockedB次元官网网址� to be among those getting a Governor GeneralB次元官网网址檚 Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement.
Fellow laureates named Thursday morning include singer k.d. lang, soprano Rosemarie Landry, playwright Michel Marc Bouchard and choreographer James Kudelka.
On the other hand, Johnson says she was B次元官网网址渁 little annoyedB次元官网网址� and it took her B次元官网网址渁 good monthB次元官网网址� to accept the honour.
B次元官网网址淚 went, B次元官网网址楢chievement? What achievement?B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 still technically in the same spot I was in when I had a punk band called Alta Moda in the B次元官网网址�80s,B次元官网网址� Johnson says when reached at her home just outside Toronto ahead of the announcement.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a Canadian musician who survived the music business for over 40 years. And prior to that, I was a theatre kid with the Mirvishes B次元官网网址� and I canB次元官网网址檛 pay my rent. I canB次元官网网址檛 take my band to Europe without it tanking me financially.B次元官网网址�
Johnson says sheB次元官网网址檚 since come around to accept the accolade, but adds her career isnB次元官网网址檛 over yet.
Now 62, she points to upcoming performances in Paris this March and ongoing community work that includes her beloved artist-run Kensington Market Jazz Festival in downtown Toronto and an online Black history project she hopes can one day serve as a teacherB次元官网网址檚 aid.
She also continues to collect donations for her Kumbaya Foundation, which closed in 1995 but is still being mailed cheques that she forwards to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Johnson co-founded it in 1992 to raise funds and awareness for people living with HIV/AIDS, only wrapping it when she became pregnant. In that short time, she says it raised more than $4 million.
On March 8, sheB次元官网网址檚 set to receive another honour, when the French government will bestow her with the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Tudor Alexis, consul general of France in Toronto, says in an emailed statement that Johnson is a popular figure among jazz aficionados in France.
B次元官网网址淗er concerts in Paris are generally sold out and French jazz radio stations regularly play her songs. It is hence fitting that my country rewards her for all these achievements in her hometown, Toronto.B次元官网网址�
These days, Johnson is eager to look forward, noting the performing arts award comes as she feels B次元官网网址渁t the top of my gameB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渋n the best shape IB次元官网网址檝e been in in decades.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 opened up all kinds of thoughts for me on B次元官网网址榣ifetime achievement,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� adds Johnson.
B次元官网网址淲hat happens with the rest of this life? What do I want to do? It definitely asked me that question.B次元官网网址�
Other awards announced Thursday include the National Arts Centre Award B次元官网网址� for extraordinary work in the past year B次元官网网址� for actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee of the play and TV adaptation B次元官网网址淜imB次元官网网址檚 Convenience,B次元官网网址� and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, which goes to Indigenous entrepreneur and fundraiser John Kim Bell.
Bell, born on the Kahnawake Mohawk Reserve near Montr茅al to a Mohawk father and an American mother, said heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渧ery honoured and humbledB次元官网网址� by the recognition as he recalled obstacles to founding the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, now known as Indspire, and its companion awards show, which marks its 30th anniversary May 11 in Edmonton.
Bell began his career as a conductor of Broadway musicals in New York and in 1980 was made apprentice conductor of the Toronto Symphony, becoming the first person of Indigenous heritage to conduct a major orchestra, according to a biography with his awards citation.
Now business adviser and lead negotiator for Michipicoten First Nation on its mining and energy activity, Bell says a constant throughline in his diverse career has been a refusal to accept B次元官网网址淣oB次元官网网址� for an answer.
B次元官网网址淧eople donB次元官网网址檛 think we have the capabilities and the capacity, and they somehow look at us and think weB次元官网网址檙e inferior and not capable,B次元官网网址� Bell says of Indigenous Peoples.
B次元官网网址淏ut I always believed that it was possible. And I was willing to work incredibly hard. And I was willing to take risks by personally borrowing money to come up with these things.B次元官网网址�
In 1984, he established the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, now known as Indspire, B次元官网网址渞aising some $80 million and sending tens of thousands of Indigenous students to colleges and universities across Canada, the U.S. and Europe,B次元官网网址� says the biography.
In 1988, he produced, directed, co-composed and conducted an Indigenous ballet, B次元官网网址淚n the Land of Spirits,B次元官网网址� which premi猫red at the National Arts Centre and went on to tour the country.
All faced hurdles, he says.
B次元官网网址�(I was told) B次元官网网址業tB次元官网网址檚 not possible.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址楾here are no native people in ballet.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榃ho are you?B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榊ouB次元官网网址檙e not a producer, youB次元官网网址檙e not an impresario, youB次元官网网址檝e never raised any money in your life,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Bell recalls.
B次元官网网址淚 was just really persevering, determined. I worked seven days a week, I worked at night, I borrowed money. And I was angry. I was angry at how our people were being treated. And I wanted to fight back.B次元官网网址�
A gala celebration for the laureates is set for the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on May 27.
Husband-and-wife film stars Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are honorary chairs of the galaB次元官网网址檚 national committee of volunteers, which is raising the funds for the bash.
The Vancouver-born Reynolds received 2021B次元官网网址檚 National Arts Centre Award.
B次元官网网址擟assandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
