Montreal-native William Shatner and Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore are among this year’s recipients of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement.
Quebec humorist Yvon Deschamps, dance artist Margie Gillis, theatrical director Leslee Silverman and theatre creator Paul Thompson rounded out the list of honourees announced Thursday.
Past recipients of the award include Robert Lepage, Robbie Robertson, Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Stompin’ Tom Connors.
Meanwhile, the recently Oscar-nominated Quebec director Denis Villenueve was given the National Arts Centre award for exceptional achievement over the past year, which comes with a medallion and $25,000.
And Jean-Andre Elie – a longtime supporter of the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal – received the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for volunteer work in the performing arts.
Shatner, a 79-year-old Montreal native who has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, also took a lifetime achievement award at last year’s Banff World Television Festival.
Meanwhile, Shore, who won three Academy Awards for his work on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, called the award a "great honour." He too has previously received a lifetime achievement award, with his coming from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
"I’m getting to a certain age, I guess," said Shore, who confirmed that he’s currently working on the music for the two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Hobbit."
"I’m very appreciative of the recognition. … It’s a wonderful group."
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