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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 12, 2007 - 9 Mayor's Awards Celebrating the Arts 2007 Meet the nominees ABBOZZO GALLERY Abbozzo Gallery opened in 1993 in Downtown Oakville and is committed to representing contemporary artists in a variety of media. Owner Ineke Zigrossi is a past recipient of the Oakville Community Spirit Awards in the Arts Category and is a member of the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar. SALAH J. BACHIR It is under the umbrella of `extraordinary' and `generous' that Salah J. Bachir was nominated for a Mayor's Award. He has been described as one who sets the standard for commitment and generosity; makes things happen; has relentless enthusiasm; is a driving force; offers commitment and persistence in achieving goals; has a strong sense of altruism and community spirit; creates opportunities and synergies ­ these words only begin to tell the story of what Salah accomplishes through his leadership, sensitivity and drive. BMO FINANCIAL GROUP BMO Financial Group fulfills their responsibility by helping Canadians realize their financial dreams, contributing to our nation's economic well-being and striving to be an excellent employer. The company ranks 5th in corporate governance practices by a Report on Business survey and, over the past five years, has consistently been listed as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers as reported by Maclean's and Media Corp. COLLEEN BRYAN Colleen Bryan is the President and Fundraising Chair of the Halton Youth Symphony, a registered charitable organization that has been offering young musicians in Oakville and the Halton region the opportunity to develop their musicianship through an orchestral experience for over 32 years. Colleen has been actively involved with orchestra since 2004. Prior to starting her own risk management consulting business, Colleen was Senior Manager of Risk & Legal for a large multinational logistics company in Canada. Colleen received her Canadian Risk Manager (C.R.M.) designation and her Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from the University of Toronto. DAWNE RUDMAN Dawne Rudman, quilter/fibre artist, is passionate about textile art. She promotes this art form at every opportunity. Voluntary work, with many organizations, has always been an important part of her life. For the past eleven years Dawne has been a dedicated volunteer with the World of Threads Festival and was Exhibit Coordinator for Festival 2007. THE DANIELS CORPORATION Founded in 1982 by John Daniels, The Daniels Corporation is one of Canada's preeminent builder-developers, with a reputation for quality and integrity in all forms of residential communities. With over 50 years experience in the North American building industry, John Daniels served as Chairman of The Cadillac Fairview Development Corporation where he was instrumental in the creation of such landmarks as Toronto's Eaton Centre and the Toronto-Dominion Centre as well as being the moving force behind the 'New Town' of Erin Mills. CHARLES DEMUYNCK Charles Demuynck has been part of the Oakville scene since 1995 when he became Music Director of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, a post he held until 2002. He was also invited back to guest conduct by OCO last season. He is the founding conductor of Masterworks of Oakville Chorus and Orchestra, which is dedicated to oratorio performances in local churches and is an outgrowth of St. Andrew's Concert Series. ELKA RUTH ENOLA Elka Ruth Enola, a retired teacher, is interested in all the performing and visual arts as well as in history, other cultures, photography, travel, architecture and food. She is the Coordinator of The Poetry Café, of Pelicans and of Visual Word and the Branch Manager of The Ontario Poetry Society (TOPS), Oakville to name but a few of her ongoing endeavours. DIANA ISHERWOOD Diana Isherwood has been involved with Canadian Music Competitions since 1982 when she became involved as a fundraiser. In 1992 she was President of the Ontario and Vice President of the National Organization. In 1994 she founded the very successful Oakville /Mississauga Chapter of which she is currently the President. Diana has been in music education at Appleby College, St Mildred's and at Rotherglen. Diana is also the Junior Choir Music Director at St.Andrew's Church. L'ATELIER GRIGORIAN L'Atelier Grigorian, a specialty classical and jazz music store, first opened its doors in Oakville in 1980. Its policy has always been to provide music lovers with great service and access to material from all over the world. As a retailer in downtown Oakville they belive that local and Canadian artists should be supported and encouraged and that the arts play an integral part in the community LEXUS OF OAKVILLE Lexus of Oakville, the first Lexus dealership in Ontario, opened in November 2001 to offer local luxury car buyers an alternative to venturing to combined dealerships in Mississauga (Erin Mills) or St. Catharines to purchase and service a Lexus. Frank Apa, President of Lexus of Oakville and Oakville Toyota, believes it makes good corporate sense to give back to this community. "We strongly believe in support the best our community has to offer ­ in business, in academics and the arts". JOHN O'HARA John is one of the founding members of West End Studio theatre. He holds the position of Executive Producer and Chief Financial Officer for WEST. John has been privileged to produce such productions as: Norman, is that You?, The War Show ­ You'll get used to it Amadeus, Oliver, Grease, Cabaret and the Secret Garden at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. RISTORANTE JULIA "Family is whoever sits around the dinner table." This has been Julia's lifelong philosophy regarding her friends, family and business practices spanning 25 years as a chef and restaurateur. A perennial student of hospitality and cuisine, Julia has had a life long love affair with food. From the beginning, Julia has been a fervent supporter of many charities and has won a number of awards including Entrepreneur of the Year, Resident of the Year and Most Attentive Owner ­ A Reader's Choice Award. DAWN ANGELA SEELEY "I have a blessed life, of art, children and travel," says Dawn Angela Seeley, local artist and teacher. She has been painting & teaching children and their parents in Oakville and on Artist's Getaways to Tuscany for several years. She has also taught less privileged children in Cuba. The privilege however is always mine, sharing, creating and mentoring young artists." SPROTT FOUNDATION The mandate of the Sprott Foundation is to address urgent human need, homelessness and hunger. We welcome its generosity to Casa Guatemala where it is contributing to the good health of 250 disadvantaged children living in the orphanage. The children thank Eric, Vizma, Juliana and Larisa Sprott for their generosity. TRAFALGAR ALES AND MEADS With their very name woven into the fabric of the community, Trafalgar Ales and Meads, was founded in Oakville in 1993 by Michael and Nancy Arnold and George Hengstman. Recently the company changed its name from Trafalgar Brewing Company to better reflect their exciting line of bruit based honey meads. Originally established as a craft brewery called Trafalgar Brewing Company, specializing in uniquely brewed small batches of beer, the company is now recognized as one of Ontario's most progressive small breweries and is one of Ontario's most awarded companies. TIMOTHY'S WORLD COFFEE With the opening of their first store in 1975, Timothy's World Coffee is a pioneer in the North American specialty coffee industry. Customers who share a passion for fantastic coffee have helped them grow to more than 130 stores across Canada. Their passion for quality doesn't end with coffee. Timothy's biscotti, hot chocolates, teas, treats, and gift ideas must meet similar uncompromising standards for quality and good taste. THE GREEN BEAN The Green Bean has been in Oakville since 1993. Since 2004, owners Artur Koczur and his wife have been operating the upscale neighborhood café providing a great place for people to meet with friends. With attention to quality and traditional styling, The Green Bean offers a vast variety of hand-crafted, organic fair trade teas, a menu selection of made to order salads & sandwiches, as well as traditionally made expresso and cappuccino. OAKVILLE COUNCIL ARTS Photo by Bernadette Ward Committee Members take a quick break from planning this year's premier art event. From left to right: Simon Leung, Event Coordinator, Oakville Arts Council board members CJ Martin, Jyl Ashton Cunningham and Jennifer Estall and Oakville Arts Council Executive Director, Megan Cunningham. The little committee that could "The little committee that could," is how Chair Jyl Ashton Cunningham describes the start-up trio that took on the mammoth task of bringing this year's Mayor's Awards Celebrating the Arts together. "When we first talked about reinstating MACA after a year's break whilst the Oakville Arts Council (OAC) reinvented itself, there was a lot of enthusiastic encouragement from members and we thank them for their commitment," said Ashton Cunningham. Although a daunting task with a much shorter time frame than in the past to work within, Ashton Cunningham, Jennifer Estall from Clarica and CJ Martin from CJ's Café in Bronte rose to the challenge. The three board members brought a great deal of planning and business experience to the project, both professionally and as volunteers. With a stroke of good fortune, the OAC found Event Coordinator, Simon Leung. Leung, an intern and soon to be graduate of Seneca College School of Communication Art's Corporate Media Production Program, arrived just when he was needed to work alongside the committee and staff at the OAC. "Simon took over many responsibilities as Event Coordinator, learning fast and taking initiative where required," said Ashton Cunningham. "Our Executive Director calls him `our angel from heaven'." The success of an event of this magnitude always relies on the efforts of many and the Oakville Arts Council is indebted to the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, who has come forward once again with volunteers for the evening and who are always most supportive of our fundraising efforts. "It is always a lot of work to produce an event such as the Mayor's Awards Celebrating the Arts, and without the dedication of our sponsors and supporters, it would simply not have been possible. Thank you all very much," said Ashton Cunningham. Many thanks to our supporters! PLATINUM The Oakville Beaver SILVER