A dozen current and former members of the local community are being recognized for their contributions to the arts.
The Chatham Kent Arts and Culture Network (CKACN) has announced the 12 inductees for the 2023 Arts and Culture Heroes Wall of Fame.
Each inductee was chosen from nominations provided by citizens and the oversight committee. They will be recognized under one of six categories — visual arts, performing arts, music, dance, literary arts and cultural builders.
“The Wall honours those individuals or groups, present and past, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field or artistic practice both within and beyond Chatham-Kent,” said CKACN chair Dan White in a news release. “These inductees deserve our recognition for the passion they’ve shown, the attention they’ve received, and the pride of community they’ve fostered in all of us.”
The Heroes Wall of Fame, which was launched last year, is currently housed at the Chatham Cultural Centre.
The class of inductees will all be honoured during an induction ceremony at the Chatham Armoury on October 11.
The 2023 Class of Inductees are listed below:
Visual Arts
· Alexander M. Fleming – Painter (Chatham)
· Larry Towell – Photographer and Photojournalist (Wallaceburg)
Performing Arts
· Ron Pardo – Comic-Impressionist and Voice Actor (Pardoville)
· David Farquhar – Audio Producer and Entrepreneur (Chatham)
Music
· Michelle Wright – Singer and Songwriter (Merlin)
· Chatham Concert Band – Orchestra (Chatham-Kent)
Dance
· Lisa Lester – Dancer, Choreographer and Cultural Entrepreneur (Chatham)
· Eelünaapéewi Lahkéewiit Pow-Wow – Indigenous Dance (Delaware on the Thames First Nation at Moraviantown)
Literary Arts
· Archibald Lampman – Poet (Morpeth)
· Lori Lansens – Author and Screenwriter (Chatham)
Cultural Builders
· John Beardall – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur (Chatham)
· Kiwanis Music Festival – Youth Music Development (Chatham-Kent)
