Atom Egoyan among 2015 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award winners

Atom Egoyan among 2015 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award winners –

From left, laureates Atom Egoyan and Jean-Marc Vallée during the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala tribute show, held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, May 30,2015.

After spending so many years touching the lives of others, an extraordinary group of Canadian artists got to be on the receiving end for a change at this year’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala, held Saturday at the National Arts Centre.

“Obviously, it’s a huge honour,” world-famous singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan told Around Town after making her red carpet arrival with her handsome beau, former NHL star Geoff Courtnall, on her arm, and her shiny new medallion around her neck. “I never sought out to get accolades like this. I mean, I make my art, I make my music because I need to and this is beautiful validation for me as an artist.”

McLachlan was honoured with a lifetime achievement award alongside fellow laureates: Oscar-nominated filmmaker Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter, The Captive), actress and director Diana Leblanc, composer and conductor Walter Boudreau (sporting his legendary bright red sneakers), and actor R.H. Thomson, who, like a true advocate, lauded the organizers for their efforts to celebrate artists in this country.