All Are Welcome and Winners Announced at City’s Arts, Culture, and Volunteer Award Ceremony

The City of Owen Sound is inviting you to the 2026 Arts, Culture and Volunteer Awards ceremony, which will take place at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre this Thursday, April 16 from 6-8 p.m. The event is free to the public, includes light snacks, entertainment, and a cash bar. The biannual Arts and Culture awards are presented in partnership this year with the annual Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year awards.

The event will feature Steve Ritche, a well-known radio host, as the master of ceremonies as well as musicians Greg Galoska and Paul Earle from The Georgian Bay Symphony with JD Crosstown the featured artist and past Emerging Artist award winner. 

The 2026 awards include Emerging Artist, Cultural Impact (Group), Artistic Excellence (Individual), Outstanding Event, Cultural Changemaker, Cultural Legacy, Shared Voices, Frontier Award, Lifetime Achievement. The Volunteer awards will include the Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year and Senior of the Year.

The City of Owen Sound presents the Owen Sound Arts, Cultural, and Volunteer Awards annually. Individual award sponsors include Zehrs Market, Capes Engineering, GSS Engineering and Pizzaville. The Arts and Culture winners will receive a custom, locally handcrafted bowl by Sharilyn from Forty Hills Forge.

The winner of the Emerging Artist Award will also receive a $500 cash prize. A special thank you to the selection jury, which was comprised of previous award winners.

The Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year and Senior of the Year Award winners receive River District Dollars, and the Youth Volunteer of the Year receives an education bursary. All award winners also receive a trophy and certificates from the City of Owen Sound, MP Alex Ruff and MPP Paul Vickers.

For information regarding the Arts and Culture Awards, contact Jen Wright, Events and Activation Coordinator, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1237 or email jwright@owensound.ca

For information regarding the Volunteer of the Year Awards, contact Andy O’Leary, Facilities Booking Coordinator, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1255, or email aoleary@owensound.ca.

Quick Facts:

• The Arts, Culture, and Volunteer Awards are held bi-annually.
• More information about the awards can be found on the City’s website.

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