10th annual Arts Hall of Fame Gala salutes artists, organizations

JASON SETNYK

The Cornwall Arts Hall of Fame celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary November 1 with a star-studded gala at the Best Western Hotel, honouring six individual artists and four arts organizations whose talent, leadership, and cultural contributions have shaped the creative landscape of Cornwall and beyond.

Among the inductees were internationally acclaimed artists Gilles Godard and Paul Deslauriers, returning home to be honoured alongside local arts champions Barbara Hunter and Larry Keen, Sr. In addition, The Kinsmen Club of Cornwall, Native North American Travelling College, Vagabond Theatre, and Seaway Valley Theatre Company were recognized for fostering artistic growth and community engagement.

Elaine MacDonald, President of the Arts Hall of Fame, said the event not only recognizes inductees but also strengthens the case for a permanent home for the arts in Cornwall. “We did it because we wanted to create a broad base of interest in art,” MacDonald said. “Without a history bank, which the arts didn’t have, all the successes of a given year aren’t necessarily remembered or celebrated.”

Godard, a powerhouse in the country music world, is now President of Publishing at Anthem Entertainment Nashville and a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Deslauriers, known for his virtuosic guitar work, continues to tour internationally and remains a local favourite, frequently performing at Cornwall’s Port Theatre.

Barbara Hunter, a trumpet soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony at 16, later founded the Seaway Winds Concert Band, enriching Cornwall’s music scene since 2001. Larry Keen, Sr. was beloved as Coco the Clown for 40 years and founded the Keenagers choral group for seniors. His civic leadership included 14 years as an alderman and recognition as Cornwall’s Citizen of the Year in 1980.

The Kinsmen Club’s 69-year legacy with its Music Festival left a deep mark on youth music education. Though the festival ended in 2023, the club continues to quietly support school music programs. The Native North American Travelling College was celebrated for preserving and sharing Haudenosaunee culture since 1966. Meanwhile, Vagabond Theatre’s 35-year repertoire and Seaway Valley Theatre Company’s 20-year run of popular musicals and plays were acknowledged as vital contributors to Cornwall’s performing arts landscape.

“This has been so successful,” said MacDonald, reflecting on the decade-long evolution of the Hall. “We started in 2014, and every year since, we’ve celebrated not just individuals but the broader community that sustains the arts.”

The gala also served as a benefit for the future Cornwall Arts Centre. “Before today, we had raised nearly $1.4 million,” MacDonald said. “Our initial goal was $1 million, and people have just been so generous. It shows how much our community wants the arts – they want a centre, a home base. People recognize the need.”

The evening was emceed by Senator Bernadette Clement and longtime arts advocate Robert Poirier. Musical performances included rising violinist Méya Cheffer, accompanied by Thérèse Motard; R&B, blues, and jazz singer Senora Sin with guitarist Ryan O’Neil; and a closing performance by Amanda O’Neil.