Saturday, September 25 marked the seventeenth annual Arty Awards hosted by the Abbotsford Arts Council at the Kariton Art Gallery. Hosted by comedian and entertainer Providence Ndizeye, the Arty Awards was live streamed at 7:00 p.m. sharp. The awards ceremony commenced on a cheerful and breathtaking note as performers, artists, singers, and more teamed together to bring about a memorable night to virtual audiences everywhere.
Paying heed to social distancing and safety measures, the Abbotsford Arts Council made the decision to individually film the host, the different presenters, performers, and winners, and edit them into the live stream. Perhaps what was most inspiring was the number of nominees and presenters who worked at or attended the University of the Fraser Valley.
The Arty Awards opened with a land acknowledgment by Rebekah Brackett and a brief introduction from executive director Eileen Stephens. Ndizeye introduced each presenter per category and also announced the winners. Throughout the show, Ndizeye was continuously changing his attire, and it became a running joke that added to the comedic side of the Arty Awards.
Each presenter shared a brief bio of the nominees, highlighting their various accomplishments. Each nominee had an accompanying photo, and the winner gave a filmed thank-you speech at the end of each category.
The Youth Achievement award was presented by Shannon Thiesen, and the nominees were Ivy Handford and Cash Calhoun. The award went to Handford.
Graphic designer Emily Gauthier announced the nominees for the Emerging Artist award, two of whom are former UFV students: Luke Pardy and Faria Firoz. Artist Cassidy Luteijn was also nominated this year, and the award went to Firoz.
The Media Arts award nominees were presented by Chantelle Trainor-Matties, and they were Dona Park and Gurjant Singh Sekhon, with Park taking home the award.
The Lifestyle award was presented by tattoo artist Tanya R. Loewen, and the nominees were Mori Kono and Victoria Carpenter, with woodcarver Kono walking away as the winner.
Presenter Rebekah Brackett introduced the Visual Arts award, and the nominees were Susannah White, Yvonne Dale, Emily Brace, and Natoya Ellis. The winner was White.
The next presenter for the Performing Arts award was a very familiar face, especially to English majors. English associate professor Rajnish Dhawan from UFV introduced the talented nominees. They were Cambree Lovesy (a UFV graduate), Dear Father, Linda Szentes and the Jazzlinks, Mauvey, and Kellen Saip (posthumous). The winner for this year went to UFV alumna Cambree Lovesy.
The Literary Arts award was presented by UFV’s Coordinator for the South Asian Studies Institute, Sharanjit Sandhra and the nominees for this prestigious award were David Tickner, Julia Rohan, K.A. Wiggins, Emily Isaacson, and Lauralee Sí:tel Á:la Kelly. The award went to Wiggins.
Nelly Fargeon presented the Arts Advocate award. The nominees were Stephen Munga and Laura Lee Billing, with Munga being declared the winner.
The Lifetime Achievement award was given to someone with a lifelong experience and commitment to the arts. The award was presented by Doreen Jung and received by Betty Johnston.
In between the different awards were song performances by various local artists. A singer by the name of Fara gave a mesmerizing performance, singing a hip hop/R&B song, accompanied by a back-up dancer. With powerhouse vocals, Fara was an example of the type of talent that was being commemorated at the Arty Awards.The second performance was by Kuri, who sang a country style song with his guitar that felt organic and hit all the high notes. Ranj Singh was the next performer for the evening, evoking a soulful melody that was both inspiring and deep with emotion. The last performer was Laura Wheeler, who gave a strong vocal performance with an upbeat song that was rhythmic and catchy.
At the closing of the awards ceremony, Ndizeye left the audience on a comedic note as he serenaded the audience with one last anecdote. He also thanked those who helped on and off camera, the presenters, the nominees, and, of course, the winners. As the awards ceremony ended, a lingering joy could be felt, reminding viewers that despite the depressing COVID-19 circumstances, there is still hope for a brighter future.
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
