Premier Furey Presents Inaugural Premier’s Medals for Arts, Heritage, Sport and Recreation

December 9, 2024

This afternoon at a ceremony at the Colonial Building, the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, presented the inaugural Premier’s Medals for Arts, Heritage, Sport and Recreation.

The recipients of today’s medals represent the disciplines of arts and heritage. The most prestigious honour in the province for these disciplines, the medals recognize the fundamental role the arts and heritage sectors play in the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador. Artists and heritage practitioners positively impact quality of life, sense of cultural belonging and the vitality and economic prosperity of our communities and province.

In special recognition of Year of the Arts and the 75th anniversary of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Confederation with Canada, 10 medals were presented to both arts and heritage recipients.

This year’s award recipients are:

Arts

• Deantha Edmunds
• Flanker Press
• Cheryl Hickman
• Labrador Creative Arts Festival
• Fergus O’Byrne and Jim Payne
• Beni Malone
• Roger Maunder
• Placentia Theatre Festival
• John’s International Women’s Film Festival
• John Thompson

Heritage

• Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation
• Jerome Canning
• Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society
• Eric Jerrett
• Mummer’s Festival
• Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society
• Them Days
• Trinity Historical Society
• Douglas Wells

Biographies for recipients of the 2024 Premier’s Medals for Arts, Heritage, Sport and Recreation are in the backgrounder below.

To align with the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s, Premier Furey will recognize the inaugural sport and recreation recipients alongside the arts and heritage recipients at next year’s ceremony.

Quotes
“As Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is my distinct honour to present the inaugural Premier’s Medals for Arts, Heritage, Sport and Recreation. Today, we celebrate the exceptional contributions made to our province’s arts and heritage sector. I offer my sincerest congratulations as we recognize and reflect on the outstanding contributions, efforts and accomplishments that each recipient has made in preserving and promoting Newfoundland and Labrador’s vast heritage and history. I look forward to presenting medals to sport and recreation recipients next year, to align with the celebration of the Canada Games.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“The Premier’s Medals for Arts, Heritage, Sport and Recreation recognize the vital role that these disciplines play in our quality of life, cultural identity and community prosperity. Our residents consistently excel on national and international stages and we are proud to support and celebrate their achievements. Congratulations to the recipients and nominees – your accomplishments inspire us all.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

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BACKGROUNDER

Arts

Deantha Edmunds
Deantha Edmunds, Canada’s first Inuk professional soprano, was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2023 as a performer, writer, composer and mentor – work which seeks to empower Indigenous people and share their stories. Her work has international reverberation as well as community integrity. She brings a level of professional excellence to Canada’s Indigenous art scene that is unique and important. Creating original music, collaborating with other musicians, contributing to Indigenous productions, and mentoring young artists, Ms. Edmunds shares her voice and vision with her whole heart, and draws accolades from across Canada and abroad.

Flanker Press
Flanker Press is the leading trade book publishing firm in Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded by Garry Cranford in 1994, this year marks its 30th in business. Award-winning, bestselling Canadian literature in fiction, non-fiction, and children’s illustrated genres are the hallmarks of the publishing house, whose authors have received local, national, and international acclaim. With a primary focus on Newfoundland and Labrador authors and subject matter, Flanker Press continues to break new ground in eBook creation, audiobook and film adaptation, regular appearances in bestseller lists, and by attracting talented and high-profile authors to grow their brands worldwide.

Cheryl Hickman
Cheryl Hickman is a Juilliard-trained soprano and the founder, general, and artistic director of Opera on the Avalon. Her distinguished singing career includes engagements across North America and Europe, earning prestigious accolades. Ms. Hickman has transformed Newfoundland’s cultural landscape, commissioning and presenting critically acclaimed, groundbreaking works like Ours, The Danger Tree, February, and Shanawdithit (seven Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations; winner Best New Opera). A dedicated advocate for equity in the arts, Ms. Hickman has championed mentorship programs for female conductors, composers, directors, and production staff, and is committed to engaging and inspiring audiences through the transformative power of the arts.

Labrador Creative Arts Festival
The Labrador Creative Arts Festival is a celebration of the arts in all forms created by and for Labradorians. Started in 1975, it is known as the longest running children’s festival in Canada, bringing together students of Labrador communities and artists from across the province and the country, who give workshops in schools during the week of the festival. Since 2021, the festival has placed many of its creations, films, and discussions online, which has greatly increased its interaction with community partners. It has also aimed to promote dialogue on multiculturalism, anti-racism, racial equity, diversity and inclusion to advance institutional and systemic change so that Labrador becomes a more inclusive society.

Fergus O’Byrne and Jim Payne
Traditional music icons Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne have worked together for the past 30 years promoting Newfoundland and Labrador musical culture. As dynamic performers whose traditional and original songs reflect our collective experience, they have toured every inch of the province; as educators, put thousands of students in touch with their cultural heritage; and as world-class touring artists, travelled hundreds of thousands of miles to bring our story to the globe. Multi-award winners with over a century of experience in the business between them, their brand-new CD, Wooden Boats, released in November, is an homage to our seafaring history.

Beni Malone
Beni Malone is the founder and artistic director of Wonderbolt Productions, which has been creating and producing original circus-inspired theatre since 1982. Best known for his work as a professional clown, Mr. Malone began his career with the Newfoundland Travelling Theatre Company in 1974. He has performed nationally and internationally in theatre, television and film. Mr. Malone has developed curriculum-based circus-arts programs for phys-ed classes of all levels. He has been awarded both the ArtsNL Arts in Education Award, and the Arts Achievement Award. In 2023 he received an honorary doctor of laws from Memorial University for his work in circus and promoting physical wellness.

Roger Maunder
Roger Maunder has made significant contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador’s film industry. He founded the Nickel Independent Film Festival in 2001, and has directed several notable projects, including Between Two Walls (2014) and Setting His Own Limits (2023). He has directed music videos for Shanneyganock and Amelia Curran, and his collaboration with Opera on the Avalon and Rum Ragged (titled 1949), was recognized as Music Video of the Year at the 2024 MusicNL Awards. Mr. Maunder’s most recent work includes producing the documentary The Forgotten Warriors (2024), the story of a nine-day hunger strike by Mi’kmaw activists in 1983.Through his production company, Up Sky Down Films, Mr. Maunder continues to support emerging talent and bring Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique stories to a broader audience.

Placentia Theatre Festival
Placentia Area Theatre d’Heritage, formed in 1993 to create and perform a historical drama on Castle Hill National Historic Site, has grown into a professional arts organization that brings the Placentia Theatre Festival to life. They produce a range of shows with a cast and crew of over 30 that includes professionals, semi-professionals, as well as emerging artists who contribute to our efforts to stage productions in a professional and collaborative environment. The theatre’s mission statement guides its efforts to inspire, captivate and entertain audiences with productions that use drama and music to celebrate the essential power of theatre as it captures Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique culture through the arts.

St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival
The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival is one of the world’s longest-running women’s film festivals, dedicated to celebrating the voices and stories of women and gender-diverse filmmakers. Founded in 1989, the festival has grown into a globally recognized event, attracting top industry leaders, talent and diverse audiences. The festival showcases a dynamic lineup of films, panels, and workshops year-round, fostering connections between local creatives and international industry professionals. With a commitment to equity, inclusion, and artistic excellence, the film festival is a vital platform for underrepresented voices, empowering creators and driving transformative change in Newfoundland and Labrador’s film industry and beyond.

John Thompson
A resident of Grand Falls-Windsor, John Thompson’s current resume job titles include musician, playwright, and producer/director. In 1997, he transitioned from a work life that included banking and sales to pursue his passion for the arts. Beyond the stage, John’s work has significantly impacted the community by establishing a tourism destination while ensuring the viability of Branch 12 RCL. From humble beginnings, the A.N.D. Company Inc. has grown to employ more than thirty seasonal staff. Mr. Thompson has been married to Gloria (nee Ellsworth) for 44 years and has two children Sarah and Christopher.

Heritage

Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation
The Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation was incorporated in 2001 with the mission to preserve the decommissioned Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital in Norris Point, one of the last remaining Cottage Hospitals in the province. It was built by the people of the Bonne Bay region and is now being adaptively re-used for the preservation of local culture and heritage, the promotion of health and wellness, and community economic and social development. They operate as a social enterprise offering programs and services that benefit the community while generating revenue to sustain their operations. Their commitment has ensured that this valuable piece of our provincial health care history is being preserved for the benefit of the communities in the Bonne Bay region and for future generations.

Jerome Canning, Wooden Boat Builder
Jerome Canning began boat building in Placentia Bay, NL, where he spent his summers fishing with his father and brothers and building boats during the winter. Those early boats were used in his family’s fishing enterprise or sold to commercial fisher persons. In 1983, Mr. Canning received a diploma in small craft design from the Marine Institute in St. John’s. Since then, he has continued to design and build wooden boats, some of which have been featured in Newfoundland and Labrador cultural heritage celebrations. Mr. Canning has researched and documented many wooden boat shapes and building methods, which are a major component of the Wooden Boat Museum’s boat building workshops since 2009, attended by people from all over the world.

Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society
The Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society mandate includes both tangible and intangible cultural heritage related to the history of Grand Falls-Windsor. It is committed to making its collection accessible to the public for research and exhibition. The collection includes documents, books, photographs, and a huge variety of objects and artifacts, most of which has been donated by private citizens, groups, and businesses in the town. The Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society was formed in 1997 and incorporated in 1998 and is a registered charity.

Eric K. Jerrett, CM, FEC
Eric Jerrett is a founding member and past chair for 21 years of the Bay Roberts Heritage Society, which undertook the establishment of the Shoreline Heritage Trail through Bay Roberts East, restoration of the Western Union Cable Building (1912), now a National Historic Structure, housing Town Council offices; the Christopher Pratt Gallery and the Road to Yesterday Museum. As a licensed professional, Mr. Jerrett provided free design and management services for Trail and Building. He was the inaugural chair for 10 years and director for 22 years of Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation. Mr. Jerrett has also served two terms as director of Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and is the provincial representative on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Mummers Festival
The award-winning Mummers Festival is a participant-focused, community-based festival that encourages the celebration of mummering traditions. Mummering in Newfoundland and Labrador has been going on for 400 years and involves house visits from oddly shaped, colorful, disguised mummers. The Mummers Festival coordinates a series of free, family-oriented, public events every December leading up to the crowning event the Mummers Parade where mummers of all kinds gallivant through the streets of St. John’s. Events include Hobby Horse and Ugly Stick Making Workshops, a “Rig Up” (the province’s largest disguise dress up party), lectures and forums, and a Christmas Concert and Mummers Jam.

Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MANL), established in 1980, has been a driving force in preserving the province’s rich history and culture. Representing over 150 member museums, historic sites, and heritage organizations, MANL offers critical support through professional development, advocacy, and resource sharing. Key initiatives include the development of the Museum Studies Program, a successful social media campaign #ExploreMoreIn24, reestablishing in-person conferences, fostering partnerships, and delivering specialized training in artifact care and exhibit development. This recognition by the Premier’s Medal honors MANL’s dedication to safeguarding Newfoundland and Labrador’s stories and treasures for generations to come.

Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society
The Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society is the oldest continuously operating heritage organization in the province. For almost one hundred and twenty years the society has made academic-level historical research accessible to general audiences and encouraged discussion about the province’s heritage. The society works to preserve the past and support new research through lectures, symposia, various publications, heritage awards, advocacy, and maintenance of its archival and online collections. The Heritage Society is committed to representing the diversity of Newfoundland and Labrador’s peoples and communities in their authentic historical contexts.

Them Days
In 1975, the Labrador Heritage Society published the first Them Days magazine. It was intended to be a one-time publication of elders’ oral histories, but even before it went to print, it was obvious to all involved that this was the genesis of something much bigger. Them Days has been publishing quarterly ever since and, in 1984, the Them Days Labrador Archives was established to care for the gathered and donated interviews, photos, and documents. Over the past five decades, a very small staff and a team of dedicated volunteers have continued to collect, safeguard, and celebrate the history and heritage of all peoples in Labrador.

Trinity Historical Society
Founded in 1964, Trinity Historical Society’s mandate has been: to preserve, present and promote the built and cultural heritage of Trinity and area. Core projects and successes of the Society include archives dating to 1748, an 1880s second generation saltbox home that became one of the first museums in the province, a living history blacksmith museum, a 1903 courthouse, and a reconstructed Georgian mansion formerly owned by Poole merchants Lester and Garland. The society has 184 members, is governed by a volunteer board of directors, and currently employs three full time staff, four seasonal staff, and summer students.

Douglas Wells
A retired schoolteacher from Harbour Breton, Douglas Wells has been a volunteer for 50 years. He has contributed decades of work in the town’s interests, with a long association with Remembrance Day ceremonies, footstones for veteran’s graves, Municipal Heritage Sites, church, landslide, nominations to the PHCP (Resettlement and Nfld. Ranger Force), Sunny Cottage Heritage Centre, and has done extensive research on First World War soldiers from the south coast. Awarded Citizen of the Year and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his volunteer efforts, Mr. Wells is currently serving on various committees and talks to students on local history and cultural heritage topics.

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