The City of Owen Sound honoured local excellence in the arts, culture, heritage, and volunteering at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre on Thursday.
This year, the city held its biannual Arts and Culture Awards in partnership with the annual Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year awards.
Thirteen awards were given across various categories at the free event (find the full list of winners below). The city said nominees included musicians, visual artists, performers, volunteers, and new and long-established organizations and events, reflecting the diversity of Owen Sound’s cultural scene.
The winner of the Emerging Artist Award received a $500 cash prize after being chosen by a selection jury, which was comprised of previous event winners.
Arts and Culture winners received a custom, locally handcrafted bowl by Sharilyn from Forty Hills Forge, while Volunteers of the Year received River District Dollars. All award winners also received a trophy and certificates from the City of Owen Sound, MP Alex Ruff and MPP Paul Vickers.
The 2026 winners are:
Emerging Artist - Leopold Baker
Cultural Impact (Group) - Grey Bruce Makers
Artistic Excellence (Individual) - Shirra Benson
Outstanding Event - Amelia Kraemer, Canadian Encaustic Conference
Cultural Changemaker - Keith Medley, Founder of Sweetwater Music Festival
Cultural Legacy - Owen Sound Emancipation Festival
Shared Voices - Marc Matei
Frontier Award – Maryann Thomas & Miranda Miller
Lifetime Achievement - Colleen Purdon
Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year – Andrew Howlett
Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year – Frank Greaves
Youth Volunteer of the Year – Abigail Trombley
Senior of the Year – Anne Robertson
