By Mike Douglas, MAC’s Executive Director. November 8, 2022.
The Heritage Mississauga Awards, describe it as giving credit where credit’s due, and on Thursday, November 3, Heritage Mississauga did our city proud with its hundreds of contributors assembled over dinner at the Mississauga Grand Banquet & Event Centre, gathered to recognize and be recognized with dozens of award winners cheering the contributions of others and joying applause for the work they do to enhance the quality of life for residents of Mississauga. Heritage Mississauga has been producing a Heritage Heroes awards presentation for 25 years and their Credits Awards gala for 10. This year, the entertainment featured Anishinaabe teachings from Kim Wheatley and an awe inspiring Hoop dance from champion Lisa Odjig who brought the crowd to its feet with her performance.
When we go to an event like this we watch it in terms of their contribution to the arts and artists, lifting the ability of professional creatives to make a living in Mississauga. For artists that begins with being valued and appreciated for what they do. Last Thursday some well-known artists and creatives, patrons and leaders were recognized for their varied contributions to heritage. We’re grateful to Heritage Mississauga for marking these valued contributions from leading creative spirits in our city.
Heritage Mississauga is to be commended for bringing them together to celebrate outstanding volunteers like Patricia Anderson, Dave Baker, Elizabeth Banfalvi – leaders well known to arts communities. Marlon Porter, Heritage Youth Winner and a VAM resident, business leader Bell Canada, won for their art boxes and legendary musicians Patti Janetta Baker and Dave Baker won for Community Heritage. Asma and Arshad Mahmood won for their Canadian Community Arts Initiative, and Streetsville Founders Bread and Honey Festival, won along with its heroic manager Sandra Pitts. So many friends of heritage are artists. We’re very grateful to Heritage Mississauga for creating this opportunity to recognize Linden King, with a Chairman’s Award for enriching the “…fabric of the community for the long term.” This integration of arts into culture and heritage is so pronounced. Congratulations to the City of Mississauga for enabling all of us.
Like The Credits, MAC is inspired by the inventiveness of Frog in Hand, and we enjoyed great active collaborations with Jasmine Sawant, another Cultural Heritage Award winner, in addition to winning multiple MARTYS! Supporting Heritage Mississauga through many of their projects is the RAMA Gaming House, a steadfast supporter to arts and culture activities for residents of Mississauga, and we shouldn’t forget the Credit’s sponsor Fram & Slokker, long-time supporters of Heritage Mississauga, as well as MAC. Heritage Mississauga’s Executive Director, Jayme Gaspar, has always been right; that heritage is everything in our culture and last week Heritage works were recognized as very often the work of local artists. Local creatives and their talents, and enthusiasms, are tremendous contributors to Mississauga life and heritage.
View the full list of winners and learn more about The Credits at heritagemississauga.com/the-credits/
