Arts Council unveils definitive list of 50 of Sudbury’s most influential artists

To honour its 50th anniversary, the Sudbury Arts Council is highlighting the massive contributions of 50 local artists, whose work and legacy will be preserved in a commemorative book

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Sudbury Arts Council has created a list of 50 local icons, past and present, of the local arts community. The list was officially announced on May 13 along with news the local arts icons will be featured in an upcoming book project.

The project began in 2024 with a callout for nominations, asking for the names of artists, performers, educators and benefactors and supporters who have “significantly impacted the arts in Sudbury.”

You can find the full list of names below.

Judy Straughan, co-vice president of the Arts Council (along with Vicki Gilhula) is lead on the project, and told attendees at a press conference at the Greater Sudbury Library that they received nominations from 360 people.

For three months, Sudbury Arts Council researched and added material where needed for each nomination and Straughan said that by the summer of 2025, 42 moderators were involved in 11 juries to arrive at the final 50 names. The process took eight months total, she said.

The arts council hopes to publish the book in late October of this year, with a gala event to celebrate the anniversary and launch.

The book will feature the names of the 50 along with a photo and 350-word biographies (in both French and English) describing the contributions of each person. There will also be a list of names considered “honourable mentions,” said Straughan, as well as a poem from each of the eight poet laureates that served Sudbury between 2010 and into 2027.

But as for the name of the book, and the cover? That’s for the community to decide. In the coming weeks, Sudbury Arts Council will be searching for a name, and asking Sudburians to send in what they think is the best choice.

From there, Sudbury artist Monique Legault will create the book’s cover. She brought along two sketches with her for inspiration, and will unveil the final image once the title is chosen.

Straughan told Sudbury.com that of the 50 names on the list, 14 are no longer living, but their place on the list shows that art is legacy.

“When we go back to Greek times or Roman times, it’s really the art that has survived,” she said. “I think that speaks to our artists here and to us going back to the 1970s, even some of them that began their art in the 1950s, we are still honoring them.

“Imagine making an impact on this city that lasts forever?”

More information about the book will be revealed in the coming months, and you can find more information on the Sudbury Arts Council website here.

The 50 Sudbury arts icons of the past 50 years

David Anselmo: David is CEO of Hideaway Pictures and Northern Ontario Film Studios. He has brought millions of dollars of film business to Northern Ontario.

Tony Anselmo: For more than 40 years, Tony provided a downtown music haven for all musicians. He launched the Sudbury Blues Society and believed in the transformative power of music.

Jamie Arrowsmith: Jamie has had a lasting impact on classical music in Sudbury through education and as a musician. As conductor of the Sudbury Youth Orchestra, he continues to inspire and mentor young musicians.

Dan Bedard: Dan is an exceptional figure with talent across a spectrum of music and sound. Currently, at Place des Arts, he brings talents together with Au Bistro des Descouvertes each month.

Jamie Bourget: Jamie created theatre opportunities for thousands over two decades. He created Theatre Cambrian in 1985 which thrived for 20 years.

Heather Campbell: Heather created the Wordstock Literary Festival in 2013. She helped build a strong literary scene by launching Latitude Publishing Company in 2015.

Shirley Cheechoo: Shirley is a respected painter, arts administrator, animator, filmmaker, playwright and visionary. In 1984, she co-founded the powerful and enduring Debajehmujig Theatre Company.

Mary Jane Christakos: Mary Jane was an artist and arts educator who co-founded the Sudbury Crafts and Arts Foundation. Through her shop, The Artisan, on Larch Street, she was a constant support of local artists.

Alessandro Costantini: At age 17, Alessandro founded YES Theatre Company especially for youth in Sudbury. His many projects, developments and creative endeavours since then have enriched the arts in Northern Ontario.

Hélène Dallaire: For 30 years, Hélène led the award-winning theatre troupe Les Draveurs at Ecole Secondaire Macdonald Cartier. A strong arts advocate, she has directed 17 community productions with the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario.

Jean-Marc Dalpé: Jean-Marc played an instrumental role in the development of Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario through his collaborations with Brigitte Hantjens. Playwright, poet, novelist, translator, scriptwriter and actor, Jean Marc’s face is on a Canada Post stamp.

Robert Dickson: In the 1960s, Robert fell in love with the French language and became an active member of Sudbury’s Franco-Ontarian arts community. In 2005, he was named to the Ordre de la Pléiade, which recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the ideals of Francophonie.

Alain Doom: Alain is a French-Canadian actor and playwright. During his 15 years at Laurentian University, he mentored and trained many artists whose careers flourished.

Joe Drago: An arts pioneeer, Joe founded the hightly successful Performing Arts Program at Sudbury Secondary School in 1985. He changed thousands of lives through specialized access to the arts and launched the careers of countless artists.

Sonja Dunn: Sonja was an arts force in education, on television and in film. She sang, told stories and won the hearts of children. She was one of the founders of the Sudbury Theatre Centre bringing English Professional Theatre to our community and the North.

Kim Fahner: Our fourth poet laureate, Kim added poetry to the glass of the of Sudbury airport for all to read and appreciate. She has published several books of poetry, a novel, “The Donoghue Girl”, and has written many reviews in support of others.

Emil First: Emil was the founding conductor of the Sudbury Philharmonic Society, which later became the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. He served as President the Sudbury Kiwanis Club and Music Director for the Sudbury Board of Education from 1949 until 1978.

Mary Lou Fox: Mary Lou was founding director of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation on Manitoulin Island. During her career, she taught Indigenous history and has been called “a powerhouse of aboriginal cultural preservation.”

Paulette Gagnon: She was a builder and arts administrator, a theatre artist who worked tirelessly with provincial and national cultural and theatre organizations. Paulette was Development Director for the Regroupement des organismes culturels de Sudbury (ROCS), and a tireless contributor in the realization and building of Place des Arts.

Sarah Gartshore: Sarah is many things: playwright, actor, director, filmmaker, creator, teacher and activist. Her art shines a light on the often under-served of our community. As a strong Anishinabek-Kwe, she embodies the spirit of a true warrior woman.

Stéphane Gauthier: Stéphane has ignited Sudbury’s arts scene with his passion for French language and culture. He co-founded the annual le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury and was later named executive director of Carrefour Francophone.

Hélène Gravel: Hélène’s passion was dramatic expression and as part of an arts program at Macdonald Cartier Secondary School, she formed Les Draveurs in 1971. Sudbury’s École publique Hélène-Gravel was named in her honour.

Cam Haynes: Cam, founding director of Cinéfest in 1988, grew Cinéfest from one film offering to a week-long festival. Cinéfest Sudbury, Sudbury’s International Film Festival, was launched in September 1989 with approximately 9,000 cinema buffs crowding theatres during the three-day event.

Matthew Heiti: Matthew is a talented novelist, screen writer, actor, playwright, teacher and dramaturg who is known for nurturing the talent in others. He was honoured with a Project Bookmark plaque erected outside The Townehouse for his novel, “A City Still Breathing,” where he joins other celebrated Canadian writers across the nation.

Metro Kozak: When Metro was director of music at Cambrian College, he shifted the programming towards a symphonic repertoire. He conducted the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and founded the Sudbury Youth Orchestra.

Chuck Labelle: Since the late 1960s, Chuck has been a local driving force in Francophone music and lavishly praised in both Quebec and Europe. In 2025, he was honoured with the Prix du Nouvel-Ontario for his inspiration over four decades.

Germaine Lemieux: Father Germain Lemieux inspired the Franco-Ontarian arts renaissance in the 1970s in northeastern Ontario. After more than a quarter century of research, the Germain Lemieux collection includes 3,118 folk songs and 680 stories and legends.

Tony Lloyd: Tony became the first full-time, long-term artistic director of the fully-professional English theatre in Sudbury, the Sudbury Theatre Centre. He changed the face of theatre in Sudbury. During his 17-year tenure, he built a new theatre on Shaughnessy Street, educated the community and provided countless opportunities.

Paul Loewenberg: Paul’s association with the Townehouse Tavern, Northern Lights Festival Boréal and CKLU Radio made an indelible mark on the Sudbury music scene. As artistic director of Northern Lights Festival Boreal, he increased Sudbury’s national music profile and made significant and timely changes.

Muiriel MacLeod: Muiriel is an outstanding potter and one of the founders of the Sudbury Basin Potters in 1974. She founded and managed Artists On Elgin which grew to accommodate more than 50 local artists.

Beth Mairs: Under Beth’s leadership, Sudbury Indie Cinema was incorporated in 2014. As founding executive director and lead programmer, Beth’s film programming exploded to 60 monthly screenings and multiple film festivals.

Joan Mantle: An educator, Joan spread her life-long passion for music to thousands. The Joan Mantle Music Trust has raised more than $300,000 to support music education in the Rainbow Board.

Robert Marinier: From his teenage years in the 1970s, Robert Marinier was captivated by the birth of a Franco-Ontarian cultural scene. Robert became an acclaimed award-winning actor, playwright and script writer for television including the highly popular Météo +.

Ralph McIntosh: A long-time educator and champion of the arts, Ralph inspired generations of students. He continues to impact the community with the Young Sudbury Singers, the Sudbury Music Festival and as Education Coordinator for YES Theatre.

Scott Merrifield: Scott was a founder and first chair of Northern Lights Festival Boreal and its artistic director for 14 years during its formative years. He was a pioneer of house concerts and has been presenting an average of seven per a year since 1992.

Will Morin: Will is a multimedia artist, an engaging educator, an impactful creator and a member of the Michipicoten First Nation. Few have made a more significant impact on our arts community in as many diverse ways as the multi-award-winning Will Morin.

Andre Paiement: André accomplished an extraordinary amount in his short life, leaving an indelible mark on Sudbury’s art scene. He wrote several plays, was one of the major contributors to the Coopérative des artistes du Nouvel-Ontario (CANO) and formed the folk/ rock band CANO-Musique.

Mark Palumbo: In 1999, Mark established Music and Film in Motion to strengthen Northern Ontario’s music industry, and develop a film and television industry. Since the launch of MFM, over 400 film and television projects have been produced in Northern Ontario contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the region’s economy.

Robert Paquette: Robert is one of the most influential Franco-Ontarian artists of his generation in Canada. He was one of the founders of the Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique, a leading voice in Franco-Canadian music.

Christian Pelletier: Christian co-founded the highly successful Up Here festival in 2015 along with Maggie Frampton and Jen McKerral. His vision provides a beacon of light in the music landscape and the giant murals a lasting impact on Sudburians.

Iona Reed: In 1962, at age 20, Iona won the world Accordian Championship in Prague. Always a teacher, for six decades Iona has performed beautifully throughout our region and generously nurtured and accompanied hundreds.

Oryst Sawchuk: Oryst conducted the Jubilee Folk Ensemble and participated in or initiated numerous music, theatre and spoken word projects at the Association of United Ukrainian-Canadians’ Hall. His architectural contributions include the Sudbury Transit Centre and the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre.

Peter Schneider: As an educator and entertainer, Peter had a lasting impact on the Sudbury music scene for decades. His legacy lives on with the Bell Park Gazebo Concert Series featuring local artists every Sunday evening all summer long.

Ann Suzuki: A talented textile artist, Ann worked in the ancient technique of batik, using silk, wax and dyes to create unique colour combinations and intricate patterns. Her contribution to the Art Gallery of Sudbury and the Sudbury Crafts and Arts Foundation was significant.

Heather Topp:Heather is a multimedia artist whose work often has a strong feminist and political tone. She has been making art for more than 50 years, has presented numerous solo exhibitions and been part of more than 65 group exhibitions.

Pandora Topp: Pandora is well-known in Sudbury and beyond for her passionate homage to the work of Édith Piaf. She has been an artist in schools since 2002, contributing to the artistic education of countless young Francophones in the region.

Denise Truax: As general manager at Éditions Prise de parole for nearly 40 years, Denise has greatly contributed to promoting Franco-Sudbury literature. Denise is a champion of Francophone literature and one of the community’s active advocates for the arts.

Denise Vitali: In 1984, Denise opened the Sudbury School of Dance where she inspired thousands of students for over four decades. In 1989, Denise she created the group “earthdancers”, promoting awareness of the environment. By 2026, the dance troupe has raised $257,000 for environmental initiatives.

Allan Walsh: Sudbury’s best-known accomplished jazzman and multi-instrumentalist, Allan is often heard, but not always seen. Allan became artistic director of Jazz Sudbury in 2012, making the annual Jazz Festival a stellar event that has touched thousands.

Ivan Wheale: Artist, teacher, and mentor, Ivan was celebrated throughout the region not for his stunning work but also for inspiring and encouraging generations of artists. He was co-founder of the La Cloche Art Show in 1978 and exhibited with the Perivale Gallery from its opening in 1981.

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter at Sudbury.com.