Page 30 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 152

30 Issue #152 September 2025 www.sportsenergynews.com

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The 2025 Arts hall of Fame Inductees

By Elaiin McDonald The Native North American
Travelling College Akwesasne is
he Arts Hall of Fame for 2025 is recognized as the matrix of cultural
Tpoised to induct a stellar panel of education and revitalization since its
artists and recognize the community founding in 1966. It is the centre for
agencies that hone individual’s talents Haudenosaunee cultural knowledge
and simultaneously engage the masses with a focus on Akwesasne Mohawk
in the production and enjoyment of territory where the capital for the
popular art. International stars Gilles Mohawk nation is maintained. Currently
Godard and Paul Deslauriers are housing a museum and visitors’ centre
coming home to be fêted. Joining them on Cornwall Island, the Travelling
under the stars are Barbara Hunter, College welcomes visitors to its site,
founder, director of Seaway Winds, and but true to its name, the College travels
Larry Keen, Sr., who founded and led to other communities too. l-r, top: Gilles Godard, Paul Deslauriers, Barbara Hunter, Larry Keen, Sr.
the Keenagers for 2twenty years, and bottom: Native North American Travelling College, Vagabond Theatre,
Rounding out the agencies’ presence Seaway Valley Theatre Company and Kinsmen Club
created the persona Coco the Clown.
in the Hall are two theatre groups. The
In addition to these individual greats, first is Vagabond Theatre, which boasts activities with exceptional business them in public performances, enriching
four art agencies and community of a thirty-five-year run providing a acumen. the community tremendously.
organizations are being recognized as repertoire of Canadian works, the last Paul Deslauriers is a virtuoso on
It is difficult to write of Larry Keen,
the incubators of individual talent and one at the future arts centre at 159 Pitt both electric and acoustic guitars. Sr. without using superlatives. Larry
facilitators of communal efforts that Street on the eve of COVID. As a song writer and vocalist, he has experienced the joy of entertainment in
have provided years of high-quality
Finally, the youngest player in amassed credits internationally: winner performing for troops in WWII and he
entertainment to locals and tourists
local theatre, Seaway Valley Theatre of the Lys Blues Award for Artistic never stopped. In the 1950s in Cornwall,
alike. They are The Kinsmen Club of
Company, SVTC, will take its place in Performance, twice Album of the Year, he developed the character Coco the
Cornwall, The Native North American
the Hall. Established only twenty years and twice entertainer of the year at the Clown. Coco animated parades and
Travelling College, Vagabond Theatre
ago, SVTC has been steadily providing Maple Blues Awards, just to name a few. civic events for the next forty years, as
and Seaway Valley Theatre Company.
an annual playlist that includes a Along with his band, Paul continues late as 1999, delighting children of all
Foremost among them is The musical blockbuster at Aultsville Hall to perform in Blues Festivals in North ages. In 1977, Larry turned his attention
Kinsmen Club of Cornwall. There is every year and regular performances America and Europe and often comes to seniors and established Larry Keen
scarcely an area of community activity at their newly acquired space on Sixth home to play to a full house at the Port and the Keenagers, a choral group
that the Kin haven’t supported, from Street East. Theatre. that brought merriment and song to
kids’ soccer teams to the first play Gilles Godard merits a dominant As a youth, Barbara Hunter was a public events and seniors’ residences
area in Lamoureux Park, but they will position in the Hall of Fame. President musical prodigy who performed as for twenty-five years. Larry’s day
be inducted into the Hall of Fame for of Publishing at Anthem Entertainment trumpet soloist with the Indianapolis jobs were equally prestigious: he was
the sixty-nine-year Kinsmen Music Nashville, Gilles has racked up Symphony Orchestra at sixteen years Chairman of the Larry Keen Group, a
Festival. Countless children of all countless awards: a Felix Award as an of age. In addition to performance, city alderman for fourteen years, and
ages participated as solo artists and in RCA French Recording Artist, Record Barbara excelled in teaching, offering Cornwall’s Citizen of the Year in 1980.
composite groups or whole classrooms. Industry Person-of-the-Year by the courses in trumpet and Music pedagogy These wonderful stars of the arts
Although the Festival was last held Canadian Country Music Association, at McGill and Concordia universities. will be inducted into the Cornwall and
in 2023, the Kin silently continue and member of the Canadian country Shortly after moving to the area, she area Arts Hall of Fame at a Gala on
to support musical initiatives in the Music Hall of Fame, to list only a founded Seaway Winds Concert Band November 1, 2025, at the Best Western
schools and in the community. Hotel. For more information email
few. Gilles has balanced his creative in 2001 and she continues to direct
cornwallartshalloffame@gmail.com.