On a crisp autumn evening, the doors of Magnus Theatre will open not just to an audience, but to a community ready to celebrate its storytellers. The lobby will buzz with conversation, performers will warm up backstage, and nominees will walk a red carpet laid out in honour of the people who make Thunder Bay vibrant, reflective, and alive.
This is the return of the Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage Awards Gala — an event that hasn’t taken place since 2019 but feels more urgent and joyful than ever. After years of creative adaptation and quiet perseverance, the city’s artists, historians, curators, musicians, educators, dancers, and cultural champions are finally stepping into the spotlight — together.
It’s more than an awards night. It’s a gathering to recognize those whose work often unfolds behind the scenes or on tight budgets, after long days, or in borrowed spaces. People who paint murals in alleyways, record music in basements, stage performances in old churches, and carry forward the stories that built this city. It’s about celebrating not just the final product, but the effort, passion, and belief in something bigger — a belief in culture as community-building.
“Excitement has been building ever since the nominees were announced!” says Caitlyn McMillan, Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator with the City of Thunder Bay. “People are genuinely thrilled that the Arts & Heritage Awards are back, and there’s a lot of buzz around both the nominations and the event itself. It’s been inspiring to see the community share pride in the nominees and celebrate the amazing talent we have right here in Thunder Bay.”
The list of nominees — spanning visual arts, theatre, music, cultural leadership, youth creativity, and historical preservation — reflects a cultural landscape that is as varied as it is deeply rooted in local stories.
“The nominees highlight just how vibrant and varied Thunder Bay’s arts, culture, and heritage scene is,” says McMillan. “From visual arts to theatre, music, and heritage projects, there’s so much talent to celebrate. It’s exciting to see the variety of projects being recognized and all the different ways people are contributing to our city’s creative life.”
That’s part of what makes Magnus Theatre the perfect venue – a space that has become a symbol of cultural endurance in the city. “Hosting the gala at Magnus Theatre feels like such a perfect fit!” McMillan says. “It’s a beautiful heritage building and a place where so much local talent is showcased year after year. It felt like the perfect space to bring everyone together and celebrate everything that makes our arts and heritage scene so vibrant.”
But this isn’t just a ceremony – it’s a full-scale production. From the red carpet and nominee showcase to a lineup of live performances and a post-show reception, the evening promises to be both a tribute and a celebration of creativity in action.
“We wanted the evening to feel as special as the people we’re celebrating,” McMillan explains. “The red carpet, performances, and reception all help make the night memorable and show how much we value the amazing work happening here. It’s about creating a celebration that everyone, from nominees to audience members, can enjoy and remember.”
Performances throughout the evening will feature Natalia Arroyo, Mood Indigo Jazz Band, Cassidy Houston, Art in Motion Dance School, and DJ Amber Ail – a lineup that reflects the range and rhythm of Thunder Bay’s creative pulse.
“It’s hard to pick just one – I’m excited for all of it!” McMillan says. “Each performance brings something unique, and I can’t wait to see it all come together on stage.”
Behind the scenes, the gala has taken months of quiet planning, creative coordination, and good old-fashioned hustle — all driven by a shared belief in what this night stands for.
“Pulling together a night like this takes a lot of teamwork,” McMillan says. “I feel so lucky to be able to do this work and support the arts in Thunder Bay. Bringing back the awards after a break was definitely a challenge, but with so many talented people helping in different ways, we were able to create a night that truly celebrates everything our city has to offer. There’s always a bit of chaos behind the scenes, but it’s full of great people working together with energy and care. That teamwork is what makes it all come together.”
And while not everyone may find themselves on the nominee list, McMillan emphasizes that the awards are only one part of a much bigger cultural picture — one that includes everyone who participates, attends, or simply supports.
“There’s creativity happening all around the city, and everyone can be part of it,” she says. “The nominees are just a small part of Thunder Bay’s talent, and what makes the arts and heritage scene so special is the energy everywhere: in performances, exhibitions, events, and projects across the city. Artists love when people show up, participate, and support what they do, and that’s how this celebration keeps going all year long.”
Perhaps, the real essence of the evening isn’t just about handing out awards. It’s about reminding us all that culture isn’t made in isolation—it’s something we build together as a community. The gala is a warm invitation for everyone to keep showing up, cheering on each other, creating new stories, and believing wholeheartedly that the story of Thunder Bay is one worth sharing.
The 2025 Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, October 23, at Magnus Theatre. It begins with a red carpet and nominee showcase at 6:00 p.m., followed by the awards show at 7:00 p.m. and a celebratory reception to close the evening. It’s a night to honour the individuals, groups, and organizations who make Thunder Bay’s arts, culture, and heritage community shine. Learn more at thunderbay.ca/artsawards
This year’s 2025 Arts & Heritage Awards celebrate the following nominees across their respective categories:
Music:
- Lakeside District
- Small Town Bad
Visual Arts and/or Fine Craft:
- Michel Dumont Haus of Dumont
- Patrick Doyle
- Tala the Clown
- The Pillar Project
- Woodlandmadman Arts
Stage Performance:
- Amber Ail
- Faux Rocious
- Ivan Love
- Lady Fantasia LaPremiere
- Mz Molly Poppinz
- Rory Bernier
- Tala the Clown
- Tegin Menei
Literature:
- C.R. Kaine
- Marion Agnew
- Sam Convey
- Siobhan Farrell
- Tigers and Teddy Bears
Cultural or Heritage Organization:
- Cambrian Players
- EDCT (Eleanor Drury Children’s Theatre)
- The Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society
- Thunder Bay Community Orchestra
Cultural or Heritage Festival or Event:
- Story Time with Thunder Bay Drag Queens
- Thunder Bay Drive by Art Gallery
Cultural or Heritage Professional:
- Aleksa Shermack
- Dr. Pauline Sameshima
- Jean-Paul De Roover
- Jimmy Wiggins
- Adrien Harpelle
- Lynne Warnick & David Tranter
Achievement- Cultural and/or Heritage Volunteer
- Lizzie Gonzalez
- Sue Paskoski
Achievement- Lifetime or Professional Lifetime
- Jean-Paul De Roover
- Jimmy Wiggins/Wiggins Productions
- Kelly Saxberg
- Tala the Clown
