Seven new laureates for the 2025 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) were revealed this week by the National Film Board (NFB).

Actors Graham Greene (pictured left) and Patrick Huard (pictured right) are among five recipients of the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. Ohsweken, Ont.-born Greene is credited in Molly’s Game, Seeds and an Academy Award-nominated role in 1990’s Dances With Wolves. Meanwhile, Montreal-born Huard co-starred and co-wrote Bon Cop, Bad Cop and its sequel.

Rounding out the five lifetime honourees is Sandra Laronde, a multidisciplinary artist, producer, author and executive/artistic director at Toronto-based arts company Red Sky Performance; composer Denis Gougeon; and music and entertainment producer Bob Ezrin, best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Kiss and other high-profile musicians.

In addition, April Hubbard, a Halifax-based performance artist and disability advocate, will receive the 2025 Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts. Composer and musician Jeremy Dutcher will receive the National Arts Centre Award.

The 17th edition of the GGPAA takes place June 14 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Short films on the seven laureates will premiere the night of the awards and be made available on the NFB’s website and on CBC Gem.

The films do not yet have titles, an NFB spokesperson told Playback Daily. Montreal-based Tara Johns will direct five of the shorts, produced for the NFB by Robert Vroom. Johns is currently in development on the original feature Good Bones with Montreal’s Palomar Films.

Acadian New Brunswick filmmaker Monique LeBlanc will direct the other two shorts, produced by the NFB’s Christine Aubé.

“These shorts are a testament to the power of collaboration, jointly conceived by laureates, directors and NFB producers, capturing the essence of these extraordinary individuals and their passion, vision and dedication,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, NFB government film commissioner and chairperson, in a statement.

Previous GGPAA special award recipients include Colm Feore, Rick Mercer and Sandra Oh.

Photos by Terry Manzo, Vivien Gaumand