Where Art Meets Heart: Recognizing the Cultural Creators Who Tell Our Story
Thunder Bay has never lacked for talent, but what makes the city truly special is its willingness to celebrate it. Whether it’s a mural in a downtown alley, a reimagined public space, a spoken word performance, or a decades-long dedication to historical preservation, culture in Thunder Bay is shaped by the people who quietly and passionately pour themselves into the creative life of this place.
This fall, that spirit takes centre stage again with the return of the Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage Awards, which is a renewed celebration of the individuals, groups, and projects that keep the city’s cultural heart beating.
“I think a lot has changed in how Arts, Culture, and Heritage work is being done in the city,” says Caitlyn McMillan, Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator with the City of Thunder Bay. “I moved here in 2008 for school and saw a lot of growth happening in the years following, which left me feeling optimistic about what was happening and how we were engaging arts and culture professionals in Thunder Bay. Before 2019, projects like the Waterfront development and its public art really showcased local talent and the possibilities in the city. Unfortunately, COVID changed a lot, and we’re just starting to see those opportunities build again with projects like the Northcore Streetscapes and a variety of opportunities still to come.”
The awards were last held in 2019, and their return is a welcome sign of renewed momentum. “The awards faced real challenges during COVID in 2020 and 2021, especially with restrictions on gathering and how to properly honour recipients during that time,” McMillan explains. “We explored some alternative formats, but with uncertain and changing needs, we were not able to move forward with them at the time. Since then, we have been rebuilding our cultural events and programming back to pre-COVID levels of engagement. The intention has always been to bring the awards back when we were able to do so properly. This year we have finally been able to make that happen, and from what I’ve seen so far, the excitement around the awards shows the community agrees it’s time for their return.”
As the awards return, so too does a broader reflection on how we define and recognize cultural contribution. “One of the major shifts we’ve seen in terms of cultural contribution and the work happening in the city is a growing understanding of what Arts, Culture, and Heritage actually means,” McMillan says. “We’re recognizing more projects as ‘cultural,’ and the need for these projects has increased. We’re also trying to encourage more heritage-based engagement in the awards, because there’s a lot of heritage work that hasn’t been highlighted or recognized as much as it deserves.”
That recognition has both symbolic and practical importance. “First of all, arts, culture and heritage work is essential to the health and wellness of any city, and a growing Northern city like Thunder Bay needs it more than most realize,” McMillan says. “Preserving the heritage of our spaces, showcasing the cultural experiences, and activating our artists is crucial to people’s connection to the spaces they live and work in. It fosters social connectivity and inclusion, inspires diversity and accessibility, promotes growth and collaboration. It also has an economic impact, attracting visitors and locals to explore what this City has to offer. The Ontario Arts Council found that Arts and Culture tourism in Ontario has triple the economic impact; Arts and Culture tourists spend more and stay longer.”
Recognition also validates those who often work quietly and without fanfare. “None of these things would be possible without knowing, activating, and recognizing the local Arts, Culture and Heritage champions that live, work and create here,” says McMillan. “It is important that the public knows who is out there making a difference to our City. It’s also important that these individuals know their work is truly valued by the community, especially since many of them are volunteers, underpaid creatives, or people fitting this work into overtime on top of their already busy lives.”
The program itself continues to evolve. This year’s award design has been commissioned from a local artist — a full-circle gesture that embodies the spirit of the event. “Yes, I think the award design is a great example of how this event has developed over the years and how we can continue to evolve to meet the needs of the community,” says McMillan. “It is important that the work we do to recognize the leaders in this community is not just a gesture – we are committed to providing opportunities to the talent we have in Thunder Bay. Inviting a Thunder Bay artist to create the design is one way we are able to do that. We’re hoping to commission a new design every couple of years, and I’m especially excited about the new artwork for this year. It feels like a fresh start and a celebration of the renewed energy surrounding the event.”
More than a celebration, the awards serve as a cultural pulse check — and a reminder of Thunder Bay’s civic values. “I don’t think these values – celebrating artists, creatives and heritage leaders – are unique to Thunder Bay, in fact I think we still have work to do in understanding the importance of this kind of recognition,” McMillan says. “Thunder Bay has a strong identity as a big-small town, which can sometimes make it harder to meet the needs of our creative and cultural communities. We often lose talented people to larger cities that seem to offer more opportunities. But the fact that these awards exist, and that we take time as a city to celebrate these individuals, shows that it doesn’t take a massive budget or big city infrastructure to let people know their work matters.”
The program is intentionally wide-reaching, ensuring that many voices, from youth to elders, are heard. “These awards really show that hometown vibe Thunder Bay has,” says McMillan. “They recognize so many different voices—from grassroots groups who are right in the heart of our neighbourhoods, to historians keeping our stories alive, and young creators bringing fresh ideas. What’s cool is that the awards don’t just stick to one kind of art or heritage work. They celebrate all the different ways people get involved here. That’s what makes the event feel real and connected to the community, and it helps bring new voices into the conversation.”
Looking ahead, the awards are just one piece of a larger cultural plan. “They’re not just about celebration — they also help raise the profile of the people and projects making a real impact here,” says McMillan. “Looking ahead, we’re working on several initiatives aimed at building long-term support for the arts, culture, and heritage sectors. One major step is the implementation of our new Culture Plan, which outlines strategies to grow existing programs, re-engage some that have struggled since COVID, and launch new initiatives to meet current needs. As the City of Thunder Bay focuses on growth, we need to make sure the cultural sector grows with it.”
Nominations are now open to the public, offering everyone a chance to recognize the individuals, organizations, and projects that make Thunder Bay shine. Whether it’s a local historian, a youth arts leader, a community group, or an unsung volunteer, now is the time to ensure their work doesn’t go unnoticed. The nomination deadline is Thursday, August 31 at 12 p.m. EDT, and all details, including award categories and criteria, can be found on the City’s website at https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/recreation/arts-and-heritage-awards.aspx
While these awards honour the people shaping Thunder Bay’s cultural identity, they also remind us of our shared responsibility — to celebrate good work, to lift each other up, and to take pride in what’s being created in our city. That means attending shows, purchasing local art, visiting heritage sites, volunteering, sharing, and most of all, nominating the people whose contributions make our lives richer. Arts and heritage aren’t extras. They’re part of what makes this city home.
