Kenora Catholic District School Board

St. Thomas Aquinas High School honoured their arts students last night at the Annual Stellar Awards. The awards banquet saw students recognized for their work across various art platforms including drama, culinary, visual, media, native studies and music.

"I think it's amazing that we can do this all together because our school is very supportive of both athletics as well as the arts," said Grade 12 students Avery Bond. "So I think it's great that we can celebrate what we love to do and can't live without, which for me is music."

Bond won two awards, Vocal Excellence and Leadership for Cast, after a very successful graduating year which saw her play one of the lead roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

"It feels pretty amazing. I worked very hard throughout my years at TA to achieve what I have and I couldn't have done it without Mr. Ura and Mr. Harty's support so I thank them from the bottom of my heart," she said.

Last night's guest speakers were Sophie Lavoie, Curator of the Kenora Arts Centre, and Shelby Smith, Arts Centre Programmer. The two spoke about the Arts Centre, which is currently being built as an addition to the Museum Annex, as well as the impact it will have on the arts community.

"We're hoping to bring inspiring artists from across the country that way people can contrast what they're doing with what else is happening in the Arts Centre," said Lavoie "We also have a very important collection that we're hoping to loan out. This specific grouping of W. J. Philips works is very unique in Canada. He is a celebrated Canadian artist who has painted from here to the Rockies and the West Coast, but nowhere is there such a large collection of specifically Lake of the Woods pieces."

Lavoie and Smith went on to speak about the different programs that will take place at the Arts Centre and emphasized that there will be something for both every age and every ability.

This year's recipient of the prestigious Renaissance Award was Principal Victoria Swejda. Music teacher Darcy Ura introduced the award saying that Swejda has gone beyond her role as principal to support the arts at St. Thomas Aquinas and that she deserves every award out there for her leadership and dedication that has created an incredible environment at the school where students can truly discover their passion.

Overall, it was a fantastic evening of celebrating the rich diversity of artistic talent at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.