Sculptor Norm Williams has been announced as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for the 13th annual Arty Awards, presented by the Abbotsford Arts Council.
The awards gala takes place Saturday, Sept. 30 at The Reach Gallery Museum, but Williams’ award has been announced in advance.
All the nominees were recently recognized at a celebration night, where they received certificates.
Williams was an Arty Awards winner in 2004 in the visual arts category. His work has been featured in private collections throughout Canada, the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom, China and Japan.
Some of his public works that can be seen closer to home include Strauss and Gallo Watching the Farm, and the Unity Statue (a collaboration) in Abbotsford, as well as the iconic statues of Roger Neilson and Pat Quinn that adorn the entrance to Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Williams will be among the recipients in nine categories at the awards celebration.
Host for the evening will be Fort Langley native Harry Doupe, an award-winning comic, writer, and producer with years of Juno, Gemini, NHL, and Canadian Comedy Awards experience.
Doupe has also performed throughout North America, including at Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and as host for Tragically Hip events at Molson Park in Barrie, Ont., and Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.
Each of the four performers at the event are also nominees for this year’s awards.
Juno-nominated singer/songwriter Chelsea Amber and stand-up comic Cliff Prang, who recently taped his first full-length special, are both competing in the Performing Arts category.
Up-and-coming spoken word artist Harman Kaur is among the finalists in Literary Arts, and one of the region’s favourite musical duos, Coalmont, are in the running for Arts Advocate.
Other awards to be presented are: Lifestyle, Media Arts, Youth Achievement, Visual Arts and Emerging Artist.
Tickets for the Arty Awards are $20 general and $15 for students and seniors. They can be purchased online at abbotsfordartscouncil.com. Doors for the event open at 6:45 p.m.