The Canada Council for the Arts unveiled Wednesday the winners of the 2026 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Eight artists, including three women living in Quebec, received the distinction for their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions to Canada’s artistic community. Each laureate will receive a $25,000 prize and a bronze medallion. Ontario textile artist Chung-Im Kim received the Saidye-Bronfman Award, the country’s most prestigious award in the field, which offers significant visibility to recipients. Kim will have the opportunity to exhibit her work at the Canadian Museum of History, in addition to being featured in several articles published in Studio magazine. Six artists are sharing the Artistic Achievement Award, including Gatineau photographer Marie-Jeanne Musiol, visual artist Lyne Lapointe, who is based in Mansonville, and Skawennati, a Montreal-based artist of Mohawk origin known for her digital works. Alberta artist Faye HeavyShield, British Columbia artist and filmmaker Carole Itter, and Nunavut filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk round out the list of winners in the visual and media arts categories. According to the Canada Council for the Arts, these artists have strengthened the ties that connect Canadians from coast to coast through their work. “They help us understand ourselves and others. Deeply rooted in their communities, their work inspires dialogue, reveals the richness of the human experience and creates a strong sense of belonging,” Michelle Chawla, director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts, said in a statement. The Outstanding Contribution Award is being presented to art historian Rogers Lee for his contributions to the field of art history. An exhibition featuring selected works by the winners will be presented starting Nov. 7 at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in New Brunswick. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 16, 2026.
