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Maestro Fresh Wes, the rapper known as the godfather of Canadian hip hop, has been named as one of the laureates in this year’s edition of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, marking the first time a rap artist has received the honour.

“I musta done something right,” a beaming Maestro said in a video reacting to the news of his inclusion. “I just want to say I appreciate being appreciated.”

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Born Wes Williams, Maestro shares the accolade for lifetime achievement in the arts with renowned comedian/actor Andrea Martin, soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, master puppeteer Ronnie Burkett and Quebec chanteuse Diane Juster.

Also named to the Governor General’s winners circle are Jenny Belzberg, a 96-year-old Calgary philanthropist and arts advocate, and choreographer Mélanie Demers, founding artistic director of the Montreal-based contemporary dance company MAYDAY.

Belzberg receives the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, while Demers will be presented with the National Arts Centre Award, which recognizes work of an extraordinary nature in the past performance year.

Another unique aspect of the GG awards is the mentorship program, which matches a past recipient to a mid-career artist. This year’s mentor is Inuit singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark, who will provide guidance to Nunavut songwriter Angela Amarualik, whose musical style combines folk and pop with throat-singing and other elements of traditional Inuit music.

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