Mary Ellen Burgess
Lifetime Award for Excellence in the Arts, 1995

Mary Ellen Burgess was recognized across Canada as an outstanding drama director and adjudicator. She served as Governor and executive member of the Dominion Drama Festival for 10 years and was an executive member of Regina Little Theatre for 23 years. She reshaped high school in the province by initiating drama competitions in the late 1930's, helping add drama to the curriculum, and establishing province-wide drama festivals. Mrs. Burgess taught at the two Saskatchewan teachers' colleges and at the University of Saskatchewan. She wrote school radio broadcasts, a weekly radio program, one-act plays, pamphlets on play production and stagecraft, and newspaper articles. She initiated the Mary Ellen Burgess Drama Library, which contains over 7,000 playscripts and reference books.

Lieutenant Governor's Arts Award Recipients

Lifetime Achievement - Joe Fafard (2007)
30 Below - Thomas Yu (2007)
Leadership - Saskatchewan Music Educators Association (2007)
Innovation in the Arts - Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival (2007)
Lifetime Achievement - Bill Epp (2005)
30 Below - Holly Luhning (2005)
Leadership - Richard Spafford (2005)
Innovation in the Arts - Edward Poitras (2005)
Lifetime Achievement - John Arcand (2004)
30 Below - Sheri Benning (2004)
Leadership - Gary Hyland (2004)
Innovation in the Arts - Michael Hosaluk (2004)

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Marjorie Dunlop (1999)
Caroline Heath (1999)
Ann Newdigate (1999)
Nik Semenoff (1999)
Elizabeth Brewster (1995)
Mary Ellen Burgess (1995)
McGregor Hone (1995)
Allen Sapp (1995)
Florence B. James (1993)
Wynona Croft Mulcaster (1993)
Ruth Pawson (1993)
James Sinclair Ross (1993)
Murray Adaskin (1991)
Mina Forsyth (1991)
Howard Leyton-Brown (1991)
Dwaine Nelson (1991)
Reta Cowley (1990)
John V. Hicks (1990)
Kenneth Kramer (1990)
Jean Oser (1990)
Anne Szumigalski (1990)
Lea Collins (1989)
Ernest Lindner (1989)
W.O. Mitchell (1989)
William A. Riddell (1989)
David Smith (1989)

Saskatchewan Order Of Merit Recipients

Don Kerr (2007)
Calvin D. Abrahamson (2006)
David L. Kaplan (2006)
William A. Waiser (2006)
Maria Campbell (2005)
Lusia Pavlychenko (2005)
Byrna Barclay (2004)
Lorne Carrier (2004)
Jack Sures (2003)
Guy Vanderhaeghe (2003)
Margaret Cugnet (2003)
Joe Fafard (2002)
Kenneth Mitchell (2001)
Jacqui Shumiatcher (2001)
Robert N. Hinitt (2000)
Carol Gay Bell (1997)
Victor Cicansky (1997)
H. Frances Morrison (1999)
Howard Leyton-Brown (1996)
Morris Shumiatcher (1996)
William Perehudoff (1994)
William H. Riddell (1994)
Ruth Pawson (1993)
Emmie Oddie (1991)
Reta Cowley (1990)
Anne Szumigalski (1989)
Marguerite Gallaway (1988)
Dorothy Knowles (1987)
Lyell A. Gustin (1986)
Hilda Allen (1985)
Allen Sapp (1985)