Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards Celebrate Excellence, Leadership and Community Spirit

(Sydney, NS) – On November 6, 2025, Cape Breton University, in partnership with the Cape Breton Partnership, proudly celebrated the 2025 Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards, honouring artists, educators and community leaders whose imagination and dedication continue to shape the Island’s cultural landscape.

Hosted by CBU’s Boardmore Theatre, the evening brought together creators and collaborators from across Cape Breton to recognize the role of the arts in connecting people, preserving heritage and inspiring innovation.

“Creativity is not just an individual act, but a shared responsibility rooted in respect, collaboration and belonging,” said Hiscock. “The creative process transforms not only individuals but entire communities, fueling resilience, expression and growth across generations.”

2025 Creative Arts Award Recipients

The 2025 Creative Arts Awards honoured recipients across six categories, celebrating students, youth, educators, volunteers and community builders who exemplify artistic excellence and cultural leadership.

Caper Radio CBU Student Award

Recipients: Yan Zhang and Xiaojing Huang

Co-founders of the Chinese Dragon Cultural Heritage Association, Yan Zhang and Xiaojing Huang, were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to intercultural understanding through art, education and community engagement. Their initiatives, from Traditional Chinese Culture in Schools to their acclaimed performance The Lotus Lantern, have brought traditional Chinese artistry to life across Cape Breton. On campus, they have collaborated with the international office, student groups and multicultural events, using creativity to build community and belonging.

The Builder Award

Recipient: Betty Ann Cormier, Chéticamp

A fourth-generation rug hooker, Betty Ann Cormier has dedicated her life to preserving and re-imagining Acadian craft traditions. Her workshops and online classes bridge generations, transforming rug hooking into a living form of community connection. Through her leadership and artistry, Cormier continues to inspire others to see creativity as both heritage and healing.

Father Donald Campbell Founder Award

Recipient: Carole Chisholm, Mabou

Educator and cultural leader Carole Chisholm has built a lifelong legacy of creativity and learning. As a teacher at Mabou Consolidated School, her classrooms were alive with music, theatre and local pride. Beyond education, she played a central role in the creation of Strathspey Place, establishing a lasting home for performance and community in Inverness County.

Barbara E. Stetter Youth Award

Recipient: Callie Doyle, Riverview High School

Recognized for her exceptional leadership and promise, Riverview High student Callie Doyle has already made her mark as Assistant Stage Manager for the Savoy Theatre’s Come From Away and through her mentorship of younger students. Her dedication, collaboration and passion embody the spirit of this award: creativity that uplifts and inspires.

Sons of Membertou Educator Award (Tie)

Recipients: Heritage African Drummers and Margie Beaton, Mabou

Led by Peter Oyedijo, the Heritage African Drummers were honoured for transforming rhythm into a language of learning, using drumming to teach teamwork, cultural respect and confidence. Their workshops and performances through the Menelik Hall School of African Drumming have become a model for intercultural education and collaboration.

Margie Beaton, a lifelong champion of Gaelic culture, was also recognized for her leadership in education and heritage preservation. Through her work with the Mabou Gaelic & Historical Society and An Drochaid Museum, Beaton has nurtured generations of learners, helping secure Gaelic’s place in Nova Scotia’s education system and cultural identity.

Dr. David Sneddon Volunteer Award

Recipient: Friends of St. John’s Arichat Society

The Friends of St. John’s Arichat Society were honoured for transforming the former St. John’s Church, built in 1895, into the St. John’s Centre for the Arts. Their dedication and teamwork turned historic preservation into a vibrant space for performance, music and community connection, a shining example of how volunteerism fuels creative renewal across Cape Breton.

Celebrating Creativity and Connection

This year’s ceremony highlighted the Creative Arts Awards’ growing legacy as a celebration of vision and collaboration across Cape Breton. From students and youth to lifelong educators and volunteers, each honouree demonstrated how creativity sustains community and strengthens culture.

“Cape Breton University and Cape Breton Partnership are proud to support and celebrate the artists and innovators who make creativity a cornerstone of life on our Island,” said Hiscock. “Their work reminds us that art doesn’t just reflect who we are, it helps define who we can become.”

For more information about the Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards or CBU’s Creative Campus initiatives, visit cbu.ca/boardmore.