Government renames the Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre in honour of Gordon Pinsent

Premier Danny Williams, along with Paul Shelley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today officially renamed the Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre the Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts at a public ceremony held in the town. The renaming took place on the occasion of Mr. Pinsent�s 75th birthday and as part of the 2005 Grand Falls-Windsor Centennial Celebrations.

"Government is proud to be a sponsor for the 2005 Grand Falls-Windsor Centennial Celebrations which represent a significant milestone for central Newfoundland and Labrador and the forestry industry. It is fitting that during this year of celebration and on the occasion of his 75th birthday, that government rename the Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre in honour of a native son of Grand Falls for his contribution to the arts across the country," said Premier Williams. "Gordon Pinsent is one of the country�s most well-respected artists and the most well known Newfoundland and Labrador actor in Canada and is undoubtably an appropriate and deserving recipient of the honour of having a cultural institution in his name. The newly named Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts is a tribute to Mr. Pinsent that will recognize and celebrate his career and accomplishments in the town in which he was born."

This represents the first time the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has renamed an arts and culture centre in the province. Government approved the renaming following a request from the town of Grand Falls-Windsor and the organizing committee for the 2005 Grand Falls-Windsor Centennial celebrations.

Minister Shelley said that the renaming is part of government�s continued commitment to promoting the province�s unique culture and talented artists. "Government recognizes the importance of our arts and culture centres in the continued promotion of our culture throughout the province," said Minister Shelley. "Today the name of the Grand Falls-Windsor Centre reaffirms the purpose for which it was built. Each time residents or visitors enter the Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts, they will be reminded of his incredible contribution as an artist and an ambassador for our province."

Gordon Pinsent said he is overwhelmed to have the centre named in his honour. "Never in my dreams, career or life did I ever expect to have such an honour bestowed upon me," said Mr. Pinsent. "I am delighted beyond any choice of words and deeply grateful to all who have thought I even come close to deserving such a gift."

The Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre, now the Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts, was opened in July 1971 and houses a 400 seat proscenium theatre, public library and an art exhibition area.

Media contact:
Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960, 690-5500, or elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Tansy Mundon, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928, 685-1741, or tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

Backgrounder
Gordon Pinsent Biography

One of Canada�s most beloved and well-known actors, Gordon Pinsent was born in Newfoundland on July 12, 1930. He began his career at the Manitoba Theatre Centre, which led to roles at the famed Stratford Festival. In 1962, he made his TV debut with a guest appearance on the US series Hallmark Hall of Fame, as well as becoming a regular on the Canadian series Scarlett Hill. The following year, he played a recurring role as Mountie Sergeant Scott on the children�s program The Forest Rangers. In 1966 he landed the lead role in the Canadian series Quentin Durgens, M.P.. Just a short while later, Pinsent played Jamie McDonald in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), starring Steve McQueen. Guest appearances on popular U.S. series such as Dan August, Hogan's Heroes, Cannon and Marcus Welby followed.

Mr. Pinsent began writing screenplays and his debut effort, The Rowdyman (1972), in which he also starred, quickly became a Canadian classic, winning him a Canadian film award for Best Performance by a Lead Actor. He also wrote and starred in the CBC TV movie Win, Again! (1999), for which he received a Gemini for Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-series.
Mr. Pinsent also won an acting Gemini in 1996 for his humorous turn as RCMP officer Benton Fraser�s dead father in the popular series Due South, along with two other Geminis for Street Legal (1989) and Power Play (1998). He received the John Drainie Award for Overall Contribution to Broadcasting in 1990 and the prestigious Earle Grey award in recognition of his body of work in 1997. On the feature film side, he has two Genies: for Klondike Fever (1980) and for John and the Missus (1987), which he also wrote.

Other TV credits include The Red Green Show, Wind at My Back, Road to Avonlea, Lonesome Dove and A Gift to Last. Mr. Pinsent was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1980 and a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1998. In 2003, he received the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence and in 2004, he received an Award of Excellence at the Banff Television Festival. His autobiography, By the Way, was published in 1992.

2005 07 12                       3:05 p.m.