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News Release - Manitoba

May 12, 1998

1998 Prix Manitoba Awards for Heritage Honour Outstanding Efforts of Four Manitobans

1998 Prix Manitoba Awards for Heritage Honour Outstanding Efforts of Four Manitobans

Manitoba's birthday is the occasion for tonight's presentation of four 1998 Prix Manitoba Awards. "These heritage awards represent a prestigious and sincere expression of our appreciation of the contributions of three citizens and an organization," said Culture, Heritage and Citizenship Minister Rosemary Vodrey. "It is particularly fitting that this recognition comes on Manitoba's 128th birthday."

The Prix Manitoba Award for Heritage was designed to recognize individuals and organizations who have enriched the lives of all Manitobans by their contributions in the areas of culture, recreation, heritage and multiculturalism. An open nomination process is used for all categories of the award. The nominations are then reviewed by a jury of peers.

Four awards will be presented tonight: - Distinguished Service Volunteer--Individual: Marcia Rowat of Inglis for her leadership and vision in recognizing the unique historical value and economic potential of five grain elevators. Rowat encouraged the community to purchase and preserve the elevators as a tourist attraction leading to their official designation as a National Historic Site.

- Distinguished Service Volunteer--Organization: the Manitoba Historical Society for the outstanding and consistent level of leadership by the organization and its members and volunteers who have inspired succeeding generations of Manitobans--in countless museums, libraries, archives and archaeological, historical and genealogical groups--to take pride in our historical legacy for almost 130 years.

- Distinguished Service--Vocational: Lawrence Klippenstein of Winnipeg for his years of dedicated professional services and outstanding accomplishments as a writer, teacher, researcher, historian, archivist and linguist in pursing a greater understanding of the Mennonite culture throughout the world.

- Education and Communication: Virginia Petch of Winnipeg--a strong advocate of public education--for her extraordinary efforts and contributions in promoting a greater level of awareness and understanding of Manitoba's heritage, for her archaeological and anthropological contributions to our knowledge of Aboriginal cultures and for her equally strong leadership in effective heritage resource management.

Each recipient will receive a limited edition serigraph of an original picture by Jackson Beardy know as "Avian Blue". The painting depicts the symbolism of creation, spirituality and mythology in Aboriginal culture. Noting the province is proud to have the original as part of the Government of Manitoba Art Collection, Vodrey said, "This beautiful work, itself an intricate insight into an ancient culture, is a very appropriate way to honour tonight's recipients for their contributions to the enhancement of Manitoba's heritage."

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