Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison honoured Sarah Spring as the 2018 recipient of The Bill Award at the Huntsville Town Council meeting on June 24, presenting her with a trophy and cash prize in honour of her work as a performing artist.
The Bill award honours entertainment visionary and hospitality ambassador Maurice Willard “Bill” Waterhouse, who died in 2015 after many years as owner and operator of Deerhurst Resort. Waterhouse was an avid supporter of live entertainment, inspiring The Bill Award, which honours a local performing artist selected by a jury each year. The award is open to individuals and applicants can represent any type of performing art as long as they live in Huntsville. Spring is the third recipient of The Bill annual award following inaugural winner Jamie Bestwick in 2016 and 2017 recipient Briar Summers. In addition to a trophy, The Bill Award includes a $500 cash prize.
“The applications this year were extremely well done,” said Teri Souter, Huntsville’s manager of Arts, Culture and Heritage. “The amount of time that entertainers give back to Huntsville for various fundraisers and to local causes, to families in need, and to other performers to teach and further their talent is colossal. I am just glad I didn’t have to judge them.”
This year’s jury was made up of Carol Gibson, Jennifer Johns-Main and Ian McTavish. Julie Cochrane nominated Spring for the award, highlighting her musical contributions to the community.
“Sarah Spring is a native of Huntsville, Ontario and the epitome of what music symbolizes,” Cochrane said. “Over the last 20 years, Sarah has taught piano to the young and old, and sparked musical joy throughout our community with her creative and heartfelt performances. Sarah is one of the most kind, giving, and inspirational musicians that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and would be the first person to support our community.”
Applications for The Bill Award 2019, planned for presentation in 2020, will be available online in early 2020. Previous applicants are encouraged to reapply with an updated entry. For more details, watch for updates on the Town of Huntsville website.
