Joella Foulds Recognized with Order of Canada

Celtic Colours co-founder and Artistic Director Joella Foulds will be one of 44 Canadians invested by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, into the Order of Canada at a ceremony at Rideau Hall Friday, May 25.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of the Canadian Honours System, and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. Since its creation, more than 5 000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.

Foulds will be invested as a Member of the Order.  Membership recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity.

Joella Foulds, who was inducted into the Cape Breton Tourism Hall of Fame (along with co-founder of Celtic Colours Max MacDonald), and received an Honourary Doctorate of Letters from Cape Breton University in 2011, has championed Cape Breton’s music and culture for decades. A musician, broadcaster and arts activist, she is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Celtic Colours International Festival.

Since its introduction in 1997, Celtic Colours has grown to become one of Canada’s premiere musical events, and a cultural highlight of Nova Scotia’s tourism season, collecting accolades from regional music awards to national and international tourism awards. The festival has also been successful in extending Cape Breton Island’s tourism season well into the Autumn, and introducing the musical culture of the Island to visitors from more than two dozen countries.

The sixteenth Celtic Colours International Festival takes place October 5-13. The full lineup and schedule will be announced June 25 with tickets going on sale July 9. For more information about Celtic Colours visit celtic-colours.com. For more information about the Order of Canada, or to watch the investiture ceremony live (11:30am AST), visit www.gg.ca.