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Denise Donlon

@denisedonlon

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A fine review from Spanish language magazine Oleada.
Back in 2002, when the record business still ran on expense accounts, panic and youth worship, Denise Donlon did something mildly insane: she signed a 37-year-old protest singer to a major-label deal.
I was already 107 in new-artist years and writing songs about subjects sensible executives were trained to avoid.
Denise backed me anyway.
Twenty-some years later, I still send her songs when I need a little A&R. She was an enthusiastic supporter of “Billionaire’s Hand in My Pocket” when it was still
a rough demo, and I’m grateful for her insight and encouragement.

Thanks Denise, for believing in the songs then and now, and for being such a champion of Canadian music.

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Take it from those who know what it means to have a lifetime of work recognized. ✨

The journey to a GGPAA starts with a nomination. Think of an artist who has made a lasting impact on Canadian performing arts. You could be the reason they’re celebrated next.

Nominate them for a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award at the link in our bio.

Parole aux artistes qui ont vu l’œuvre de leur vie reconnue.✨

Tout parcours vers un PGGAS commence par une mise en candidature. Pensez à une ou un artiste dont le travail a marqué durablement les arts du spectacle au Canada. Grâce à vous, ce pourrait être à son tour d’être à l’honneur.

Mettez cette personne en candidature pour un Prix du Gouverneur général pour les arts du spectacle – lien dans notre bio.

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Spent the past weekend in Ottawa with the National Arts Centre and what a time!

Congrats to my girl, Heather Gibson, and the whole NAC team for crushing it and putting on such a stunning event.

It was also great to congratulate Nick Fedor in person for the incredible CSHF ceremony from last week.

Until the next one💃🏽

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It really was an honour to host the release of @rick_campanelli’s new tell-all memoir TEMPTED last night at the El Mocambo. Great to see @ed_the_sock @denisedonlon, @bradfordhow and so many friends from back in the day.

Although Rick and I were both VJs at MuchMusic, Rick actually went on air over a year after I left. The first time we ever worked together was this summer when I filled in on Breakfast Television (thank you @danielbourre @nadine.green.parker)

Somehow being onstage with Rick felt like family. He’s so down to earth, and is genuinely taking responsibility for terrible decisions he made in his life which he shares throughout his pretty shocking memoir, a cautionary tale about the very real nightmare of gambling addiction. In Rick’s case, landing in a US jail for a casino heist.

Pick up a copy of Tempted. It’s a book you won’t be able to put down. You will see Rick in a whole new light.

Also, @dannygrangerart, your live painting of Rick’s portrait was insanely cool.

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@stoney.lake where friends become more than friends… they become family 💕💕

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🇨🇦 #rememberthis *shabbaranks voice #sting89 @stinglivejamaica🐝 #hiphop #toronto ✈️🇯🇲 host @denisedonlon @smallaxeberry @phillipgayle7 @muchmusicarchives @jamaicastonelove, @ concerthall 🎥 ft @michiebadgyalmee, #sidekickcrew *fun fact @forcemg brought New Music to concert hall . One of the times we dressed up the New Music VJ Laurie Brown in a dress designed by Princess our dress maker and took her to a Dancehall party at concert hall put on by Triple A promotions . @wearedreamwarriors @therealcitizenkane @pinchersoriginalbandelearo @juniordemus1 💛💛💛😎🙃🎼🙂

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Actor, director, producer, arts advocate and 2015 laureate R. H. Thomson returned this year as the mentor to interdisciplinary artist Lennette Randall as part of the 2026 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Mentorship Program.

In their conversation with @denisedonlon , they reflected on the importance of mentorship, the realities of navigating a career in the performing arts, and advice they would offer to the next generation of artists.

The GGPAA Mentorship Program is generously supported by The Keg Spirit Foundation.

To watch the full interview, visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.

Acteur, metteur en scène, producteur et défenseur des arts, le lauréat 2015 R. H. Thomson est de retour cette année comme mentor auprès de l’artiste interdisciplinaire Lennette Randall, dans le cadre du Programme de mentorat 2026 des Prix du Gouverneur général pour les arts du spectacle.

Dans leur entrevue avec @denisedonlon , il est question de l’importance du mentorat, des réalités d’une carrière dans les arts du spectacle et des conseils à offrir à la relève artistique.

Le Programme de mentorat des PGGAS reçoit le généreux soutien de la Keg Spirit Foundation.

Pour voir l’entrevue intégrale, rendez-vous sur notre chaîne YouTube – lien dans la bio.

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“Don’t let outsiders judge insiders.”

In his interview with @denisedonlon , 2026 laureate Sae Hoon (Stan) Chung shares why artists deserve to be evaluated by true peers, those with a deep understanding of the traditions and practices behind their work.

To watch the full interview, visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.

« Ne laissons pas les gens de l’extérieur juger celles et ceux du milieu. »

Dans son entrevue avec @denisedonlon , le lauréat 2026 Sae Hoon (Stan) Chung explique pourquoi l’évaluation des œuvres devrait revenir à de véritables pairs, à des personnes qui connaissent en profondeur les traditions et les pratiques qui les sous-tendent.

Pour voir l’entrevue intégrale, rendez-vous sur notre chaîne YouTube – lien dans la bio.

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For soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan, the power of music lies in the connection it creates. From a seniors’ home in Nova Scotia to an opera house in Milan, live music connects performers and audiences in profound and immeasurable ways.

To watch the full interview with @denisedonlon , visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.

Pour Barbara Hannigan, cheffe d’orchestre et soprano, la force de la musique réside dans les liens qu’elle tisse. D’une résidence pour aînés en Nouvelle-Écosse à une salle d’opéra de Milan, la scène unit interprètes et publics d’une manière aussi profonde qu’incommensurable.

Pour voir l’intégralité de l’entrevue avec @denisedonlon , visitez notre chaîne YouTube via le lien dans notre bio.

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In her interview with @denisedonlon, Tonya Williams reflects on carving out a career in an industry that wasn’t always ready to embrace diverse voices.

She shares how rejection fueled her resilience, ultimately leading her to found Reelworld and help expand opportunities for underrepresented talent across Canada’s screen industries.

To watch the full interview, visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.

Dans son entrevue avec @denisedonlon, Tonya Williams revient sur la carrière qu’elle s’est taillée dans une industrie qui n’était pas toujours prête à accueillir les voix de la diversité.

Elle y raconte comment le rejet a nourri sa résilience, ce qui l’a poussée à fonder Reelworld et à élargir les possibilités offertes aux talents sous-représentés dans les industries de l’écran au Canada.

Pour visionner l’intégralité de l’entrevue, rendez-vous sur notre chaîne YouTube : lien dans notre bio.

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Auteur-compositeur-interprète, homme de scène et poète, Daniel Lavoie a toujours refusé le carcan d’une seule discipline. En entrevue avec Anik Bissonnette, il revient sur une carrière guidée par la liberté de création plutôt que par les conventions.

Pour voir l’entrevue intégrale, rendez-vous sur notre chaîne YouTube : lien dans notre bio.

Singer-songwriter, performer and poet Daniel Lavoie refused to be defined by a single discipline. In his sit-down interview with Anik Bissonnette, he reflected on a career guided by creative freedom, rather than convention.

To watch the full interview, visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.

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Pour le lauréat 2026 Sylvain Émard, la danse est un langage que tout le monde peut comprendre. Dans cette discussion avec Anik Bissonnette, il explique comment cette conviction profonde a influencé tant sa vie personnelle que son travail.

Pour voir l’intégrale de l’entrevue, visitez notre chaîne YouTube en activant le lien dans notre bio.

For 2026 laureate Sylvain Émard, dance is a language everyone can understand. In his conversation with Anik Bissonnette, he shared how this philosophy has influenced his life and work.

To watch the full interview, visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.

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