I attended a local high school Arts Awards Ceremony to support my daughter, who had been nominated for Art Leadership and recognized for her mixed media artwork. I walked in expecting a simple evening — a heartfelt celebration of student performances, artwork, and awards.
What I witnessed was so much more than that. Not only was the evening deeply moving, it was also incredibly well produced. From the scripts and video feeds to the award envelopes, handshakes, lighting, sound, and thoughtful speeches, every detail felt intentional and professional. The production crew absolutely nailed it.
There was music, movement, visual art, laughter, applause, and a kind of energy in the room that was impossible not to feel. From jazz band, string quartet, singing, and performance arts to visual art that included drawing, painting, pottery, mixed media, and even a splash of animation — every corner of the arts was alive.
And honestly, I was blown away.
This was not an amateur talent show. This was a celebration of dedication, creativity, discipline, bravery, and community. The level of talent was incredible, but what moved me most was the atmosphere. The passion in the students. The support from their peers. The pride in the teachers’ faces. The feeling that something very special has been built within those walls.
One of the most touching parts of the evening was seeing alumni return — former students who had gone on to pursue careers in the arts — to present awards to the next generation. Their words were powerful. They spoke with such admiration for the program, for their teachers, and for the mindset they carried with them into post-secondary education and their careers.
You could hear it in their voices: this program shaped them.
It gave them confidence. It gave them direction. It gave them a place to belong. It gave them permission to imagine a future where creativity was not something to hide, but something to pursue.
And then I’m reminded that programs like these are only made possible by the teachers who fill the gaps through fundraising, performances, coffee nights, art shows, music jam nights, bake sales, and any other effort that helps keep opportunities alive for their students. Beyond teaching, they are often helping stock art supplies, maintain equipment, care for tools and instruments, and support the many behind-the-scenes needs that make these programs possible.
They pour in hours far beyond their paid workday, not because they have to, but because they truly care.
And that matters.
These teachers are not simply teaching art, music, or theatre. They are building confidence. They are nurturing expression. They are creating safe spaces for students who may not find their voice anywhere else. They are helping young people discover who they are and what they are capable of becoming.
They are, in many ways, the cornerstone of the artistic community.
They are the ones keeping the arts alive, not only in the school, but in the hearts of the students who will carry that passion forward. They are filling these young people with courage, discipline, resilience, and a go-getter attitude that will serve as a shield as they step into a world where choosing the arts is not always easy.
But it is meaningful.
It can reach the quiet student. The anxious student. The neurodivergent student. The student who feels different. The student who is still trying to understand themselves. The student who has something powerful inside them but does not yet know how to let it out.
Art gives them a language.
And dedicated arts teachers help them learn how to speak it.
So today, I want to acknowledge the unsung heroes — the arts teachers who stay late, show up early, fundraise, organize, encourage, mentor, and believe in students long before those students believe in themselves.
Their work is invaluable.
Their impact is lifelong.
Last night reminded me that the arts are not a luxury.
They are a lifeline.
And the teachers who continue to protect, nurture, and fight for these programs deserve our recognition, our gratitude, and our unwavering support..
-Christine Brazeau
Shaping the Crazy 