George Brown College’s jewellery and gemmology program co-ordinator was awarded the Saidye Bronfman Award in fine crafts 

Paul McClure working on a jewellery creation
Photo courtesy of the Canada Council of the Arts

On March 24, the Canada Council for the Arts announced the winners of the 2015 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Awarded to eight Canadian artists, the Saidye Bronfman Award in fine crafts was awarded to Paul McClure, a jewellery artist from Toronto.

According to the Canada Council, “Paul McClure is an outstanding jewellery artist, designer, educator, mentor, curator, writer and community-arts activist, and is one of the driving forces in Canadian fine craft today,” having incorporated arts and science into his jewellery.

He is recognized for his achievements in art over the past 25 years, which include being represented in collections in Canadian and international museums, being the co-founder of various community art projects and festivals, as well as being the current co-ordinator for the jewellery and gemmology programs at George Brown College.

McClure, among the other winners, will be presented with a unique medallion produced by the Royal Canadian Mint by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, on April 8, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.