Photo: Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano presents local musician Jamie Bestwick with the inaugural Bill Award at council on Monday.
The Bill Award, named after former Deerhurst Resort owner and operator Bill Waterhouse, was presented for the very first time to local musician Jamie Bestwick at Huntsville Council’s August 28 meeting.
The award was created to honour Waterhouse, who died in 2015. He helped put Huntsville on the map by operating one of the most notable resorts in the area. He was integral in the creation of Huntsville’s rich culture of live entertainment. He produced Deerhurst’s popular live-stage shows, which ran for more than 30 years from July 4, 1980, until its final bow on March 19, 2016. The incredible performances attracted locals and visitors alike, while employing a multitude of talented people. Described as an entertainment visionary and hospitality ambassador in a media release issued by the Town of Huntsville on Monday, Waterhouse brought The Second City Touring Company to Deerhurst’s Four Winds Disco in 1979. He is also credited with a memorable end-of-summer concert held for teens at the Hidden Valley ski hill by The Yardbirds on August 26, 1967.
The Bill Award was presented to Bestwick by Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano at last Monday’s council meeting, held in Port Sydney.
Bestwick, who recalled being part of the Sing Show at Deerhurst Resort about 15 years ago, described receiving the award as a tremendous honour as he thanked all those involved. Bestwick is a household name in Huntsville, with performances in shows such as Dean & Jerry: What Might Have Been and community events such as Midnight Madness.
Since graduating I’ve had the opportunity to study and perform all across North America in more than forty Broadway musical productions, with successful rock and jazz bands and in CTV’s Canadian Idol orchestra . As wonderful as all of these experiences have been, it is my greatest pleasure to return home to Huntsville and share those experiences with family, friends, colleagues, and supporters who’ve been by my side every step of the way. Ironically, I have another connection to the Waterhouse family through Bill’s son, Jeremy. Few people know that if he hadn’t decided to forgo the September 1996 HHS grade 10 band class, I would not have had an occasion to pick up the bass guitar Jamie Bestwick
The award, via an application process, is open to all local performers. The 2016 award was determined by a jury of four people made up of Carol Gibson, Jennifer Johns-Main, Ian McTavish and Louis Tusz.
“It’s important to recognize and appreciate excellence in the performing arts at the local level, especially as more and more content becomes digital. Nothing beats real live entertainment,” said Terziano, herself from a musical family, in the press release issued following the start of Monday’s meeting. The award comes with a $500 cash prize. 2016 award applicants are encouraged to reapply in future years.
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