Miniatures for Christmas Gifts 2012

PREMIO OHTLI

On September 15, 2012 the Ambassador of Mexico in Canada  H.E. Francisco Barrio, on behalf of the Government of Mexico, awarded Gilda Pontbriand the "Premio Ohtli".

The prize called Ohtli is awarded by the Government of Mexico to Mexicans who have dedicated their lives, as volunteers, to promote their culture and who have opened the way for other Mexicans who have arrived in Canada.  For the aboriginal people of Mexico called Nahuas, the words Melahuac Ohtli meant the “right way”; the one that your heart asks you to follow and the one that would take you to your destiny.   

Gilda started promoting Mexican and Latin American culture 25 years ago by organizing over 150 exhibitions of paintings/photography and dozens of concerts, gastronomic and film festivals, conferences, workshops, etc., etc.  She was the founder of the first Association of Latin American Artists in Canada, member of the first Mexican folkloric ballet in Ottawa, first Mexican who offered cooking classes at the Ottawa Carleton Board of Education and first curator and organizer of annual Latin American art exhibitions for over 12 years.  For many years she devoted herself to find a place in Ottawa to install the sculpture of Mexican artist Leonardo Nierman and in 2007 the Embassy of Mexico unveiled the sculpture at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.   

Gilda with Araceli Tyo

She has donated more than 50 pieces of art  and helped in the organization of fundraising events to help organizations such as the Ottawa General Hospital, the Canadian Leukemia Study Group, the Lung Association, the Ovarian Cancer Society, Children’s Aid Foundation, The National Arts Centre Dance Group, Doctors Without Borders, etc., as well as to help people in Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Niger, etc. when those countries have been affected by natural disasters.

 Gilda with Maruka Comtois







                                                                        



                                                                                   

                        





Gilda with Nora Bustamante

Latinamerican Heritage Day 2012

Gilda was selected to represent Mexico at the Latin American Heritage Day celebrations in Ottawa, Canada.  "Dia de la Herencia Latinoamericana en Canadá"

Hundreds of people gathered at Ottawa City Hall on September 8, 2012 to celebrate, for third year in a row, the Latin American Heritage Day.  

Gilda presented two of her latest paintings from the Ancient Symbols series  entitled Mayan Kines and Aztec Calendar.

Lilia Faulkner, curator of the show, brought together the best artists from Latin American countries such as Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Chile, Colombia, etc. which made the exhibition a memorable one, according to critics.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson attended the ceremonies together with other members of the municipal and provincial governments.

                                                          




" Mayan Kines"
   


 
                                                                      Mixed Media  on Board

  








    Aztec Calendar

     Mixed Media on paper

Pintoras Latinoamericanas

A group of Latin American Artists presented the exhibition "Ellas, su Pasión y su Arte...." at the St. Brigid's centre for the Arts in Ottawa, Ontario on May 23, 2012.  Lilia Faulkner, organizer of the event, invited artists from Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Chile among others.

Ottawa Orchid Show 2012

  31st Ottawa Orchid Show - April 2012

 The theme for the show was "in the style of Picasso"

 

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Gilda Pontbriand with Mexican muralist David Leonardo at the San Miguel de Allende Public Library, during her trip to that city during the months of February and March 2012.  David Leonardo completed his second mural for that library.

Latin American Heritage Day Award 2011

Latin American Heritage Day Award 2011  

Ottawa, Canada

Last August Gilda was granted the Latin American Heritage Day Award by the Mayor of Ottawa, Mr. Jim Watson.  She was selected among many candidates for her voluntary work during the last 20 years to promote Latin American culture in Canada and for her constant efforts to help people, organizations and countries in need.  She has donated more than 50 paintings to help fund raising events for hospitals, Doctors without Borders, the Canadian Leukemia Study Group, the Lung Association and many others.  She also helped in the organization of fundraising events for countries such as Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Haiti and Bolivia when they were devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding.

Mr. Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa during the ceremony when Gilda was granted the Latin American Heritage Day Award 2011 for her altruism. 

Mr. Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, Gilda Pontbriand and the Honourable Mauril Bẻlanger, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier.

Gilda Pontbriand with Mr. Jim Watson, MPP Mauril Bẻlanger and members of the Provincial Government of Ontario.