Some of Canada’s most renowned artists received lifetime achievement awards this year’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala, the country’s most prestigious award given for artistic accomplishments.

Oscar-nominated Armenian Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, known for works such as “The Sweet Hereafter” and “The Captive,” was among the laureates at the award ceremony held Saturday at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Other award winners included songwriter Sarah McLachlan, actress and director Diana Leblanc, composer and conductor Walter Boudreau, and actor R. H. Thomson.