Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas awarded Meritorious Service Medal

Paige Peacock

Wellington Advertiser

DRAYTON – Alex Mustakas, founding and current artistic director of Drayton Entertainment, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division).

Governor General Mary Simon presented Mustakas with the medal during a ceremony on May 26 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

“It’s obviously a great honour, a great privilege, but I do share it with everyone involved with our organization,” Mustakas told the Advertiser.

“I may have been the founding artistic director, but it certainly, it takes a village to run the company and so I’m very grateful to [everyone], including our volunteers and our audience – we’ve all been part of this journey.”

The celebration also complemented the launch of Drayton Entertainment’s 2022 season and the reopening of all seven of its stages throughout Ontario on May 26.

Mustakas received the award, which recognizes Canadians for outstanding contributions in any field, for his lifelong commitment to making the performing arts affordable and accessible, according to a May 26 press release.

Knowing firsthand what it’s like to run a theatre company, Mustakas said he accepted the medal on the behalf of his organization, but also for the performing arts industry as a whole.

“Really, the big thing for me was the real honour that we’re recognizing how important theatre is and the arts are to our communities.”

After two years of not being able to operate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mustakas said receiving the award was “a little bittersweet.”

“But it inspires us to keep mov- ing forward because, again, it just goes to show how important arts activity is in our communities for our balance community.

“We need education, and we need health care, and we need sports, but for a balanced community, we also need arts activity and culture.”

At the height of its operations, Drayton Entertainment stages over 800 performances annually at its various venues, with attendance exceeding 250,000 each year.

Mustakas, who holds a business degree in economics from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and a master’s degree in arts administration at City University in London, initially started out in the corporate sector before moving into performing arts.

Recognizing the physical, social, economic and cultural barriers that limited access to the arts, particularly in rural areas, and the stigma that surrounded the arts, Mustakas made it a lifelong goal of his to rewrite the narrative.

When he began Drayton Entertainment 32 years ago, Mustakas said it was always important to the company to ensure theatre is accessible and affordable, “because it shouldn’t be out of reach for anybody.”

“We’ve really tried to do that over the years, and I think it’s worked well,” he said. “And we’ve introduced theatre to a lot of new communities.

“And as a result we have a re- ally strong stakeholder base and that’s why we’ve been able to make it through these last two and a half years.”

Starting with an opera house in Drayton, Mustakas built up what is now known as Drayton Entertainment.

“It took me many, many years to kind of stand outside and look in and go ‘Oh boy, wow, we’ve really created something here that affects a lot of communities,’” Mustakas said of the organization’s success.

Continued on page 20

Regardless of your interests, there’s no shortage of activities to fill your days this summer. Here are 10 suggestions to get you started.

1. Get back to nature

The thing about the outdoors is that there are many ways to enjoy it. Birdwatch in your backyard, stroll through the woods or bike around the countryside. Alternatively, enjoy a picnic in the park or pack your fishing rod and spend a weekend camping by the lake.

2. Host a game night

Your options are as numerous as they are varied. Keep your mind sharp as you roll the dice, shuffle the cards or test your trivia knowledge. You can teach your grandchildren a game that’s new to them or organize a regular board game night with friends.

3. Move your body

From golfing to gardening, opportunities to engage in physical activity during the summer are plentiful. You can also join a walking club or sign up for a yoga, tai chi or water aerobics class. Often, these group courses are offered outside when the weather’s nice and can be adapted if you have reduced mobility.

4. Plan a cultural outing

Treat yourself to a night out at the theatre or take in a concert. If you want to spend an afternoon with your grandkids, head to the movies or visit a museum. Remember, summer is a prime time for all sorts of festivals and local events.

5. Explore your artistic side

Whether you prefer painting, photography, knitting or playing a musical instrument, there are numerous ways to get creative. Activities like scrapbooking and sculpting sandcastles allow you to combine creativity and spending time with your family.

6. Play outdoor games

If you enjoy activities that allow you to socialize and take advantage of a sunny day, there are many backyard games to choose from including horseshoes, bocce ball, ladder toss and croquet.

7. Enjoy your own company

Spending quiet time alone can be the perfect way to recharge. Curl up on the couch with a crossword puzzle, retreat to the porch swing with a good book or simply relax while listening to music. On a rainy day, try your hand at a jigsaw puzzle or catch up on your favourite TV shows.

8. Indulge in local fare

Take advantage of the summer weather to discover new flavours in your region. Sample the menu at a local bistro, savour a cone at the ice cream parlour or enjoy a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. If you don’t feel like going out, you can teach your grandchildren a family recipe or host a potluck with loved ones.

9. Test your luck

There’s no harm in playing games of chance on occasion, so try your luck at bingo or head to the casino for an evening of fun and excitement.

10. Go shopping

Support independent retailers and local artisans, or check out a few garage sales in your area. If you just want to window shop at the mall, this activity is suitable in all types of weather.