Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas has joined the ranks of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients.
Mustakas was among seven Wellington County residents presented with a jubilee medal at a ceremony at the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Hall in Stratford on Dec. 18.
The medals were presented by Perth-Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger.
A summary of Mustakas accomplishments, provided by the MP’s office states the performer, producer, and director, “has made extraordinary contributions to the arts in Canada.
“He is the founding artistic director and CEO of Drayton Entertainment, a registered, not-for-profit charitable organization and one of Canada’s most successful arts organizations.
“Under his astute leadership, Drayton Entertainment now consists of six venues in Ontario and is the third largest regional theatre company in Canada.
“Beyond the arts, Mustakas is a renowned fundraiser, who has successfully raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to numerous charitable and humanitarian causes since the early 1990s.”
In a press release issued by Drayton Entertainment, Mustakas said he was very pleased to receive the medal.
“I am deeply honoured to be recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal,” said Mustakas.
“I really feel that at the heart of Drayton Entertainment is an enthusiastic commitment to community, so it is deeply meaningful to me.”
Drayton Entertainment currently operates six theatres in St. Jacobs, Drayton, Grand Bend and Penetanguishene, with a new theatre, Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, set to open in March 2013.
Since their inception in 1991, each theatre has had an enormous impact on the communities in which they are involved, welcoming over 200,000 theatregoers each year.
Other Wellington County recipients of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals who were honoured at the Stratford ceremony were: Murray Farwell of Mount Forest, Larry Grummet of Clifford, Robert Kerr of Mount Forest, David Stack of Arthur, Lynda White of Arthur and Ross Wilke of Harriston.
