Tsawwassen art teacher Alii Wright will be this year's Mentor of the Arts Award recipient, it was announced earlier this week.
"I'm surprised. I didn't know I was even being considered," said Wright, who has taught a specialized art program at Boundary Bay Montessori House for 21 years.
"I've worked with lots and lots of children in the community," she said.
The Tsawwassen Sun Festival Society recognizes a community member representing a specific discipline of the arts for their contribution and leadership with the annual award.
"Over the years she has influenced her students with a special blend of wisdom, humour and skill. While not all her students have gone on to careers in visual arts, most if not all will reflect fondly upon the wonderful gift of artistic appreciation that Alii has helped them to achieve," a press release stated. "A true mentor in every sense of the word, Alii Wright is a most deserving recipient from the local artistic community."
Wright is also a painter and is currently the feature artist at the Upstart Crow Arts & Crafts in Ladner.
Past winners of the Mentor of the Arts Award include Jerry Doucette, Bev Mantovani and Tracy Neff.
The award will be presented to Wright on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. at the SunFest Music Festival's Courtyard stage in the Tsawwassen Shopping Centre.
