Michael Bubl, Robert Lantos, Susan Aglukark win Governor General's Performing Arts Awards

Movie mogul Robert Lantos, opera star Ben Heppner, and singers Susan Aglukark and Michael Bubl are among the latest winners of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

Organizers unveiledthe 2016 recipients Thursday morningat the Phi Centre in Old Montreal.

"Canadians spend more than twice as much attending performing arts each year than they spend on all sports put together," noted Douglas Knight,chair of Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation.

The latest laureates for lifetime artistic achievementare:

• filmmaker and producerRobert Lantos
• tenor Ben Heppner
• choreographer and dancerMarie Chouinard
• singer-songwriterSusan Aglukark
• playwrightSuzanne Lebeau

Each lifetime achievement award-winner receives $25,000 and a special medallion struck by theCanadianMint.

Though the distinction recognizes overallcareer achievement andhe "has a fantasy of being on a beach someplace," Lantos said he hasn't been able to stop making movies.

"I have been dreaming of doing just that for a long time. So far, I have not succeeded. I'm addicted to telling stories," he told CBC News, noting that he's working on an upcoming film based on Joseph Boyden's bestsellerThroughBlack Spruce.

"I am attracted to stories that I believe, in my heart of hearts, matter and thatdeserve to be told and, hopefully, will be embracedby audiences," he noted.

Many of hisfilms draw inspirationfrom books, includingIn Praise of Older Women,The Sweet Hereafter, Being Julia, Felicia's Journey, Crash and Where the Truth Lies.

But because he lives in Canada, "the authors I know personallytend to live here as well. I make movies based on Canadian novels because they are close to my life," said Lantos, who adaptedhis friend Mordecai Richler'sBarney's Version and Joshua Then and Nowfor film, as well as Brian Moore's Black Robe and Anne Michaels' Fugitive Pieces.

"Canadianstories are one of the few ties that bind us to who we are. They are what make us a nation,that bind us. Without our own stories, we might as wellbe Americans."

Singer MichaelBublis the winner of the National Arts Centre Award, which also carries a prize of $25,000 and a medallion from the Mint.

Lawyer andphilanthropist John D. McKellar is the latest winner of theHnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism.

Actor and theatredirectorAlbertMillaireis the winner forthe prize'sMentorship Program and chose BenjaminPradet as his protg.

Lantos, Chouinard, Lebeau and Millaireare all from Quebec, while Heppner and Bublare from British Columbia. Aglukark was born in Manitoba and raised in Nunavut, while McKellaris from Ontario.

• Quebec celebrated at Governor General's awards
• Susan Aglukark learns of Governor General's Performing Arts Award win at Manitoba conference

Created in 1992 by former governor general Ramon JohnHnatyshyn, the annual honour is Canada's highest distinction for excellence in the performing arts, including theatre, dance, classical music, popular music, film and broadcasting.

Drawn from nominations made by the public, the awardsrecognizeartists, mentors and arts volunteers for their outstanding contribution to Canadian culture.

The 2016 recipients will be celebrated at an Ottawagala filled with performances and tributes, held at the National Arts Centre on June 11.