Buffys: Arts Awards

Front End Manager & Seamstress at YMM Dance Company.

ATC is an organization that provides essential services to 5 First Nations within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB).

Bailey Yarkie is an educator and theatre artist in Wood Buffalo. She has been involved with Theatre; Just Because for 6 years, and currently acts as its artistic director.

Emma Carter is an interdisciplinary artist living, working, and having fun in Fort McMurray. She has worked with Theatre; Just Because since 2019, is the Assistant Manager of UpTown! at SECPA and part of the front-of-house team at Exhale Yoga & Barre.

Erica Moeskau is a local performer and event planner. She is a stand up Comedian, a Drag King, and has been planning local events since 2016.

Eugene Carnegie is currently the Production Manager for Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre where he assists a wide variety of groups with their events. He is also key to the smooth operation of Keyano Theatre Company and their productions each year.

Rosanna Cyprien is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. Born and raised in Fort Chipewyan, her role at ACFN has allowed her to explore her passion in Community Building, Indigenous Culture and the Arts.

Shaya Marie Jones is a Fort Chipewyan Métis member. As the Elders Coordinator for the organization, she works jointly with the First Nations, Arts Council, RMWB, and other organizations to bring programming to the members in the community.

The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts (SECPA) at Holy Trinity Catholic High School is a state of the art performing arts centre that was created through a proud partnership between the Fort McMurray Catholic School Board, Suncor Energy and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Tammy Stanley has worked as the Special Events Facilitator at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts (SECPA) since May of 2019. Coming from a long line of "helpers" she goes above and beyond for her clients each and every day!

Ashley Laurenson is an award-winning costume and props designer. Ashley has spent the last decade in Canada creating films.

Dave Hynes is a local Fort McMurray woodworker. His true woodworking passion is making one-off furniture pieces for his home.

Jennifer Shortman is an indigenous artist from Fort Chipewyan. She is a Mikisew Cree First Nation member. She is an amazing artist who knows what she wants and is determined to self-educate and pass that on to others.

Sherry is active in the performance arts having appeared in Keyano Theatre productions. Currently she shares her love and skills in creative arts with children in early childhood not only as a teacher with children but as a teacher of creative experiences with adult learners.

Christel Pyz is a Society of Classical Ballet Affiliate Member and Progressing Ballet Technique certified teacher at YMM Dance Company in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Shweta Suthar is an Actor, Choreographer, an Artist, Initiator and leader of a vibrant group called ‘Divine Group of India’. She is involved in fueling Arts and Cultural events in the community and engaging more than 300-400 individuals of age groups starting 5 to 65 of all genders encouraging community participation in a variety of projects.

Kayla is a Dance Educator in Fort McMurray. Kayla is also the President of the Fort McMurray Dance Association. She is committed to the teachings of history and technique of dance education.

Latin Dance hosts Salsa Night’s at different restaurants and studios and teaches the community about Salsa & Bachata.

Mackenzie Velders is a passionate dancer and dance teacher based in Fort McMurray, AB. Velders has been dancing since 2005 and has trained in various disciplines. Velders is proud to teach at UpTown! at SECPA, and serves on the Fort McMurray Dance Association.

Melinda is a dance educator & owner of YMM Dance Company. She is certified in many things. As a choreographer, Melinda has won and received numerous awards for her dance numbers.

Miss Kelli has been recognized for her innovative choreography, receiving awards for her vision and creativity. She is sitting on multiple boards that give a voice to youth and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Rachele Playford is a dancer with Uptown! at SECPA in Fort McMurray, AB. She has been dancing since she was three years old. Rachele is a grade 12 student at Westwood Community High School.

Ami Shah, with her daughter and other children from the community, have been consistently performing the Bollywood dance promoting culture and multiculturalism within the community.

Ashley Makey is a born and raised Alberta artist based in Fort McMurray. Ashley has a Bachelor of Communications degree from Grant MacEwan University and her passions lie in writing, directing and performing theatre, bookmaking, and visual arts.

Dorothy's current work is in long fiction and poetry.The Words in Motion poetry contest and Arts Council Wood Buffalo's calls and workshops helped her to transition to a more serious practice. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English online with Athabasca University, in 2021.

Jamal has been living in Fort McMurray, AB for four years. Her poems have been published in literary magazines both in Canada and Pakistan. It’s Past Midnight Somewhere is her debut book.

Full-time author, Julie Rowe has lived in Fort McMurray, AB since 1976. She is the author of 22 titles.

Patricia Marie Budd is a self-published author of four novels. Patricia studied English Education and Creative Writing at the University of Regina. Patricia runs a writer's guild after school for her students. Patricia has also published poetry, stories and nonfiction in NorthWord.

Sherry is active in the performance arts having appeared in Keyano Theatre productions. Currently, she shares her love and skills in creative arts with children in early childhood not only as a teacher with children but as a teacher of creative experiences with adult learners.

YOUR MCMURRAY MAGAZINE, or YMM, is Fort McMurray’s brightest magazine publication offering local content to the residents who call this region home and an opportunity for local businesses to get their message heard. Now in its tenth volume, with fun and exciting content, local advertising, and fantastic local talent being featured.

Adam is a singer, songwriter, creator of memes and videos. Adam has been actively playing music for 25 years. Adam focuses on being a creative mind and supporting the growth and development of the local music scene. On any given Thursday, Adam can be found singing his songs at the Tavern on Main.

Brandon Bryson is a local musician and composer currently living in Fort McMurray, Alberta. As a multi-instrumentalist he writes, records and produces his own music and will be releasing his first solo EP "Riding a Wave, Riding a Lull" in 2022.

Dan Tulk is the Principal of Fort McMurray Composite High School and an active musician in the region. Dan also provided free online music lessons during the pandemic.

Dianne Perry is a musician, thespian, and Artist Mentor. She has produced and assisted in many productions.

Jamie Malbeuf is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist living in Fort McMurray. Though she can play ukulele, piano and mandolin, she has a tendency to stay with acoustic guitar and vocals. She's been in a variety of bands, playing anything from metal to Nina Simone.

Joe Rebel is a local cover band playing multiple genres of music and putting their own spin on the various styles. They have been active in Fort McMurray for the past 12 years consistently working within the community and supporting various events.

Kelti Slaney is a Fort McMurray born and raised, self-taught singer/songwriter, and guitar player. She has performed at weddings, in talent shows, and other small gigs around the city of Fort McMurray.

Mychela grew up in Newfoundland and has called Fort McMurray home for almost 20 years. Playing corporate shows, casinos, cruise ships, and on the road for many years she has crafted a style all of her own. She is currently writing and recording a new album with her newest single released on June 27, 2022.

Dave Pollard, or Rd0Dave, has been a musician his entire life. He's worked as a DJ in Fort McMurray for 10 years and a music producer for 3. His company, Top Shelf Entertainment with his wife Caitlin, strives and commits to offering the best in sound and DJ services for local events and weddings.

Samson Nand has served as the company manager for Theatre; Just Because since 2020, providing support with the finances and legal requirements to sustain the locally run independent theatre company. He is an avid supporter of the local arts and is also a musician who plays guitar, and bass, along with writing plays in his spare time.

During her youth she played with many youth orchestras and ensembles, ultimately advancing to becoming a section cellist with the Regina Symphony Orchestras. As one of the only cellists in town, Lydia has enjoyed teaching scores of cello students. She also founded and ran the Sunday Night Cello Ladies choir for 10 years.

Tyler Whelan is a Canadian singer/songwriter from Fort McMurray Alberta. In his hometown, he is mostly known for his song ‘Friends’ and Gail Bibeau’s jingle for Royal Lepage.Tyler has recorded albums with producers Johnny Gasperic, Jason Barry, and Eddie Gore.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Zach now calls Fort McMurray home. He is obsessively in love with music and always looking to help encourage new artists to create. He is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and noise maker. He is not one to let the lack of skill or knowledge stand in the way of creating original music.

Abigail McCrone Lehoczki is a 17-year old artist raised in Fort McMurray with the aspiration of becoming an actress. Throughout her life, Abigail has explored many artistic mediums, including painting, sculpting, digital art, performing arts, and more. Abigail performed for Theatre; Just Because for three years, participating in several training programs and classes.

Andrew Reed is a student at École McTavish. He is a member of the school band and a football player. He was exposed to the theatre world through his family and became a member of Keyano's Drama Force production of Bugsy Malone Jr. He has continued his artistic endeavors through many local productions.

Jared Reed is a dual credit student at Ecole Mctavish and Keyano College welding program. Through these programs, Jared learned the welding techniques to create artistic models. Through the Bridging the Age Gap program, Jared designed and created the Alberta Rose as part of the project for the elder selected. He also showcased the idea of welding roses at the appreciation banquet.

Carmen has been dancing for ten years with Uptown Music & Dance, and just completed her first year of being a Dance Assistant.She has participated in Triple Threat Academy to excel in her skill level in Musical Theatre. Carmen was selected to perform in Ballet Jorgen’s Anne of Green Gables at Keyano Theatre. She also was the recipient of a $500 scholarship from Fort McMurray Dance Academy in 2021.

Ciara Driscoll is a passionate dancer who has been dancing for 10 years with UpTown! at SECPA. She has taken part in numerous genres of dance, including; Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, and Musical Theatre. Ciara has been part of the PEAK dance program for two years. She was also part of the Keyano Theatre production “All Together Now.” Ciara has a strong passion for dance and performing on stage.

The École McTavish Band Program is offered to Grade 7 through 12 students, and provides unique performance opportunities locally and internationally. Since the school opened in 2011, Band students have had the opportunity to travel and perform in a variety of places. The program currently has 100 students enrolled in Grades 7 through 12, and remains open for students to join at any time and at any grade level.

Emma Nash is an advanced dancer at MKD The Space who trains in many genres but most specifically Tap Dance. Emma is involved in the tap mentorship program at MKD The Space. This program also gave Emma, back in 2019, the honor to represent Team Canada at the worlds in Germany, Ressia, where she placed 6th in the world!

Evan Fediuk is a 17-year-old student who has recently completed Grade 11 at École McTavish. He is a second-generation Fort McMurrayite and is a multidisciplinary performing artist. Evan has contributed to many theatrical productions. Evan also dances at Uptown! Music and Dance. He has been nominated for the Rising Star Buffy on previous occasions.

Faith is a performing artist specializing in speech, vocal, and musical theatre performance. She has studied with several vocal coaches in town including Ms Dianne's Piano, and Parr Academy of Vocal Arts. She has participated in 11 Keyano Theatre Productions including all 7 of Keyano Theatre's Drama Force productions. Faith participated in the 2021 and 2022 Oilsands Rotary Music Festival, and placed third in provincials this year already! She has completed her level 8 Speech Arts Exam, and Level 2 Piano Exam with the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Grace Nash is a Teen Dancer at MKD The Space, who trains in many genres, but has found her love in Musical theatre and Lyrical. At MKD The Space, she has been a team captain for three years now, as well as a part of the assisting program for four years. Grace has placed top 10 highest scores in many competitions as well as Mrs. Candance.

Jennifer Bowie is an enthusiastic actor, born and raised in Fort McMurray.She has been in many shows, but most recently she has been in Holy Trinity’s “Head Over Heels” as Pythio, Theatre; Just Because’s “Almost Maine” as Marci and directing. Art holds a very dear place in her heart as she continues her journey.

Julia Dobbin is a young artist in the RMWB and was heavily involved in the Theatre and Vocal Arts programs in her high school Holy Trinity, receiving instruction from Nancy Lawson up until her 2022 graduation. During her final year, she received the Leadership in Vocal Arts award. Years prior, Julia received the Excellence in Vocal Arts Award.You may have seen Julia in BRJ Theatre YMM's production of Ghost Quartet by Dave Malloy, or at the 2022 Pride Festival where she performed with her brother, McCrae.

Kate dances, trains, and performs with YMM Dance Company. She is on a competitive team and works hard. She also is a part of the PEAK dance program at École McTavish. Kate is involved in a mentor program, which trains her to be a future instructor and assists in multiple classes. This year Kate traveled to multiple cities to receive training, and this summer Kate has been accepted to the 2-week summer intensive training with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Kate was the recipient of a full scholarship for 24/7 as well as placed in the top 5 in her solos, duets, trios, and groups with her team.

Lily Donald is a 13-year old student at École McTavish High School. Most recently, Lily was cast as "Tanya" in Mamma Mia, and she was part of an ensemble cast in Almost Maine through Theatre; Just Because.Lily is very passionate about theatre, and she feels at home on the stage. She is excited about where her future will take her.

Sydnie is a 15 year old student who attends Holy Trinity high school where she has been a part of the dance program for the last three years. She began dancing at the age of four and has trained in many forms of dance at Uptown at SECPA. In addition to her training, she has recently started assisting at the studio and has worked with children as young as 4 years old.

Bailey Yarkie is an educator and theatre artist in Wood Buffalo. She has been involved with Theatre; Just Because for 6 years, and currently acts as its artistic director.

Catherine Couperus has been competing and performing in various styles of Celtic dance since the age of 4. She is a two-time world qualifier in Irish dancing.

Courtney is a relative newcomer to YMM, but has been involved in all aspects of the performing arts for most of her life. She is an avid proponent of Arts Education and believes everyone deserves the chance to express themselves through music and art.

Dan Gillies is a music teacher, freelance musician, and performer rooted in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Dan is the Music Teacher at Fort McMurray Composite High School.

Dan Tulk is the Principal of Fort McMurray Composite High School and an active musician in the region. Dan also provided free online music lessons during the pandemic.

Dianne Perry is a musician, thespian, and Artist Mentor. She has produced and assisted in many productions.

Kayla is a Dance Educator in Fort McMurray. She is committed to the teachings of history and technique of dance education.

Krista Oviatt is a dedicated dance teacher who has been teaching a variety of styles full time for eight years. She received a choreography award for her advanced Ballet number entitled “Roaring 20’s”.

Kritsana Naowakhun has been teaching academy based visual art to the Wood Buffalo region since 2013.Kritsana is not only a proficient teacher but an accomplished artist in the region as well.

Marina Nokohoo is a proud Dene woman from Chipewyan Prairie First Nation.Marina is passionate about her native language and hopes to pass on the teachings to those who want to learn.

Miss Kelli has been recognized for her innovative choreography, receiving awards for her vision and creativity. She is sitting on multiple boards that give a voice to youth and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Sara Smith is a local Art Teacher at École McTavish Public High School.She uses project-based art in junior high which develops into an art foundation, medium exploration, and skill building in high school.

Kimerica & Michael Parr, professional singers who have performed all over the world.. Their students have repeatedly won the top awards in the RCM examinations at both the Provincial and National levels.

Shaya Marie Jones is a Fort Chipewyan Métis member. As the Elders Coordinator for the organization, she works jointly with the First Nations, Arts Council, RMWB, and other organizations to bring programming to the members of the community.

Theatre; Just Because is an independent theatre company in Treaty 8, nistawâyâw / ᓂᐢᑕᐋᐧᔮᐤ / Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo founded in 2014.

UpTown! at SECPA offers performing arts classes at the Suncor Energy Centre.UpTown! is committed to instilling a love of the arts in their students.

Bridging the Age Gap was a program offered as part of the Art of Conversation Initiative.They presented a story and a slide show to the banquet event for all the seniors after the pandemic restrictions were lifted.

The Fort McMurray Potters Guild has been collaborating with the Wood Buffalo Food Bank for several years now, making and donating bowls that can be sold at the Empty Bowl event.All of the money from the project goes to support the local food bank.

The Storybook Gala in support of the Imagination Library was a collaborative project in support of the Imagination Library Wood Buffalo Foundation that supports and encourages literacy in young children.

Multiculturalism Day Festival was a family event for all ages, where attendees were able to enjoy various cuisines and performances from different cultural backgrounds.

Learning the Art of Pysanka, she created this to raise money and awareness for the people of Ukraine.

Tokens of Unity was created in 4 weeks with grades 9-12 and a group of 12 students working across school schedules for each grade.

UnMarked. In honour of the children who never made it home. 11 Dancers Ages 9 and under took part in this dance.

Brandon Folmer is a local Fort McMurray performance artist and gender illusionist that goes by the name Stella L’Amour. Brandon has been performing as a Drag Queen since April 2018 with the local performance group called The Oil Royals.

Dianne Perry is a musician, thespian, and Artist Mentor. She has produced and assisted in many productions.

Jennifer Shortman is an indigenous artist from Fort Chipewyan. She is a Mikisew Cree First Nation member. She is an amazing artist who knows what she wants and is determined to self-educate and pass that on to others.

Kim was born and raised as a Dene woman in Fort McMurray. Her beading shows traditional Dene methods, using local, naturally sourced mediums. These include; home-tanned moose hides, birch bark, fish scales, moose fur, or caribou tufting.

Lauren Golosky-Meacher is a Métis iskwew from Nistawâyâw and a member of McMurray Métis. Lauren started Nista Beads shortly after, naming her small shop after her beloved Mushum's dog, Nista, Cree for "me too."

Marina Nokohoo is a proud Dene woman from Chipewyan Prairie First Nation.Marina is passionate about her native language and hopes to pass on the teachings to those who want to learn.

Melinda is a dance educator & owner of YMM Dance Company. She is certified in many things. As a choreographer, Melinda has won and received numerous awards for her dance numbers.

Shirley Jensen Klassen is from the Fort McMurray First Nation #468. She has been beading for 3 years.She also makes ribbon shirts and ribbon skirts. Shirley is very passionate about her beading. Indigenous arts is very important to her, to continue teaching beading to youth, and to carry on her traditions or they will be a lost art.

Tammy is a proud Indigenous artist living in Fort McMurray, whose family is from Chipewyan. Tammy has created a wide variety of beaded items and continues to learn more as time goes on. She credits the start of her career to her mother Laurine Lepine, who is her biggest supporter and fan.

Tasheena Campbell is best known for her humorous skits that she presents on her social media. She is nationally recognized for "Show your kindness", a documentary that was made to raise awareness for Anti-Bullying by the Native Counseling Services. Tasheena raises her 3-year-old daughter in Fort Chipewyan and currently works for Mikisew Cree First Nation as an Events Coordinator.

M’Guphynn Media is comprised of a multi-disciplined team of producers from Northern Alberta who manage projects based on our respective skill sets.M’Guphynn Media members have led education workshops and volunteered on community arts boards to further the development of emerging local storytellers.

Mix Mornings and More with Steph and Shawn is a daily podcast that recaps the pair's morning show on Mix 103.7. Pulling moments from their everyday lives spent in the region, welcoming guests who are doing great things in the community, and making people laugh wherever they're listening are the main things you can expect from the show.

Tasheena Campbell is best known for her humorous skits that she presents on her social media. She is nationally recognized for "Show your kindness", a documentary that was made to raise awareness for Anti-Bullying by the Native Counseling Services. Tasheena raises her 3-year-old daughter in Fort Chipewyan and currently works for Mikisew Cree First Nation as an Events Coordinator.

Willi Whiston is a boreal forest based filmmaker who calls Nistawâyâw (Fort McMurray) home. Recently, his work has been shortlisted for the Paddling Film Festival World Tour and won Best Story at the Spotlight Screen Awards.

Auveen Amiri is known around Fort McMurray for their contributions to music and the performing arts. Her experience in the performing arts includes acting with theatre companies around town, as well as the McTavish Theatre Department.In 2021 they were nominated for the YMM Parent's Top 20 Under 20, and they received a Royal Conservatory Gold Medal in 2017.

Brandon Folmer is a local Fort McMurray performance artist and gender illusionist that goes by the name Stella L’Amour. Brandon has been performing as a Drag Queen since April 2018 with the local performance group called The Oil Royals.

Bryan Reed has been a member of the performing arts community for the past 10 years. Through performances and workshops in school, and with various theatre companies, he has brought a variety of characters to life from the smallest of hobbits to the oldest of sea captains. He has been a shortlisted Buffy nominee twice in the category of Rising Star.

Helen grew up performing in PEI, and in 2008 graduated from the Musical Theatre program at St Lawrence College in Brockville, ON. Over the last 25 years, she has had the privilege to perform professionally all across the country.

Jenny Price is a passionate theatre artist and performer. Born and raised in Fort McMurray, she is a champion of the local arts scene. Currently, she is President of the Alberta Drama Festival Association and Director of the ADFA North Region.

Noah Heggie is a young man with big dreams in the arts. Ever since his earlier years, he has developed his talents in performing and hand drawing.Noah was awarded as "Actor of The Year" in McTavish in 2018, and awarded "The People's Choice" award for his piano performance in McTavish's 2020 Talent Show.

Renee Manners has been in the comedy scene professionally for over 6 years. Although humour has been an innate quality all her life, She really received a taste of what laughter is capable of when she had her first ever accidental comedy show, cleverly dubbed “Spamedy '' in attempts to help her fellow community members cope and understand the weight of the 2016 wildfire.

Shweta Suthar is an Actor, Choreographer, an Artist, Initiator and leader of a vibrant group called ‘Divine Group of India’. She is involved in fueling Arts and Cultural events in the community and engaging more than 300-400 individuals of age groups starting 5 to 65 of all genders encouraging community participation in a variety of projects.

Tanner Chubb is a theatre and film actor who started performing in Fort McMurray, AB, with productions such as Les Misérables and Cabaret, both produced by Keyano Theatre Company. He then went on to get his diploma in theatre performance, and his degree in film acting with Red Deer Colleges' fantastic acting program.

Theatre; Just Because is an independent theatre company in Treaty 8, nistawâyâw / ᓂᐢᑕᐋᐧᔮᐤ / Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo founded in 2014.

Tim Heggie is a provincial award-winning actor that has shown a passionate commitment to theatre in the Wood Buffalo area. Being involved in theatre from a young age, he rounded out his acting experience with a Bachelor's degree in the Arts, accompanied by an Education degree from the University of Lethbridge.

Alex Marinier is a self-taught artist in the Wood Buffalo region. Always having an eye for creativity, and pursuing a career in Hairdressing as an outlet. He recently started expressing his creativity on canvases during the last five years. Alex works with a few different mediums, but his most common is acrylic on canvas.

Amander is a proud recipient of the Top 50 under 50 award, the Northern Lights Volunteer Award of Alberta and is ranked Top 5 best of 2 years running as Best Hair Salon and Best Hairstylist. Every year Head Case artistry raises awareness for the MMIW2S communities by donating time and doing photoshoots to raise awareness with the red dress project in Fort McMurray and the surrounding communities.

Ambreen Ehtisham is a Fort McMurray based contemporary resin artist. She was formerly an ambassador for the world-renowned resin brand, Mrs. Colorberry. Ambreen designed the award for the 2020 Buffys, as well as being shortlisted for the awards in the Visual Arts category! In 2021, Ambreen was the winner of the People’s Choice Awards for Art from the Unknown, as well as being recognized as one of YMM Magazine’s Top 50 under 50!

Archana Mathur is a self-taught artist. She loves painting and is always trying to learn new forms of painting. She does acrylic paintings on canvases. She has done some textured paintings as well. Archana spends time painting pots, Christmas ornaments, painting on crystal balls, and wooden ornaments as well. She does glass bottle paintings. She has recently participated in the Chambers of Commerce Artisan Trade Show.

Denise Neville is a Pet Portrait Artist using mostly Acrylic paint. She has been painting for 6 years, and has developed a passion for Pet Portraits.

Genoveve Zepeda is a wedding and couples photographer based in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Apart from photography, Genoveve is a musician with a focus on self-expression through playing the piano. She is a former co-founder of Lionheart Creative and Performing Arts camp, here in Fort McMurray, and has a certificate in Creative and Performing Arts from Clearwater College.

Jasim is a visual artist. Originally from Bangladesh, Jasmin works in many different media. She has a Bachelor's Degree in painting. She enjoys playing with the composition in paintings. Akhter’s greatest inspiration is nature. She loves to work on landscapes and portraits. Oil color is her favorite medium, along with charcoal and acrylic.

Jenna Buffett is an award-winning Fort McMurray photographer who specializes in fine art portraiture and documenting the heart of the humans, (and furry friends) in front of the camera.Jenna is completely self-taught and has spent years refining her craft. She has elevated and expanded her brand tremendously over the past years. Working with the Arts Council Wood Buffalo, Keyano Theatre, entrepreneurs, and many more has allowed her to learn, grow and meet the most amazing YMM locals.

Sonia Burke-Smith is a multi-disciplinary artist in visual art. She does painting, sculptures, film, singing, drumming, and acting. She has been involved in collaborative projects such as the Maskwa Project, the Forever Forest project, and the Art of Resilience. She has received a Buffy for Community Collaborative and Citizen Recognition Award for her work in the Visual Arts. Sonia has been an active member of the Arts community through her membership in The Wood Buffalo Art and Craft Guild, she started the Boreal Artist Institute and is a member of ACWB.

Tricia Reid is an award-winning photographer based in Fort McMurray.Tricia has no formal education but is self-taught through trial and error, or by reading books and magazines. She has won several provincial and national photography contests showcasing images captured in the Alberta Rocky Mountains. One of her current endeavors is recreating photographs taken by her great-grandpa in the 1930s in Waterton Lakes National Park, including images of her great-grandma on the peaks in a dress and heeled boots. Tricia chose to wear a camo tutu and hikers instead.