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The Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards is an annual program that recognizes and celebrates excellence in various areas of the arts and builds awareness of the incredible contribution artists make to Wood Buffalo. The “Buffys” invest in the future of our growing arts community by supporting our most exceptional artists through appreciation and employment opportunities, and by connecting artists to the wider community.
2016-2019 Community Impact
252 Nominations
160 Paid Artists
970 Attendees
Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards Showcase
Every October the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards Showcase entertains audiences with high energy performances and creatively crafted artworks by local artists. With a new theme each year, the awards showcase is Wood Buffalo's premier midnight event highlighting award recipients and nominees. Details on the event theme, dates, and more will be released on this page every year as they become available.
Buffys 2020: Successful Steampunk Celebration of the Arts in Wood Buffalo
The 2020 Buffys, our local equivalent to the Oscars, premiered on Saturday, October 17 as a cinematic experience on Facebook, and YouTube.
The theme for the 2020 showcase was Midnight Steampunk and featured a number of collaborative performances by local talent and a raucous steampunk storyline written by Elizabeth Wells and Zachary Barrett, who hosted the show.
Performances included a diverse range of dance pieces, original and classic music, comedy, and theatre supported by visual arts, functional sets, costumes, props and puppets, all of which were tied together by local video artists Matthew Lorenz, Matthew Piercey, and Neville Video Productions to create a cinematic steampunk experience. Watch the awards showcase on YouTube.
Congratulations & Thank You
Congratulations to all 14 Buffy Award recipients and 85 nominees. Click on the Nominees & Recipients tab above to see a listing of all these amazing artists.
We’d also like to send out a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors, performers, volunteers, and Arts Champions that made the 2020 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards a raving success.
Thank you for believing in the Arts Awards and for continuing to support the community through this recognition event.
Participate in the Buffys 2021
We can’t hold an arts awards extravaganza without the arts community. Throughout the year, we’ll be making announcements for artist calls, nominations and self-applications, and other opportunities to support Wood Buffalo’s biggest celebration of the arts.
Get your Gear Bag & Buffy Stuffy
A limited number of Buffy Stuffys and Steampunk Gear Bags are still available through Eventbrite.
BUFFYS 2020 NOMINEES RECIPENTS
- SHORTLIST - AWARD RECIPENT
Arts Administration
Fort McMurray Dance Association
Idil Jeilani *
Kayla Erlandson *
Kimberley Brice ☆
Margie Cunningham
Samson Nand
Creative Collaboration
ATC Cultural Festival ☆
MCA Canada Day Song Book *
Oil Royals
Unity Project *
Craft
Beverley Tourangeau
Lisa Pottle
Lyndsay Faye Dolansky ☆
Nelly Wati *
Sarah Reid *
Music (Ken Flaherty Music Award)
Adam Macleod
The Borderpines *
Éva *
Jon Qpid ☆
Kootenay Mc
Krithika Venkataramadas
VOLT
Media Arts
Akshaya Lakshmi *
All Imaginary ☆
Fort McMurray Movie Club
Slone McGowan
Sorina Sorinuka SD
Twisted Gears Studios Inc. *
Theatre
Brittany Sutherland
Brodie Dransutavicius
Camryn Hannigan ☆
Jenny Price *
Melissa Kontuk
Tasheena Campbell
Timothy Heggie
Theatre; Just Because *
Ty Andres
Arts Champion
Florence Weber
Arts Education
Alex Vorobej
Ashley Brockway ☆
Bailey Yarkie
Ekaterina Petukhova
Emily Hansen
Erika Cook
Kayla Erlandson
Krista Oviatt
Laureli Sluggett
Lily Marcel
Nancy Lawson
Nicole Armstrong *
Nikita Proulx
Sarah Neiman *
Tenielle Park
Dance
Holy Trinity Dance Academy
In Motion Flow Arts *
Krista Oviatt ☆
Nikita Proulx
The Twins *
Indigenous Arts
Beverley Tourangeau ☆
Kootenay Mc
Lily Marcel *
Tasheena Campbell
Terri Marten *
Literary Arts
Arlo Gladis *
CJ Bowers
Emma Grace Carter *
Riley Edward Woodford
Therese Greenwood ☆
Rising Star
Amrita Mosale
Coburn Fadden *
Evan Fediuk
Isabella O'Sullivan *
Jane Gibson ☆
Jenny Bowie
Laurel Spring
Madilyn Gerrior
Maria Durnford
Maxwell Keca
Maya Keca
Violet Paris
Visual Arts
Akshaya Lakshmi
Crystal Mercredi ☆
Darlene Scharf
James Fontanilla
James Ritchie *
Kritsana Naowakhun *
Lifetime Achievement
Tantoo Cardinal
Arts Administration
Fort McMurray Dance Association
Idil Jeilani *
Kayla Erlandson *
Kimberley Brice ☆
Margie Cunningham
Samson Nand
Arts Education
Alex Vorobej
Ashley Brockway ☆
Bailey Yarkie
Ekaterina Petukhova
Emily Hansen
Erika Cook
Kayla Erlandson
Krista Oviatt
Laureli Sluggett
Lily Marcel
Nancy Lawson
Nicole Armstrong *
Nikita Proulx
Sarah Neiman *
Tenielle Park
Creative Collaboration
ATC Cultural Festival ☆
MCA Canada Day Song Book *
Oil Royals
Unity Project *
Dance
Holy Trinity Dance Academy
In Motion Flow Arts *
Krista Oviatt ☆
Nikita Proulx
The Twins *
Craft
Beverley Tourangeau
Lisa Pottle
Lyndsay Faye Dolansky ☆
Nelly Wati *
Sarah Reid *
Indigenous Arts
Beverley Tourangeau ☆
Kootenay Mc
Lily Marcel *
Tasheena Campbell
Terri Marten *
Music (Ken Flaherty Music Award)
Adam Macleod
The Borderpines *
Éva *
Jon Qpid ☆
Kootenay Mc
Krithika Venkataramadas
VOLT
Literary Arts
Arlo Gladis *
CJ Bowers
Emma Grace Carter *
Riley Edward Woodford
Therese Greenwood ☆
Media Arts
Akshaya Lakshmi *
All Imaginary ☆
Fort McMurray Movie Club
Slone McGowan
Sorina Sorinuka SD
Twisted Gears Studios Inc. *
Rising Star
Amrita Mosale
Coburn Fadden *
Evan Fediuk
Isabella O'Sullivan *
Jane Gibson ☆
Jenny Bowie
Laurel Spring
Madilyn Gerrior
Maria Durnford
Maxwell Keca
Maya Keca
Violet Paris
Theatre
Brittany Sutherland
Brodie Dransutavicius
Camryn Hannigan ☆
Jenny Price *
Melissa Kontuk
Tasheena Campbell
Timothy Heggie
Theatre; Just Because *
Ty Andres
Visual Arts
Akshaya Lakshmi
Crystal Mercredi ☆
Darlene Scharf
James Fontanilla
James Ritchie *
Kritsana Naowakhun *
Arts Champion
Florence Weber
Lifetime Achievement
Tantoo Cardinal
Nominations Process
Can I be nominated or self-apply for more than one award category?
Yes! You are allowed to enter more than one award category, as long as you are eligible and the work submitted matches the award description. To make things easier, you can use the ‘copy’ feature on our online portal to create a copy of an existing entry, and change the content to suit your new category, as required. Make sure that all your entries are submitted by July 31, 2020 at midnight (MST).
I’m not sure if I have lived in the Wood Buffalo region long enough to be eligible for an award.
To be eligible for a Buffy award, you need to have lived in the Wood Buffalo region since at least July 31, 2019. If you lived here on or before that date, you are eligible! If you moved here after that date, then you are not eligible, but may be eligible for an award next year.
Do I have to be nominated for a Buffy Award or can I nominate myself?
You can nominate yourself! Self-applications for a Buffy Award are welcome. To get started, register an account on our online portal. Make sure you submit your entry by July 31, 2020 at midnight (MST).
If I am an Indigenous Artist, can I apply for the Indigenous Arts and another arts category?
Yes, as an Indigenous Artist, you can apply for the Indigenous Arts category, as well as another discipline that best describes your work. (For example, a drummer may apply under Indigenous Arts, and Music). To make things easier, you can use the ‘copy’ feature on our online portal to create a copy of an existing entry, and change the content to suit your new category, as required. Make sure that all your entries are submitted by July 31, 2020 at midnight (MST).
I am an Indigenous Artist, but I was nominated for a category other than the Indigenous Arts award category. Can I be considered for the Indigenous Arts category as well?
Yes! If you were nominated for a certain category and you would also like to be considered for the Indigenous Arts category, an option will appear in your application form that will ask you if you would like your application to be considered for the Indigenous Arts category, as well. Select yes for this question, and you will automatically be entered into the running for both award categories.
I want to nominate an artist or group, but I’m not certain which award category they will be eligible for.
Do your best to select an award category that you think would suit the artistic practice of the artist or group you are nominating. After you submit your nomination, your nominee will have an opportunity to reselect the category that they feel they are best eligible for. You can nominate an artist or group here.
Why should I nominate an artist, if they can self-apply for an award themselves?
Some artists may need a little push to know that their work is worth being considered for a Buffy award. They may be too humble or feel too shy to self-apply, and receiving a nomination from someone else just might give them the confidence they need to enter! It’s nice to be nice!
I’m not sure whether I am really an “artist,” but I dabble in the arts at home. Can I still apply?
Yes! One of the goals of the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards is to encourage those who don’t view themselves as “artists” to begin seeing themselves as so. The nomination process is designed to encourage people to self-reflect about their artistic practices and to expand their ability to speak about their artistic process. The nominations application form will also provide you with guiding questions along the way to help hone how you speak about your artistic practice. This alone is an excellent exercise for anyone questioning whether or not they are a true “artist”!
I have accessibility requirements that may restrict me from being able to submit an application online. Can I submit an application in person?
All submissions need to be entered through our online portal in order to be shared with our judges. We suggest that those who are unable to submit an application online, first ask a friend to help them do so. If that solution is not available to you, you are welcome to make an appointment with an ACWB staff member, who can help support you in submitting your application, either in person, or over the phone (if quarantine restrictions remain).
Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards Showcase
Will the Buffys Awards Showcase still be held in person this year?
We realize there is still some uncertainty in the world with respect to event planning, but we’re moving full steam ahead with the Buffys. The format of this celebration will be shared soon with considerations for physical distancing as recommended by the Government of Alberta.
How does being the recipient of a Buffy award help me?
Being a nominee or recipient of a Buffy award is something artists can use as leverage to gain grants, admission into schools, or to beef-up their CVs. Seeing as all entries are reviewed by like-minded artists in the community, it is an excellent display of peer recognition, and could be used to support being recognized as an arts professional, in accordance with the Canadian Artist Code.
Midnight Event Sponsor
In-Kind Midnight Event Sponsor
Presenting Sponsors
Eight opportunities still available.
Rogers Media presenting Arts Education
Suncor presenting Creative Collaboration
Friends of the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts presenting Theatre
Mix 103.7 and 100.5 Cruz FM presenting the Ken Flaherty Music Award
Theatre Sponsor
Six opportunities available.
Media Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Become a Sponsor of the 2020 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards
Wood Buffalo’s Premier Arts Awards & Showcase
Are you interested in sponsoring the 2020 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts awards?
For more information on this premier arts showcase, or for questions on securing your sponsorship opportunity, please contact Executive Director Liana Wheeldon at [email protected] or 587-674-1625 ext 100.
Thanks to our champions
What our Artists have to say
I’m overwhelmed with gratefulness. Grateful to be doing what I love for a living. Grateful to be able to provide for my family with music. Grateful for the immense support from our community. Grateful to still be able to dream, and grow as a musician.