Published on March 19, 2026
The 2026 Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Awards Winners Announced!
The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Awards Brings Renewed Inspiration to Artistic
The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Awards have been happening in St. Albert for over a decade. They have become an integral part of our city and recognize the artists and organizations in our community that contribute to, shape, and demonstrate a clear commitment to their craft in St. Albert. By saluting these leaders, the Awards highlight the positive role arts plays in our community and how it enriches and enlivens our city, all while promoting economic and social growth.
Last week, in an intimate ceremony in the Arden Theatre, seven artists were recognized for their contributions to our community. It is through their continued efforts and commitment that St. Albert has become a viable place for artists to make a living and practice their craft. Their continued work reminds us how supporting and valuing arts and artists in a community can benefit everyone.
This year, 17 nominations were received in five categories: the Emerging Artist Award, that acknowledges artists in the early stages of their careers, the Mid-Career Artist Award, that applauds an established artist in any arts discipline who is receiving critical recognition for excellence in their art practice in St. Albert and beyond, the St. Albert Gazette Arts Champion Award, which recognizes an individual, organization or corporation who makes an exceptional contribution to the arts in St. Albert as a leader, volunteer, advocate, supporter, sponsor and/or philanthropist, and the Youth Artist Award, that celebrates young artists who demonstrate potential and a commitment to the arts. In addition to these, a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award was also handed out.
The Artists
Award winners were selected by an arms-length jury that consists of individuals who represent the diversity and professional expertise in the local arts community. Submissions were assessed on the criteria of artistic excellence, sustained development and community impact. The winners received an original artwork from local glass artist, Donna Hillier as well as $1,000 cash prize. As well, each recipient is featured in a video created by Hello Public that is available for viewing on the Award Winners page.
Emerging Artist Award Recipient (2 Winners):
Saraswoti Lamichhane & Daphne Charrois
Saraswoti Lamichhane is a poet, translator and editor. Her work is lyrical, evocative and deeply rooted in both Nepali heritage and Canadian experience and has been published internationally. Her debut poetry collection is forthcoming with Mawenzi House Press in June 2026. She is also the co-author of Six Strings: A Joint Anthology of Poems (2011) and co-editor of Kavya: Representative Nepali Poetry in English (2023). An active literary voice, Saraswoti has been a featured reader at the Edmonton Poetry Festival, AWP Conference, World Poetry Cafe and other venues. She holds an MA in English (Pokhara University) and a Creative Writing Certificate (University of Toronto).
Daphne Charrois is a professional actress, singer-songwriter, dancer and playwright. She is a proud Canadian, bilingual, queer artist, born and raised in the small town of Legal, Alberta. A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, she earned a certificate in The Musical Theatre Integrated Program. She is the playwright and lyricist of two original musicals, The Spotlight’s Shadow and Fool’s Gold. Her debut single “Don’t Call Me Baby” is streaming worldwide, and both Fool’s Gold and The Spotlight’s Shadow are available as full cast albums. Daphne is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Light in the Attic Productions, a non-profit by actors, for actors, dedicated to helping performers find their light and tell original stories.
Mid-Career Artist Recipient Award Recipient: Eunju Park
Eunju Park is a self-taught Korean letter Hanji collage artist who fell in love with art later in life. What began as a way to heal and overcome depression from the suicide of her father has become a joyful journey of sharing Korean culture through Hanji traditional Korean paper and Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Her work blends affirmations like "you matter" and "love yourself" with the texture and spirit of Hanji to express hope and resilience.
One of Eunju’s proudest moments was seeing her art displayed on streetlamps in downtown St. Albert. In 2026, she will be hosting workshops at the International Children's Festival of the Arts, an incredible opportunity to share positivity and creativity within this inclusive community.
St. Albert Gazette Arts Champion Award Recipient (2 Winners):
St. Albert Singers Guild & Emily Baker
The St. Albert Singers began as a "little choir" in a church basement in 1968 under the direction of Dr. Lillian Upright. In 1985, Upright created the St. Albert Singers Guild. With direction from accomplished conductors like Tim Hankewich, Jan Dammann, Eric Mierau and Criselda Mierau, the choir has built a strong reputation in the St. Albert Community. In 2023, the current Artistic Director Caroline Crispin took the helm to keep the organization going strong, moving them into their fifth decade. What began as a mixed choir of 24 voices grew to almost 50 singers with many more on the waiting list. Eventually, the Guild expanded its programming to include six choirs: The St. Albert Singers, The St. Albert Women's Vocal Ensemble and four children's choirs.
Emily Baker is the curator of the Art Gallery of St. Albert and is responsible for each of the Gallery’s exhibitions. from research to installation and interpretation to celebration. Since taking on the role of Curator in January 2021, she has worked on 61 exhibitions, encompassing a dazzling range of art styles, media and stories.
Over her career, she has worked with over a thousand artists from across the province, the nation and a handful from around the world. She has hung tens of thousands of works of all shapes, sizes, materials and media.
Youth Artist Award Recipient: Keira Myer
Based in St. Albert, Alberta, Keira Myer is a rising youth talent in the country music scene. She has played in shows and events across Alberta, including the Horizon Stage at the Big Valley Jamboree for three consecutive years. She was recently nominated for the Country Music Alberta Youth Horizon Award and performed as part of the 14th Annual Awards Show.
Other recent performances include the Canadian Country Music Association Country Crawl, the Fall 2024 Country Music Alberta Songwriters Showcase, as well as the Blue Jays Sessions: Spring Addition. With two singles already released to streaming platforms, “Dance Around in Firelight” and “Soundtrack to Somebody's Something” and 11,000 streams between them, she is excited to be working on some brand-new music. Keira's captivating storytelling and her innate ability to connect with audiences is what makes her shows memorable.
Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award Recipient: Ryan Arcand
Ryan Arcand has lived in St. Albert for 17 years and raised his family in this beautiful city. He worked for the city from 2010 to 2011 and has performed at the International Children’s Festival of the Arts. Since 2016, he has been teaching cultural classes in local schools and singing and drumming with students across St. Albert.
Ryan began singing and dancing in 1978. Over the years, he’s been blessed with guidance and teachings from many elders and mentors who shaped his path. Some of the highlights of his career include singing for the Queen of England twice, once in Canada and once in London, and performing for four former Canadian Prime Ministers and dignitaries from around the world. Ryan has also had the honour of traveling the globe four times with two incredible performing groups, the White Braid Society and the White Buffalo Society.
Ryan is a former three-time dance champion, with his first win in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1988, followed by titles in 1989 and 1990. In 1995 and 1996, he became and a two-time singing champion with the Red Bull Singers after winning in Hartford, Connecticut. Sharing what he has learned and passing wisdom to the people of St. Albert brings him tremendous joy.
Ryan has had the privilege of meeting and working with many wonderful Mayors and City Councillors over the years. When he first started singing in 1978, he could never have imagined the places it would take him or the life it would build. He is deeply grateful to his loving wife, children and family, and thanks God and Mother Earth every day for the life he’s been given.
Ryan’s grandparents were born just outside St. Albert, and he visited them often throughout his life. He carries many memories of watching St. Albert grow from a small town into a vibrant city: driving the old St. Albert Trail past the Dairy Queen and the dump on the west side, seeing the rodeo grounds, the racetrack and the drive-in theatre on the north end. He remembers the Grandin Mall in full swing and the land that is now Heritage Lakes covered entirely in trees. There was once a farm where City Hall stands today. These memories, and the time he spent with family who lived here, give his connection to this place deep meaning.
Ryan is filled with gratitude for those memories and for the small-town heart that still lives within this amazing city. He is proud to call St. Albert his home for many years to come. Kinaskumtanawow.
Ryan is a Cree-speaking man.
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Last edited: March 31, 2026