The Saskatchewan Music Awards were held on January 20, honouring excellence in the Saskatchewan music industry and celebrating the achievements of music industry members over the past year. 

A former resident and teacher in Swift Current, Eliza Doyle was one of the artists to have their hard work recognized during the awards. 

Doyle won the award for Industry Achievement for her work with CAMP SASK ARTS. The award recognizes excellence in the provision of skills and/or services by those helping to build the music industry of Saskatchewan. 

Doyle says that having her work recognized on this scale is an honour. 

“It seemed surreal, honestly, because we had been nominated three times before and we were up against people, I mean, this year the Broadway theatre was the shoe in, and they kind of win it every year,” she said. “But in previous years we've been up against the SaskTel Jazz Festival, and just big venues big, big programs and festivals, so I honestly didn't think it was going to happen.” 

CAMP SASK ARTS is a course that has been designed by Holly Yuzicapi and Doyle to ‘empower participants with the knowledge to more confidently work closely with remote, vulnerable and under-served communities in our province. Participants will increase their understanding of arts delivery through a culturally-sensitive and mental-health perspective while building well-being and resilience for themselves.’    

Doyle says that the inspiration behind the program stemmed from a five-week residency in the community of Stanley Mission. 

She states that after her five weeks were up, the elders of the community said something to her that stuck in her head. 

“They said, don't be like everybody else,” she recalled. “Don't just come here and leave, you know, it breaks our heart every time somebody comes and connects with us and gets our youth excited about something and leaves. It just teaches us that nothing good stays.” 

Doyle says that she struggled with the thought, knowing she couldn’t stay in Stanley Mission forever while also realizing that other communities would benefit as well.  

“So that's, yeah, that's where the idea came from,” she said. “To have more musicians connected to the community. And then teaching people how to teach building that trust and connection with the local community and getting them involved and staying until the community is able to run it themselves.” 

Stanley Mission now has community fiddle lessons, community jams, music lessons at the schools, and other events run by community members. 

To learn more about CAMP SASK ARTS, click here.