LEVEE ON THE LAKE

Rankin of course is a renowned Canadian songwriter with a long string of hits for The Rankin Family and from his solo albums. He joined the family group as a young teen, and soon became co-lead singer and songwriter of such classics as "North Country," "You Feel The Same Way Too," and "Movin’ On." His name is synonymous with the East Coast sound, and was one of the very first writers to bring it to a national and international audience. His 1994 Juno-winning single "Fare Thee Well Love" has taken on a life of its own having been sung by choirs around the globe and in 2013, voted the #1 East Coast song of all time by CBC listeners across Canada.

As a solo artist, he's been ruling the charts since his 2001 debut Song Dog, with such hits as "Followed Her Around," "Here in My Heart," and "Cool Car." His overcrowded mantle includes five Juno Awards, seven Canadian Country Music Awards, and a whopping 27 East Coast Music Awards.

Owner of Mi’kmaq Art Experience, Ashley lives and operates her business in Indian Island First Nation, located near the ocean in New Brunswick. She is a multidisciplinary authentic Mi'kmaq artist who creates and teaches traditional Mi'kmaq art such as beading, basketmaking and quillwork. She learned her art over the past 29 years, under the direction of traditional art knowledge keepers in her family - her grandmother and aunties. She began receiving teachings at a very young age as it was a way of survival for those who came before her. Her grandmother once told her how she would trade baskets with farmers for things such as eggs, milk, and meat. It took her many years of creating and selling art before becoming confident in teaching it. Since 2008, she has taught at schools, post secondary institutions, correctional facilities, national parks, conferences, and community youth programs.

Register for Ashley's Workshops on our workshop page and see her dance demonstration with family and friends on Sunday.

The Divorcees are known nationwide as a leading voice in Canada's Americana / Outlaw Country music scene. Since their start in 2005, Alex Madsen, Denis "Turtle" Arsenault, Shawn Thomas and Kevin Macintyre have taken their brand of blue-collar country music to venues and airwaves from Vancouver to PEI, and all points in between. 

The Divorcees earned Country Album of the Year from the East Coast Music Association twice over plus multiple awards from Music New Brunswick. 

The country group has four albums released, including 2006's "You Ain't Gettin' My Country", 2009's "Last Of The Free Men", 2012's "Four Chapters", and 2016's "From Labour To Refreshment". The band has just released their fifth album titled "Drop of Blood" which is garnering critical acclaim worldwide.

Chris Sanipass is a Mikmaq man from Indian Island, New Brunswick. He is a men's traditonal champion dancer and story teller. He travels across north America competing and sharing his culture with others. He is known as a knowledge keeper in the Mikmaq territory and a beadwork artist. Chris is a husband to his wife Rebecca of 36 years and and a grandfather of 6. 

He will be teaching his cultural dancing at on Thursday and demonstrating dance at workshops with his wife Rebecca Sanipass.

Freya Milliken is a multitalented musician and singer-songwriter from Dorchester, NB, now
finishing her final year in Acadia University's Bachelor of Music program. She draws inspiration
from a variety of genres, making her music sit in the realm of folk-pop and soft-rock. Freya's
songs are often complimented for their thoughtfulness, combining perceptive lyrics with heartfelt
melodies and tasteful accompaniments on guitar. Since 2021, Freya has been gaining momentum
on the Maritime festival scene, capturing the hearts of audiences of all ages and recognition from
fellow artists on the East Coast. Her latest single “Tumbleweeds”, released in December 2022, is
available on all streaming platforms, and her debut album can be expected later in 2023.

Cecelia Brooks is a member of the Sitansisk Wolastoqiyik community in Fredericton and comes from a
family of mixed Indigenous heritage. Cecelia is an avid food and medicinal plant harvester.
Cecelia applies her formal education in chemistry to create a line of body care products from local plants.
She applies her entrepreneurial skills to her family run non-timber forest product company (Soul Flower
Herbals) where they work together to harvest, extract and produce plant-based wellness products using
extracts from Wabanaki forests.
She is also co-owner of Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours & Events where she partners with her naturalist son
Anthony to guide people on medicine walks through the local old-growth forest. They teach Wabanaki
culture and history to bridge the gap between Canadians and Indigenous communities.
Cecelia Brooks has served as the Water Grandmother with the Canadian Rivers Institute at UNB since
2010 and currently teaches Indigenous Perspectives in the Department of Forestry and Environmental
Management.

Alain Clavette is well known as The Acadian Birder especially on CBC SHIFT every Friday afternoon. He is also an ornithology professor at The Univeristy of Moncton and an advocate for our amazing birds of New Brunswick. Join him for a walk around Middle Sackville and a talk about birding in the area of Sackville and The Tantramar. Comfortable shoes are a must!