SMART Award
Guidelines:
- The candidate(s) have produced long term benefits to/for other community members
- The candidate(s) have shown a long term commitment to their art and our community
- The candidate is/could be a mentor or coach
- The award is available only to residents of the Bulkley Valley
There is no financial prize, but the recipient receives a work of art created by a local artist. This not necessarily an annual award.
Norma Stokes
2025 SMART AWARD RECIPIENTS – Norma and George Stokes
We are honoured to present the 2025 SMART Award to a couple who have enabled so many opportunities for local musicians in the Bulkley Valley - Norma and George Stokes. In 1984, George and Norma co-founded the Midsummer Music Festival where they coordinated acts, performed, and fed musicians perogies with a couple of toddlers in tow. Since its origins, they have taken on myriad roles for the festival - building sets, doing sound, coordinating the kitchen, selecting headliners, performing puppets for kids and bass in various bands, and many more. In addition, they have been key to guitar camps, coffee houses, and song circles in their basement. Often out of the limelight, they have been integral to providing opportunities and outlets for musicians in the Bulkley Valley to perform.
We commissioned a stained glass piece from Telkwa artist Deb Chatfield that we presented to the couple at the 2025 Midsummer Music Festival where friends joined in singing Norma's go-to campfire song.
Gail Jenne
2023 SMART Award Recipient – Gail Jenne
We are honoured to posthumously present the 2023 SMART Award to the inimitable Gail Jenne. For decades, Gail nourished us through food, song, and perpetual good cheer. She created countless gardens, cooking classes, healthy food boxes, and delicious meals to nourish our bodies. Through her contributions as a singer, performer, and facilitator of choirs, vocal workshops, and music groups for all ages, she also helped to nourish our souls.
Together with her partner and fellow musician, Richard Jenne, Gail has been a bedrock in our vibrant music culture in the Bulkley Valley—an influence that will endure.
Thank you, Gail.
We would like to extend our gratitude to Nicole Fox, Ben Weinstein and Morgan Hite for creating this special tribute video and song for Gail (see below).
Mnohaya Lita from The Ringtones on Vimeo.
Board President Sharon MacGregor presents Sharon Carrington with a painting by Sarah Northcott.
2020 SMART Award Recipient – Sharon Carrington
In 2020, the BVCAC selected Sharon Carrington as the recipient of its prestigious SMART (Smithers Art) Award. This award recognizes a person who has shown a long-term commitment to their art and through that involvement has enhanced the entire community.
From dance, to singing groups, to conducting orchestras, to taking on multiple costume changes as an event MC, Sharon consistently lights up the stage. With a musical career that has spanned stages, studios and concert halls across Canada and internationally, it was our honour to present the 2020 SMART Award to Sharon Carrington.
Smithers-based artist Sarah Northcott created a colourful painting to honour Sharon. Due to COVID-19, the painting was unveiled online at the BVCAC's Annual General Meeting on November 22, 2020 instead of the intended fanfare at Divas & Friends earlier in the year. We look forward to seeing you light up the stage again soon, Sharon!
