Polaris Music Prize short list includes Charlotte Cornfield, Aquakultre and Angine de Poitrine

Polaris Music Prize short list includes Charlotte Cornfield, Aquakultre and Angine de Poitrine

Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield, Halifax R&B and soul artist Aquakultre and Quebec microtonal rockers Angine de Poitrine are among the first-time finalists vying for this year’s Polaris Music Prize.

The annual award, which honours the best Canadian album based solely on artistic merit, announced its 10-album short list Thursday.

Cornfield’s acclaimed sixth LP “Hurts Like Hell” is her first since the birth of her daughter in 2023, a turning point that is felt throughout the project’s themes of personal growth and renewal.

Aquakultre is up for “1783,” which celebrates Black history in Nova Scotia, while Angine de Poitrine are in the running for their hotly buzzed album “Vol. II.”

Moving drama at MTYP gives voice to boy who changed law

The heroic true tale of Norway House Cree Nation-born Jordan River Anderson came home Friday night, as Manitoba Theatre for Young People presented Yvette Nolan’s Jordan.

The touring production, a collaboration with Geordie Theatre, runs weekends through Oct. 11, with additional stops in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre.

Having several of Anderson’s family members witness the local première underscored the evening with poignancy. Elder and Pine Creek First Nation member Barbara Nepinak added her own dignified presence and prayers following MTYP artistic director Pablo Felices-Luna’s welcoming remarks.

The season-opener also marks the Winnipeg-raised playwright’s homecoming; the Algonquin playwright, director, dramaturg, actor and educator was a fixture in our local theatre community for many years before going on to serve as artistic director for Native Earth Performing Arts from 2003 to ‘11, among other contributions.

J’accuse!: Kinew uses French to fry interim Tory leader over alleged caucus subterfuge

NDP Premier Wab Kinew took a dig at the Progressive Conservatives’ leadership change while facing off with Obby Khan’s short-term replacement for the first time in question period Thursday.

Six high school hockey programs ceased operations following new Hockey Manitoba policy

She lived the best of both worlds.

For the last three years, the 17-year-old wore a sweater for two different hockey programs — her high school team and AAA club in the Manitoba Female Hockey League — and was preparing to flourish in both colours again this winter.

Recently, however, the blue-liner was disappointed to learn she is no longer eligible to play her Grade 12 season with her school owing to a new policy imposed by Hockey Manitoba that bans players from participating in the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League if they are rostered on a U18 AAA team.

The rule applies to all athletes who play for both Winnipeg-based and rural AAA teams.