A well-known local singer-songwriter is among those to be invested into the Order of Manitoba this year. North Kildonan’s Steve Bell said he was “shocked” when he heard he would receive the order. “I got this call from (Lt.-Gov.) Janice Filmon, and you don’t get that call every day,” Bell said May 12. “When she told me what that was about, I didn’t know how to receive it at first. But what an honour.” Bell, who is also up for a Juno Award this year, is a Christian songwriter who has contributed to a number of humanitarian causes throughout the course of his career. He said being included in the Order along with personal and professional heroes such as Fred Penner, Al Simmons, Joy Smith, among others, is both humbling and rewarding. “If anything I’ve done put’s me in with them, I’m honoured,” he said. Like other professional musicians, Bell has had to forgo live performances over the past year, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. His album, and accompanying book, are up for Juno Awards. To maintain a connection with his audience, Bell has created a video studio in his home and has maintained a regular schedule of livestreaming concerts. “We’ve been busy, and it’s such a large learning curve,” Bell said. “I’m 60 and I was comfortable doing what I’m good at, so this has been a shock to the system.” Bell credits the support he’s received from the community for keeping his head above water during these troubling times. “I’ve talked to quite a few artists and we’re all surprised at the support from the community we’ve received,” he said. “If you told me two years ago that I couldn’t do concerts for almost two years, I would have thought that would be the end of my work. But a lot of us have been OK.” Bell also gave credit to the support he has received over the course of his career. “The community responsible for my career is huge,” he said. “I’m uncommonly blessed with supporters, both emotional and financial, people that keep check on me. I feel very grateful that I’m part of something much bigger than I am.” Apart from the feeling of accomplishment that comes with the Order of Manitoba, Bell hopes it will provide a spark to the humanitarian work he engages in, as well. “Something like this puts a little more social capital in the bank,” he said. “Hopefully I can spend it wisely.” Bell is among 12 Manitobans to be invested with the Order this year. The others are former premier Greg Selinger; Franklin (Lynn) Bishop; Elder Ruth Christie; Dr. Michael Eskin; Gordon Goldsborough; Gregg Hanson; Kyle Irving; Claudette Leclerc; Doris Mae Oulton; and Arni Thorsteinson. This year’s ceremony is tentatively set to take place on July 15 at the Manitoba Legislative Building, but could change owing to COVID-19.

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This article was published 14/5/2021 (411 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A well-known local singer-songwriter is among those to be invested into the Order of Manitoba this year.
North Kildonan’s Steve Bell said he was "shocked" when he heard he would receive the order.
"I got this call from (Lt.-Gov.) Janice Filmon, and you don’t get that call every day," Bell said May 12. "When she told me what that was about, I didn’t know how to receive it at first. But what an honour."
Bell, who is also up for a Juno Award this year, is a Christian songwriter who has contributed to a number of humanitarian causes throughout the course of his career. He said being included in the Order along with personal and professional heroes such as Fred Penner, Al Simmons, Joy Smith, among others, is both humbling and rewarding.
"If anything I’ve done put’s me in with them, I’m honoured," he said.
Like other professional musicians, Bell has had to forgo live performances over the past year, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. His album, and accompanying book, are up for Juno Awards. 
To maintain a connection with his audience, Bell has created a video studio in his home and has maintained a regular schedule of livestreaming concerts.
"We’ve been busy, and it’s such a large learning curve," Bell said. "I’m 60 and I was comfortable doing what I’m good at, so this has been a shock to the system."
Bell credits the support he’s received from the community for keeping his head above water during these troubling times.
"I’ve talked to quite a few artists and we’re all surprised at the support from the community we’ve received," he said. "If you told me two years ago that I couldn’t do concerts for almost two years, I would have thought that would be the end of my work. But a lot of us have been OK."
Bell also gave credit to the support he has received over the course of his career.
"The community responsible for my career is huge," he said. "I’m uncommonly blessed with supporters, both emotional and financial, people that keep check on me. I feel very grateful that I’m part of something much bigger than I am."
Apart from the feeling of accomplishment that comes with the Order of Manitoba, Bell hopes it will provide a spark to the humanitarian work he engages in, as well.
"Something like this puts a little more social capital in the bank," he said. "Hopefully I can spend it wisely."
Bell is among 12 Manitobans to be invested with the Order this year. The others are former premier Greg Selinger; Franklin (Lynn) Bishop; Elder Ruth Christie; Dr. Michael Eskin; Gordon Goldsborough; Gregg Hanson; Kyle Irving; Claudette Leclerc; Doris Mae Oulton; and Arni Thorsteinson.
This year’s ceremony is tentatively set to take place on July 15 at the Manitoba Legislative Building, but could change owing to COVID-19.

A well-known local singer-songwriter is among those to be invested into the Order of Manitoba this year.

North Kildonan’s Steve Bell said he was "shocked" when he heard he would receive the order.

"I got this call from (Lt.-Gov.) Janice Filmon, and you don’t get that call every day," Bell said May 12. "When she told me what that was about, I didn’t know how to receive it at first. But what an honour."

Bell, who is also up for a Juno Award this year, is a Christian songwriter who has contributed to a number of humanitarian causes throughout the course of his career. He said being included in the Order along with personal and professional heroes such as Fred Penner, Al Simmons, Joy Smith, among others, is both humbling and rewarding.

"If anything I’ve done put’s me in with them, I’m honoured," he said.

Like other professional musicians, Bell has had to forgo live performances over the past year, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. His album, and accompanying book, are up for Juno Awards. 

To maintain a connection with his audience, Bell has created a video studio in his home and has maintained a regular schedule of livestreaming concerts.

"We’ve been busy, and it’s such a large learning curve," Bell said. "I’m 60 and I was comfortable doing what I’m good at, so this has been a shock to the system."

Bell credits the support he’s received from the community for keeping his head above water during these troubling times.

"I’ve talked to quite a few artists and we’re all surprised at the support from the community we’ve received," he said. "If you told me two years ago that I couldn’t do concerts for almost two years, I would have thought that would be the end of my work. But a lot of us have been OK."

Bell also gave credit to the support he has received over the course of his career.

"The community responsible for my career is huge," he said. "I’m uncommonly blessed with supporters, both emotional and financial, people that keep check on me. I feel very grateful that I’m part of something much bigger than I am."

Apart from the feeling of accomplishment that comes with the Order of Manitoba, Bell hopes it will provide a spark to the humanitarian work he engages in, as well.

"Something like this puts a little more social capital in the bank," he said. "Hopefully I can spend it wisely."

Bell is among 12 Manitobans to be invested with the Order this year. The others are former premier Greg Selinger; Franklin (Lynn) Bishop; Elder Ruth Christie; Dr. Michael Eskin; Gordon Goldsborough; Gregg Hanson; Kyle Irving; Claudette Leclerc; Doris Mae Oulton; and Arni Thorsteinson.

This year’s ceremony is tentatively set to take place on July 15 at the Manitoba Legislative Building, but could change owing to COVID-19.

Sheldon Birnie

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@canstarnews.com Call him at 204-697-7112

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