A local music icon is being honoured by the City of Winnipeg for his decades of contributions to Manitoba's entertainment industry.
Singer-songwriter Ray St. Germain — a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and recipient of the Order of Manitoba — was honored Friday with the renaming of St. Michael Road in St. Vital as Big Sky Country Road.
In addition to his illustrious musical career, St. Germain also hosted the nationally syndicated Big Sky Country He has been hosting the show for more than a decade – one of his many television projects, dating back to his first appearance as a host on television in the late 1960s.
St. Germain was known for his outspoken pride in his Métis ancestry in his music and radio work, and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) president David Chartrand said Friday that the singer, now in his 80s, remains a personal hero of his.
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“The Red River Métis have a long history of connecting with each other through music,” Chartrand said in a statement.
“Ray’s contributions to elevating our stories, our music and our communities are too numerous to count, but those of us who worked with him for decades knew that he dedicated his life to bringing joy, knowledge and pride to people through music.”
The name change was initiated by friend and community advocate Kelly Ryback, who said St. Germain’s longtime connection to the St. Vital area contributed to the decision.
“We need to remember the past and respect our achievements,” he said. “We can't be so shy about it. It's time. We have a great history. Let's embrace it.”
“Our message to young people is that we are Winnipeg and you can achieve something here because a lot of people have achieved something.”
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