“Crazy” honour for Grande Prairie-raised country singer

The stretch of road runs to the Sunrise House Youth Emergency Shelter, a community organization Tenille has supported since she was 15 years old.

She agrees that this makes the honour especially meaningful.

“It’s been something I’ve just cared about for so many years and this really means a lot.”

A chilly, snowy day did not stop 90 or so people from coming out for the occasion.

Tenille told the crowd that the weather “really feels like home.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted this any other way.”

“I am so proud to be a Grande Prairie girl, and I want to say thank you to my parents. You don’t get to pick where you’re planted and I’m so grateful to have been raised in a place where people really look out for one another.”

Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

Sunrise House president Sean Doerkson also spoke to crowd about how Townes started the Big Hearts for Big Kids fund raiser to support the shelter.

“That event has now raised over $2 million for the operation of Sunrise House and played a key factor in the creation of a capital campaign for the new Sunrise House and helped build this amazing, new facility behind us.”

Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

Mayor Jackie Clayton also addressed the crowd.

“Tenille is a local star, proudly representing Grande Prairie on an international stage, having won multiple Canadian Country Music (Association) Awards and Junos throughout her career.”

Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

Tenille is in Grande Prairie for a concert Tuesday night at the Bonnetts Energy Centre as part of her Thing That Brought Me Here Tour.

Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

by Curtis Galbraith