Over a dozen individuals and groups are bringing home Buffy Awards from the Arts Council of Wood Buffalo.

The Council hosted “An Evening in Moulin Rouge” on Saturday night to deliver their Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts awards held at the Suncor Centre for the Performing Arts.

The evening featured performances by local ensembles Uptown! Dance and Generation Dance, along with musical performances by Xach Edward and Meghan Whitmore, as well as Nils Hogenstad.

The Buffy Awards are an annual celebration of art in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo and a way to recognize the contributions of outstanding artists and creators.

This year’s winners are:

• Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Alan Roberts
• Literary Arts Award Recipient, Dene Plews
• Creative Collaboration Award Recipient, The MMIWG2S Awareness Project by RBD Beauty Photography and Arctic Beauty
• Arts Education Award Recipient, Brooke McMillan
• Arts Champion Award Recipient, Erica Moeskau
• Arts Administration Award Recipient, Public Art Wood Buffalo
• Ken Flaherty Music Award Recipient, Mychela
• Visual Arts Award Recipient, Ashley Laurenson
• Indigenous Artist Award Recipient, Melinda Richter
• Dance Award Recipient, Nishka Rai
• Media Arts Award Recipient, Madilyn Hite
• Performing Arts Award Recipient, Faith Kippenhuck
• Rising Star Award Recipient, RhiAnna Albrecht
• Craft Award Recipient, Meagan Magson

The Arts Council of Wood Buffalo believes that the arts are integral to a remarkable quality of life, and the organization continues to work to promote and foster a region that embraces the arts.