October 24, 2005

Darlings Island artist's song paying tribute to her grandfather captures national accolade

Canadian Gospel Music Association honours Stephanie Mainville with Instrumental Song of the Year Award.

by David Shipley

     Darlings Island Celtic/Gospel singer and songwriter Stephanie Mainville has won a national Christian music award.
     Ms. Mainville was awarded the Instrumental Song of the Year Award on Saturday during the Canadian Gospel Music Association’s 27th annual Covenant Awards in Toronto.
     The award was for her song, Ern’s Waltz, from her debut album, Family.
     “It was a really nice acknowledgement from CGMA,” she said, adding she felt honoured to be at the award ceremony and also privileged to be a presenter.
     She helped present awards in four categories including Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year, Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year, Special Events/Compilation Album of the Year and Urban Song of the Year.
     The awards ceremony took place at the McVety Centre on the campus of the Canada Christian College.
     In addition to attending the awards, Ms. Mainville is also using the trip to visit her family in Ontario as well as a chance 

to meet other Christian artists.

     “It’s very encouraging to come and be in the presence of other artists, great musicians and people with a passion to share their music with the nation and share the gospel in that way,” she said.

     Along [the] way home this week she will be stopping at a radio station in Belleville, Ont., to co-host an afternoon show.
     “They’ve been tremendous supporters of my music and they’ve asked me to come and to tape an hour with them,” she said. Ern’s Waltz is a special song for Ms. Mainville.
     “It was written to honour my grandfather,” she said. The song honours his support and encouragement of her fiddling.
     It was her grandfather and grandmother who purchased a violin for her when she was in high school. She still uses it today.
     “The song was written to kind of bring some new light to memories of dancing with [my] grandfather at weddings when I was a child,” she said. “That brought a lot of joy to me.”