
Rightfully dubbed the Oscars of our region – the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards, also known as The Buffys return in-person this Saturday, October 22 at 5 p.m.
Hosted by Arts Council Wood Buffalo (ACWB), the highly anticipated celebration will be hosted at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts. And, while the event is sold out, you can tune in for free when they are livestreamed by Shaw Spotlight; and available to watch on Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
An annual program, which recognizes and celebrates excellence in various areas of local arts and builds awareness of the incredible contribution artists make to the region, this year The Buffys’ theme is Future Midnight.
“We hope the theme gets the community excited about what’s to come next. As our organization moves into a new phase with Arts Inc., (ACWB’s plans to transform the former Landmark Cinema downtown into an arts incubator) we wanted to take everyone with us as we travel into near and distant futures, where the arts, science and technology converge,” explained Akshaya Lakshmi, Communications Supervisor for the ACWB.
“The Buffys invest in the future of our growing arts community by supporting our most exceptional artists through appreciation and employment opportunities, and by connecting artists to a wider community. This year’s Awards Showcase will be a feast for the eyes, ears, and mouths as we expose the Wood Buffalo region to the arts that have been, and the arts that have yet to be!”
Launched in 2016 to showcase our region’s incredible artistic talent, The Buffys are presented in 14 categories annually. Ranging from the Literary Arts, Media Arts, Indigenous Artist, Rising Star, Craft, to Lifetime Achievement and Arts Champion – to name just a few, the event promises to be memorable.
“For the past two years, we have delivered the Buffys as cinematic experiences. Although they were incredibly fun to create, we are extremely excited to be back in person this year. The event will include dinner, themed drinks, curated performances, and many other surprises!” Akshaya said.
Yep, memorable. See you at The Buffys.
About the author

Kiran Malik-Khan
Kiran is a national award-winning communications specialist, freelance journalist, and social media consultant. She loves telling community stories, and is a strong advocate for inclusion, diversity, women’s rights, and multiculturalism. Got story ideas? Contact her via Twitter: @KiranMK0822.