Singer Ani DiFranco gets honours from U of W, Folk Fest

Folk-rock singerAniDiFrancoreceived an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Winnipeg on Friday. She was acknowledged for her deep and creative commitment to social justice, sustainability and the arts.

"This is exciting for little folk-singing me," she laughed, whileaccepting the honour.

"I'mjust thrilled to be here. I feel very proud," she continued. "Now I'm 43 and my early career really started in Canada before I was even known in my own country, so it feels really sweet to be in Winnipeg at the U of W accepting this honour."

"DiFrancohelped pioneer the independent music movement and hashad a profound impact on the folk music community, including in Winnipeg," states a press release from the university.

"Feminist activists recognize her as a cultural icon for her unflinching critiques expressed in song ofsexism,heterosexism, racism, and class-based discrimination."

DiFrancois also in the city to receivethe 2013Artistic Achievement Award from the Winnipeg Folk Festival atits gala fundraiser, givenannually to aperformer who has made exceptional contributions to folk music and the community.

We are pleased that the University is complementingthepresentation of our[award] by recognizing Anissimilarly impressive contribution to social activism,said LynneSkromeda, executive director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

DiFrancoscareer spans more than twodecades and includes 20albums.

During her early career,she resisted representation by mainstream record labels and instead established her own independent label, Righteous Babe Records.

Today Righteous Babe Records represents up-and-coming as well as established artists, and advocates for social justice efforts related to media activism, reproductive rights, peace and justice movements, arts and education, and other forms of democratic engagement, states the release from the U of W.

"I feel as though I did it the right way," she reflected. "I had opportunities early on to go a more commercial route with my career and I chose to stay amongst my people and follow the path that led me to the most interesting, dynamic, giving, creative, active people so I'm very happy with the path that I chose.

"It's a longer route than the commercial route through music, but along the way I've had so many cool experiences and met so many awesome people that I wouldn't have known otherwise."

In 2000 she saved a 19thcentury church in Buffalo, New Yorkfrom the wrecking ball and turned it intoBabeville, an eco-friendly multi-use arts facility.

DiFrancohas long been anadvocate for social justiceand environmental sustainability,and she lives those values as both aperformer and entrepreneur,said U of W president LloydAxworthy.

Aniis a strongexample ofcourage,tenacityand compassion characteristicsthat our university holdsin high esteem.We arepleasedto welcomeAnito our universitycommunity.

The Honorary Doctor of Letters is conferred upon those who have made a significant contribution to the Artsand Humanities.

Past recipients include cellist ZaraNelsova,folk singer Oscar Brand, and conductorBramwellTovey.