Saskatchewan-born fiddle legend John Arcand has been honoured with the 2014 Canada Council Molson Prize for his contributions to the arts.
Arcand has performed, taught and preserved the tradition of Métis fiddling for decades. His career spans more than 60 years.
He admits he was caught off guard by the news.
“I was really surprised I had no idea somebody nominated me and it’s a complete surprise to me but at the same time I am happy I had won this thing and glad that somebody thinks that I should be nominated for this award so I want to thank those people,” he says.
The prizes recognize outstanding career achievements in the arts and sciences.
Each prize is valued at $50,000.
For Arcand, the award is an honour but he says the love people have for his music is what he receives the most pleasure from.
“What I do is what I have done all my life and I will just keep doing it…..whether making them or playing them as long as I am making people happy, that’s what I do.”
Arcand has created over 370 toe-tapping tunes and produced 16 recordings.
He also founded the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in 1998 – a major annual fiddle event in Western Canada.
Arcand has also been the recipient of numerous other awards including the Order of Canada, a National Aboriginal Achievement Award and the Saskatchewan Arts Board Lifetime Achievement Award.