Shirley Montague

Singer, songwriter from North West River, Labrador, Canada. - Born in North West River, Labrador, Shirley Montague began performing at the age of 15 and, after moving to Norris Point in the mid-1970s, continued to write, perform and produce music and to develop cultural programs. - She has been called one of the most widely accomplished, recognized and respected figures in the provincial arts, music and cultural industries. Montague continues to celebrate and preserve the traditional music of Labrador. - In 1988, she wrote original music for the “Ode to Labrador” and rearranged the lyrics to incorporate Inuktitut and Innu-aimun translations. - In 1993, she produced the compilation “Our Labrador,” which includes folk songs in the three languages of Labrador. In 1999, in collaboration with Eric West, she produced “Gros Morne: A Musical Journey,” a haunting musical interpretation inspired by the culture and landscape of the national park. In 2008, she led the “Remembering the Red Bay Basques” project, a compilation recording celebrating the 16th-century Basques whaling history. In 2014, Red Bay was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - An organizer as well as an artist, Montague spearheaded the creation of the Gros Morne Musicians in Residence program and is the founder and longtime artistic director of the Trails Tales Tunes Festival in Norris Point/Gros Morne National Park. - She has served on many arts- and tourism-related committees and boards, including MusicNL, Factor and ArtsNL, to name a few. She also served with organizations such as the Provincial Women’s Institutes, Marble Mountain Development Corporation and the Judicial Council. - Montague is a longstanding board member with Gros Morne Cooperating Association (GMCA) and was involved in the establishment of the office of Creative Gros Morne under the umbrella of GMCA. - Montague has been recognized for her work with numerous awards, including Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Cultural Tourism Award, Music NL’s Denis Parker Industry Builder Award, ECMA’s Stompin’ Tom Unsung Hero Award and the Historic Sites Manning Award. - She was a major researcher and consultant for the 1996 study of the economic benefits of the sound recording industry in the province and has operated her own production company, Butter and Snow Productions. Source: Grenfell Campus, Memorial University