Manitoba Music Welcomes Desiree Dorion as President of the 2023-24 Board of Directors, Thanks Departing President Ruth Shead

Manitoba Music is pleased to announce Desiree Dorion as President of the 2023-24 Board of Directors, effective immediately. A director since 2018 and a member of the association’s Executive Committee, Dorion succeeds Ruth Shead, who has stepped down as President to focus on her new position as Director of Ministerial Affairs for Advanced Education and Training. Shead, who became President in 2021 and has contributed significantly to the organization during her tenure, will remain in an ex officio capacity to support the organization until the end of her term in June 2024. 

Dorion brings a depth of experience and passion for the music communities in Manitoba to her new role. She is a JUNO nominated, Manitoba Country Music Award-winning recording artist and singer/songwriter. Based in Dauphin, she has had multiple songs chart in the top 100 on the Canadian country music charts (TRAX), along with numerous reaching the top spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown. She released her sixth studio album, That’s How I Know, in February 2023. Dorion is a proud member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. She hosted the Achimotak series with the Canadian Country Music Association and is an artist ambassador with the Downie Wenjack Foundation. She has toured from coast to coast in Canada as well as performed in Las Vegas and Nashville.

"I am looking forward to taking on this new role with Manitoba Music and continuing Ruth’s work making this a more equitable and inclusive industry and contributing to the success of music communities across Manitoba,” says Dorion, who also sits on the Indigenous Music Steering Committee at Manitoba Music. 

“It has been a great honour to serve as President. Manitoba Music has such an unwavering team committed to serving its membership and communities, and moving our industry forward. We have a new strong and passionate leader in Desiree and I look forward to continuing being involved in Manitoba Music’s work in a different capacity,” says Shead. 

“We are so grateful to Ruth for her guidance, dedication, and progressive vision during her time as President,” says Vanessa Kuzina, Manitoba Music’s executive director. “We’re excited for the opportunity to continue to work with Desiree in this new role and are so thankful for her generosity, wisdom, and expertise.”

2023-24 Board of Directors
Desiree Dorion, Recording Artist (President)
Suzanne Holatko, Deloitte LLP (Treasurer)
Ruth Shead, University of Manitoba (Ex Officio)
Chloe Chafe, Synonym Art Consultation
Danielle Morrison, Cochrane Saxberg
David Landreth, Birthday Cake Media / The Bros. Landreth
David Schellenberg, Signal Noise Music Marketing
Elliott Walsh, Nestor Wynrush
Liliane Lavack, Centre culturel franco-manitobain
Neill Exell