Traveling across Canada is something many musicians do, but traveling across Canada as part of a conceptual project that will create a strand of music from one coast… to the other…to the other, is quite something else.

Ste-Croix’s mellifluous, honeyed vocals are layered over gorgeous harmony tracks and sweet, homespun acoustic roots instrumentation. If there’s such a thing as a timeless, classic, Canadian-sounding roots album, Canadian Girl is it.

Taking her love of this country on the road, Ste-Croix began her journey in British Columbia with a dream, a hard drive of rough tracks, her van with a 1974 Boler trailer in tow and her family and began a journey that would come to mean far more to her than she could ever have imagined.

Partnering with Canada’s finest Folk and Roots guest artists including Natalie MacMaster, a “guest appearance” from the Six String Nation guitar played by Stephen Fearing, Leela Gilday, The Once, Laura Smith, Catherine MacLellan, Shari Ulrich, Joel Fafard, Kim Beggs, The Inuksuk Drum Dancers and many more (click ‘Links’ in the menu above to see a complete list of guest artists); and adding quality contemporary folk-roots songs that are classic Bonnie (earning her comparisons to Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Dar Williams,) this award-winning artist has created an album that has long-time Folk/Roots music fans swooning. CBC’s Glenn Meisner offers: “The entire album is incredible-people just don’t make albums like this anymore.”

When asked about how the idea brewed the artist says, “I’m originally from Gaspe; lived in Montreal, Banff, and then Vancouver for half my life; and now am back to my East Coast roots and call Halifax home” says Ste-Croix. “Between all that moving around and travel, I grew attached to so many places-I began feeling like all of Canada was my hometown.

I began to think how great it would be to create a musical representation of that-to have pieces of it embedded in my musical history through an album.” And she did so with style. “Ste-Croix hasn’t tried to write-to-order per province, or record with the biggest names” says Bob Mersereau (of best-selling books, The Top 100 Canadian Albums and The Top 100 Canadian Singles fame) says. “Instead, she’s taken the songs she already had, and played with people she liked and wanted to, who properly fit the roles and material. Plus, the songs are of strong quality throughout. In the end, it turns out to be a high-quality celebration of the folk-and-roots community of the country.”

Live performance

It was evident early in her life that Ste-Croix possessed a stage presence that alluded to a comfort born there. Genuinely emotive, her voice consistently gains comparisons for arousing sentiment reminiscent of some of the greatest performers to date: “… a voice possessing the anguish of Annie Lennox, the passion of Chrissie Hynde, and the tender innocence of Janis Ian.” The Georgia Straight.

“Ste-Croix wanders around soul-deep Christine McVie but with a rain and sunshine coast Shari Ulrich-like sensibility.” Warren Footz, SEE Magazine, Edmonton

But it is her charismatic presence, natural ease and knack for amusingly clever expression and perception that draw the audience in that extra step further building unshakeable loyalty to the artist. “It’s one reason she’s attracted such devoted local fans, who faithfully attend her gigs… often compared to Jann Arden for her witty humour, interactive and friendly stage presence… Ste-Croix definitely isn’t afraid to simultaneously show her intense and comic sides on stage. And the audience falls in love.” F. Hughes, Vancouver Courier