From school teacher to “accidental” Juno Award winner – it’s been quite a ride for Ste. Anne, Manitoba’s Carmen Campagne.  
 
Campagne was born in Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan, a small Francophone community located approximately an hour and a half south west of Regina.  She was working as a school teacher when her sister in law, Canadian folk singer Connie Kaldor made the suggestion that would ultimately change Campagne’s career path completely.
 
“I started my performing career when my 27 year old daughter was a baby,” explains Campagne.  “With my sister in law Connie (Kaldor), we decided to do an album of lullabies.  I was always looking for songs to sing to my baby, and she had a lot of friends who were having babies.  
 
The two recorded the album “Lullaby Berceuse” which would garner the pair a Juno Award for their effort.  Given that some Canadian artists dedicate an entire career and a lifetime to their craft and are never lucky enough to be the recipient of a coveted Juno, it’s pretty incredible that Campagne achieved that honour with her first c.d.  Especially given the fact that at that time, she was still teaching school part time, and music was only her “hobby”.
 
Campagne spent a good portion of the next two decades living and raising her family in Quebec, where she gained notoriety as a much sought after children’s entertainer.  And although she has a soft spot for performing live, Campagne made the decision to make a return to her teaching career.  
 
“The music industry has changed a lot,” she says.  “I’m just not performing quite enough for it to be a full time thing.  So I decided that I wanted to go back to teaching.  It’s nice to be able to have that contact every day with the kids, and still be able to go out and perform.”
 
Recently, Campagne discovered that she is to be bestowed with yet another prestigious honour after learning that she is to be named to the Order of Canada.  The Order is one of Canada’s highest honours and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to community, and service to the nation.  
 
“It was such a surprise,” Campagne says.  “I’m really proud of it.  It’s such a nice recognition of the years of touring and performing.  It’s quite an honour.”
 
Campagne will travel to Ottawa some time in the next year for the formal ceremony that will see her named an Officer of the Order of Canada alongside fellow 2014 inductees:  Canadian actress Sara Polley, Blue Rodeo founders Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, and the 85 other new or promoted appointees.  
 
“I’m so happy that all of the hard work is recognized,” Campagne says.  "The Order of Canada is quite an accomplishment and I’m very proud of that.”
 
Ste. Anne, Manitoba's Carmen Campagne