Peace region Métis artist named in finalists for national award

ROSE PRAIRIE, B.C. — A Peace region-based artist is all smiles after being named a finalist for a prestigious award.

Haley Bassett, a former executive director at Arts North East and program coordinator at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, has received a finalist distinction for the 2025 William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Artists.

Of Métis ancestry, Bassett’s artwork incorporates harvested materials and natural found objects. She told Energeticcity.ca she heard the news during a Métis artist residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

“It means I must be doing something right,” said Bassett. “I kind of felt affirmation from the universe. I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time.” 

The awards are organized by The Hnatyshyn Foundation, a private charity dedicated to artistry established by the late Governor-General Ramon John Hnatyshyn.

Bassett’s artwork has incorporated sculpture, beading, painting and textile arts.

“I’ve also been working with gloves, and leather work gloves lately,” Bassett told Energeticcity.ca. “I am actually working on a series of those right now, the form of the mask is sort of shifting over time.”

Bassett travelled extensively, including to Calgary and Quebec, throughout 2024 and 2025 to showcase her work.  

Her next exhibit, which will be her first solo showcase, is scheduled for the fall in Toronto at Galerie Nicolas Robert, and will be included at the Art Toronto fair scheduled for October 23rd to October 26th.

She is also working on a collaborative project with other Peace region artists, including David McGregor and Lara Felsing.

“We are interested [in] place-based artwork,” said Bassett. “Our work has a lot to do with being of the Peace country, it relates a lot to the land here and our relationship with it. I’m really excited to see where that goes.”

Bassett is also in the running for the Salt Spring National Art Prize, a juried award focusing on visual arts.

The complete list of William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Artists winners was announced on August 20th and can be found on The Hnatyshyn Foundation’s website.

Further details about Bassett’s work can be found on her website and Instagram page.