The annual Emily Award program is a celebration of the outstanding achievements of a member of the University alumni whose endeavours in the arts, media and design fields have brought honour to the University.

We are pleased to announce Daina Warren, contemporary Aboriginal art curator and artist, as the 2015 recipient.Daina is a member of the Akamihk Cree Nation in Maskwacis (Bear Hills), Alberta. A 2003 graduate of Emily Carr, she undertook her first curatorial project while studying at the University, Deconstructing the FirstNationsAboriginalNativeIndian. While completing her undergraduate degree, she was awarded the Canada Council’s Assistance to Aboriginal Curators for Residencies in the Visual Arts program (2000) to work with grunt gallery, Vancouver. This opportunity led to a permanent position with the artist-run centre as an Associate Curator + Administrator until 2009.

From 2010-2011, Daina completed a second Canada Council Aboriginal Curatorial Residency at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, where she curated the group exhibition Don’t Stop Me Now. She received her Master’s in Art History, completing the Critical and Curatorial Studies program at the University of British Columbia in 2012.

Daina has curated such projects as the New Forms Media Arts Festival (2004/05),Earth Village for the World Urban Forum (2006), and the online exhibitions If These Walls Could Talk;Contains Animal Byproducts! created for the CODE Screen 2010 Vancouver Olympics project. She is currently the Director of Urban Shaman: Contemporary Aboriginal Art in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Daina will receive her award at the 2015 Convocation Ceremony to be held May 2, 2015 at the Chan Centre.